If you’re delivering standards like frameworks, you’re doing it wrong

Many providers are still struggling to deliver apprenticeship standards effectively.  

The problem is, they’re trying to deliver them like frameworks.

Unlike frameworks, the new standards focus on learning rather than assessment, and the KSBs have to be evidenced and recorded in a completely different way.

This has left some providers stumped. They don’t have the right technology to deliver standards properly and their assessors don’t have the right training.  

This has had a detrimental effect for some providers – and learners are suffering too. Many providers are struggling with the shift towards learning and don’t know how to benchmark, demonstrate and measure learning – which isn’t surprising as they’ve never had to do it before. 

If this confusion continues, it’ll impact timely completions and potentially the provider’s Ofsted grade.  

Making sure providers are delivering standards effectively is crucial for the future of apprenticeships. Providers need to get it right for the sake of the learners, but also to benefit from all the other opportunities the new standards bring:  

• Develop collaborative training with employers 
• Improve the quality of apprenticeship training 
• Increase the amount of apprenticeship starts  
• Reduce the UK skills gap 

So what can providers do?

FOCUS ON LEARNING

Instead of testing competencies, the new standards focus on the apprentice’s learning journey – so providers should too. They need to help apprentices develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours and record evidence of their progression of learning.  

LET LEARNERS LEAD

The standards also focus on learner-led self-assessment. Providers need to give apprentices the opportunity to rate their own progression and see how they improve throughout the programme. Tutors can then use the apprentice’s scores to plan learning activities.  

OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING

Off-the-job training is new too, and providers are struggling to plan and record relevant training outside the apprentice’s normal job role. Providers need to explore all the different types of activities that can count towards off-the-job and find an easy way to record evidence against the 20% requirement.  

PREPARE FOR THE EPA

Providers need to make sure their apprentices are well prepared for the end-point assessment before they enter the gateway. Tutors can use quizzes and mock tests to track learner progress and see how they’d perform during the EPA.  

Another big change is the type of technology providers need to support their apprenticeship delivery. Delivering apprenticeship standards is a completely different ballgame than delivering frameworks, so traditional eportfolios are no longer up to scratch. Providers need to use a learning software with all the features they need to deliver standards – like OneFile.  

We’ve upgraded our software and added tons of new features to support the apprenticeship standards – like a VLE, learning journal, off-the-job training tracker, learner scorecards and progress reports. It means learners, tutors and managers have everything they need at their fingertips, all in one place.

Supporting over 600,000 users worldwide, OneFile is the UK’s leading eportfolio for learning and development – and winner of the 2017 Queen’s Award for Innovation. But we do more than sell software. We believe people deserve to reach their full potential – that’s why we’ve made it our mission to shape the futures of 1 million people by 2020.  

To achieve this, we’ve developed OneFile into an all-in-one learning software ideal for all types of vocational training. It’s a training eportfolio, assessment software, learning environment and CPD tracker – with more features than any other on the market.