A view of funding changes and trailblazers delivered at a Peer Meetup for training providers session

1. iCQ – A view of funding
changes and trailblazers
Neil Heys – iCQ Sector Lead (Enterprise Services)
19 April 2016

2. iCQ – an overview of who we are
 An Ofqual accredited QCF Awarding Organisation
 Sectors include general business, finance, logistics, retail, service
enterprises, hospitality, health and social care and more
 Over 200 regulated qualifications
 Most qualifications are funded

3. iLearner – an overview
 iCQ’s integrated, browser-based learner and funding data
management system

4. iLearner – key functions and tools
•Manage learner evidence
•Conduct external and Internal Quality Assurance (on line / real
time)
•Identify gaps in evidence
•Record assessment activities, feedback and time
e-Portfolio
Learner Management
•Track learner progress against target dates
•Identify learners (and assessors) behind schedule
•Complete all good practice documentation on screen
(ILP, reviews, diagnostics, unit allocation)

5. iLearner – key functions and tools
•On screen ILR and unique learner interview significantly reduces
funding administration time
•Manage multiple contracts and sub-contracts
•Ensure SASE compliance
Funding Management
•Map company L&D programmes to qualifications using iLearner
•Add assessment activities and create learner workbooks
Mapping & Activities

6. iLearner – additional functions
Multiple choice questions
(create diagnostic tools and tests; use for in-house programmes)
Private standards
(add in house training and certificates)
Learning content and key documents
(add learning content and key documents, and iLearner will allocate
to learners)

7. Tailoring iLearner to our customers needs
 iLearner can be ‘skinned’ to reflect our customers’ website styles
 All users can login to iLearner via our customers’ website or intranet
 Our customers can add additional fields to iLearner to record the
data they need (and report on those fields)
 iCQ certificates can include our customers’ logos

8. Transparent pricing
 iCQ pricing recognises that funding is paid in instalments – so our
prices are end loaded (supporting cash flow)
 Our iLearner registration includes registration for as many
qualifications as the learner needs - ever (supporting progression)
 Certificates - pay on completion – for achievers only
 When iCQ need to increase prices (not every year) – we generally
give 12 months notice

9. Transparent pricing Employability
£10.00
Knowledge
£22.00
Competence
£38.00
Combined
£60.00
iLearner £20.00*
Certificates Levels 1 – 3
Centre approval pa £500.00*
(includes iLearner training)
*+VAT

10. Transparent pricing Employability
£10.00
Knowledge
£30.00
Competence
£45.00
Combined
£75.00
iLearner £20.00*
Certificates Levels 4 +
Centre approval pa £500.00*
(includes iLearner training)
*+VAT

11. Transparent pricing Multiple Choice
£0.00
Private Standards
£0.00
Learning Content
£0.00
Mapping, Activities
£0.00
iLearner £20.00*
Other Functions
*+VAT

12. Funding landscape
 We are nearing the end (hopefully) of changes to how qualifications
are funded and which qualifications can be funded
 Funding changes have coincided with the change from QCF to RQF

13. SfA overview of funding streams
Source:
SfA

14. AEB funding budget
Source:
SfA

15. Funding eligibility framework
Source:
Adult_Education_Budget_changing_context_and_arrangements_for
_2016_to_2017

16. AEB localisation
 SfA Priorities and Funding for the 2016 to 2017 Funding Year:
Nick Boles (Minister of State for Skills)
• ‘In future ….. delivery agreements with providers should reflect local priorities
which might include, for example, job outcomes and English and maths
achievements. The Government’s view is that the AEB funds what is
essentially a local service and that in the right circumstances it can be better
for funding and responsibilities to be held at local level rather than national
level.’

17. AEB localisation
 Localisation – 6 eligibility criteria to be met for a qualification to be
funded
 Eligibility criteria are aligned EfA criteria (16-18 year olds)
 Localisation (local flexibility) funded programmes may or may not
include a qualification

18. Advanced learner loans funding budget
Source:
SfA

19. Advanced learner loans from August 2016
 Learner loans available to those aged 19 and over (not just 24+)
 Learner loans available for Levels 3 to 6 (not just Levels 3 and 4)
 Above expansions partly explain the increased budgets

20. Funding eligibility framework
Source:
Adult_Education_Budget_changing_context_and_arrangements_for
_2016_to_2017
Few vocational qualifications
included in the legal entitlement,
most Level 3 non-apprenticeship
qualifications will be delivered
using loan funding

21. How we support our customers
 AEB localisation –
• Most iCQ qualifications are funded (though the Hub will only be updated in
April 2016)
• Develop new qualifications in partnership with customers
• iLearner supports the delivery of in-house programmes in addition to RQF
qualifications

22. How we support our customers
 Learner loans –
• Many iCQ Level 3 and 4 qualifications are funded already
• We can add additional qualifications to the funding list (monthly) where
there is employer demand (generally support from 5 employers)
• We will develop qualifications where there is a demand from customers and
their employers

23. Trailblazer standards (TS)
 TS will replace existing apprenticeship frameworks (by 2020?)
 TS and Assessment Plans are written by employers and approved by
BIS
 TS are usually 2 pages long and include
• Knowledge and understanding
• Skills
• Behaviours

24. Trailblazer standards (TS)
 All TS include an independent end point assessment (EPA)
• EPA must be conducted by an approved assessment organisation
 Apprentices will be graded, where possible
 Maths and English (Functional Skills or GCSE) a requirement
 Minimum 12 months duration and a minimum 20% off-the-job
training

25. A Trailblazer standard
 Extract from Hospitality Team Member

26. Assessment Plan
 Process for Hospitality Team Member
Activities can be completed in any order as long as professional discussion is last
•90 minutes
•Multiple choice questions
On demand
test
•3 hours
•Working in own
department covering
range of skills expected
for the role
Practical
observation •Research an issue /
opportunity to improve
the department – e.g.
way of working, respond
to customer feedback
•Present findings and
recommendation
Project and
presentation
•Structured discussion
•Apprentice, Employer and
Assessor
•Brings the assessment
phase to a close
Professional
discussion

27. Institute of Apprenticeships (IfA)
 An employer-led, independent body to regulate the quality of
trailblazer standards and delivery, the IfA will –
• undertake quality and approval functions in relation to apprenticeship
standards and assessment plans
• have wider quality assurance functions, including making arrangements for
assessing the quality of the end point assessment for each apprenticeship
• have responsibility to advise Government of funding allocations per each
apprenticeship standard
 IfA should be fully operational by April 2017

28. Trailblazers
 ‘Go live’ this year alongside existing frameworks
 Existing frameworks will be phased out (by 2020?)
 We have –
• Trailblazer standards
• Trailblazer assessment plans
• Approved standards are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-
standards-ready-for-delivery
 Qualifications are generally not included in the new apprenticeships

29. Trailblazer delivery
 EPA must be conducted by an approved assessment organisation
 Providers can contract with employers to deliver training
 Providers cannot deliver training and EAP to the same employer
 Employers can be providers or an assessment organisation
(Providers will also provide on-going assessment and support to apprentices on an ongoing
basis)

30. Employer levy
 2% of employers will pay the levy
 Levy collected from April 2017
 Levy collected by HMRC through PAYE
Source:
Keith Smith, Director, Levy Implementation, DAS

31. GovernmentTraining
Provider
Employer
Receive
training for
apprentice
Claim
funding from
SFA
The objectives: Employer control and simplicity
The objectives: Training provider provides assurance and management
/ forecasting information
The objectives: Get the machinery right to provide a quality service while protecting public purse
“Double lock”
HMRC
collect levy
(PAYE)
Employ
Apprentice
Offer
apprenticeship
training
Price agreed
with
employer
Timely data
on training
Pay for
training with
account
balance
Employer has
online
account
Provide
training to
apprentice
Check
training to
employer
account
Pay provider
Register with
SFA
(Ofsted)
Employer and Provider Identity Assurance
Pass data on levy payments from HMRC to BIS
Unused
balance
expires
Top up
Source:
Keith Smith, Director, Levy Implementation, DAS
DigitalApprenticeshipService
(DAS)willmanagethelevy

32. Trailblazer funding rates
Source:
Trailblazer Funding Rates 16-17, Skills Funding Agency

33. How TS and the levy (should) work by 2020
 Providers will have contracts with employers and ancillary agreement
with SFA
 Any approved provider can act as a lead
 Employer contribution from levy or co-investment for non-levy
payers
 Provider payments released by ‘double lock’ – employer commitment
/ monthly data return Source:
Keith Smith, Director, Levy Implementation, DAS

34. iCQ trailblazer offer (a work in progress)
Training
training and on-going assessment
 iCQ will add the trailblazer standards to iLearner
• To enable ongoing assessment of Skills
• To enable ongoing assessment of Knowledge multiple choice tests where appropriate
• To enable ongoing assessment of Behaviours
To ensure apprentices are ready for end assessment
 iCQ plan to offer certification of Skills, Knowledge and Behaviour,
where supported by the trailblazer employer group
to provide apprentices who do not complete the end assessment with recognition of achievement

35. iCQ trailblazer offer (a work in progress)
Independent End Point Assessment
holistic assessment of the standard leading to pass or distinction
 iCQ will author EPA materials
 EPA delivery (as an assessment organisation)
• iCQ will have a small team of independent assessors
 iCQ will train and quality assure assessors delivering EPA and their
decisions

36. iCQ trailblazer offer (a work in progress)
Additional considerations (subject to provider / employer feedback)
 Develop initial assessment tools
 Author learning materials (with providers /employers)
All iCQ resources will be made available via iLearner
Pricing model – not yet finalised

37. The iCQ trailblazer package …..?
Recruitment
• Skills scan / Diagnostic tools
• Data collection for funding and monitoring
Monitoring
/ Training
• Learning resources / Multiple choice tests (for progress checking)
• Mini qualifications – to recognise achievement
End
Assessment
• End assessment (resources) including grading guide
• End assessment recording and QA
AlldeliveredviaiLearner

38. Any questions?
 And thank you for your time