Please find below a statement from Training Qualifications UK’s End-Point Assessment Director Kelle McQuade about the Children, Young People and Families Manager Standard
I would like to thank the Providers we work with for their feedback about the Children, Young People and Families Manager Standard. It has been very informative and helpful.
It is pleasing to hear that the ESFA are making direct contact with Providers and the information they are gathering will also help to reflect the impact that the delay to the Standard is having. I have been in contact with the ESFA to address the challenge of Apprentices passing the 12 month period, the challenge we have had with the Assessment Plan and the concerns of not being able to resolve the issues relating to the Assessment plan with the IfATE.
We have continued to work very closely with the only other EPAO (NCFE), Ofqual and the Employer group to make proposals to the IfATE. We have endeavoured to work closely so we can attempt to alter the Situational Judgement Test to ensure that a fair assessment opportunity can be provided for every Apprentice. At present and due to the IfATE’s internal policy, a substitute assessment method has not been permitted. Only small changes to the current method have been permitted.
Early pilots of this assessment method, including these small changes, have so far not provided satisfactory evidence for us or NCFE and haven’t been deemed as a practical resolution. The evidence that has been collected shows that it will enable Apprentices to pass the assessment, though there is a very high probability that those that do pass will not be able to obtain a Distinction grade, they will only be able to achieve a Pass. This would sufficiently disadvantage Apprentices.
Further meetings have taken place over the last week and these have included senior IfATE personnel. After again escalating the matter, a collective workshop has been scheduled for next week, where we will attempt to work through some further flexibilities the IfATE are looking to permit.
It is with regret and frustration that we unfortunately do not have a time period to offer for when a solution will be found. We will continue to escalate this matter with Ofqual, ESFA, IfATE and the Federation of Awarding Bodies. We have also requested the IfATE make a note on their website to indicate the delay for the End-Point Assessment, and the fact it cannot currently be delivered, but as they deem the plan as having been approved for delivery, they are reluctant to edit this.
As ever, we will ensure that all providers are informed of any new updates that are made.
If there are any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
