Specification of apprenticeship standards for England (SASE)

Sets out the minimum requirements for the inclusion of an apprenticeship programme in a recognised English apprenticeship framework.

Documents

Details

This guidance is for:

• training providers and employers developing apprenticeship programmes
• developers of apprenticeship frameworks
• issuing authorities for apprenticeship frameworks

The specification of apprenticeship standards (SASE) sets out the minimum statutory requirements that training providers and employers must meet when submitting an apprenticeship programme for inclusion in a framework.

The information requirement sets out the non-statutory requirements for supporting information that framework developers should include in an annex to an apprenticeship framework.

Framework developers and issuing authorities must consult the SASE guidance when deciding whether a submission to a framework complies with the minimum requirements.

The live list of apprenticeship frameworks is also available.

Under our reforms, employer-designed apprenticeship standards will replace apprenticeship frameworks. From 2017 onwards as many apprenticeship starts as possible will be on the new standards.

Published 7 March 2013
Last updated 17 August 2018 + show all updates

1. 17 August 2018 Updated ‘Specification of apprenticeship standards for England (SASE)’ to reflect recent changes to the English, maths and ICT requirements in apprenticeships approved by the Secretary of State.
2. 19 July 2017 Updated SASE specification to reflect changes to the English and maths requirements in apprenticeships as approved by the Secretary of State.
3. 30 March 2017 Amended the ‘Specification of apprenticeship standards’ to include British sign language as an alternative qualification to English.
4. 5 October 2015 SASE specification document updated to cover the removal of the regulatory rules for the Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) and the introduction of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
5. 12 February 2015 The main Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) document and the related guidance document have been updated. They now incorporate modifications to the specification of ‘Functional Skills / GCSE / Other Alternatives’.
6. 7 March 2013 Published updated versions of the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England and the related Information Requirements and Guidance.
7. 7 March 2013 First published.

Topics

• Hiring and training an apprentice

Guidance and regulation

1. Search for apprenticeship standards
   • Detailed guide
2. Employing an apprentice
   • Guide
3. Apprenticeship funding bands
   • Guidance