An Apprenticeship Standard can be summarised in the 4 following steps:
1. Sign up - Includes an initial assessment and skill-scan to identify the Apprentices starting point and identify the Skills, Behaviours and Knowledge that need to be developed.
2. On-Programme Delivery – Using a range of learning activities to develop Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours aligned to the Standard, along with the employability skills of Maths and English.
3. Gateway – To ensure that the Apprentice has developed the Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours as identified at sign up, along with the achievement of mandatory aspects of the Apprenticeship (E.g. Functional Skills). Mock Assessments will ensure the Apprentice is ‘tested’ and ‘assessment’ ready with the activities mirroring the requirements of End Point Assessment.
4. End Point Assessment – The Apprentice is assessed through an independent assessment, to judge whether they demonstrate the Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours as specified for the Standard and would receive a grade outcome.
Progress Coaches - may be non-specialist to the area, however have excellent skills for mentoring and coaching you as the apprentice with an understanding of sustainable attributes, the relationship between personal and professional development.
They will work alongside your Trainer and College tutor to coordinate your training.
Progress Coaches will periodically meet with you and your employer in the workplace, or remotely if preferable, to review progress in line with their training requirements and career goals.
Trainers are subject specialists in their industry area and have excellent industry knowledge and experience, they will work alongside the Progress Coaches. You will be visited at the workplace, by the Trainer who will assess and observe your practical skills, knowledge and behaviours in line with the apprenticeship standard and any qualification if included.
Each visit will also provide assessment planning for the next visit, so as the apprentice you are fully aware of the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be observed.
In some cases the Trainer will carry out both the role of Progress Coach and Trainer particularly if they have workplace delivery on site.
Off the job Tutors deliver the training at college generally on a day release model. Tutors have a breadth of knowledge and experience within the specific industry teaching to a high standard.
They will support you with theory sessions, as well as practical sessions within the college workshops.
In some cases you may not attend college, however your Trainer and Progress coach with share the plan of your training which maybe workplace, masterclasses, google classroom or live remote sessions.
If you are required to attend maths/English classes you will be allocated to a group and tutor by your Progress Coach/Trainer.
This meeting carried out by the Business Development Team will get you started with your training and induction activities on SVLE. The End Point Assessment Organisation will also be determined in consultation with your employer.
Your apprenticeship agreement with your employer will have your end date of on programme learning and then your full duration of contract which included gateway. This gives a 3 month timeline from end date to achieve your End point assessment.
This meeting will ensure that all aspects of your apprenticeship are explained and you have access to the required systems. You will also have a overview of Smart Assessor and how to begin using this e-system.
These meetings would generally take place every 10 weeks, and will review progress of all learning and set targets for the next meeting. These meeting would generally be at the workplace, however online options may be in place in a few industries. Your employer will also attend part of this meeting to provide feedback and targets.
We understand that there may be times in your apprenticeship where you would benefit from additional guidance and support with progress, performance and any personal support and development. these meeting would be determined by the Progress Coach/Trainer to support you back on track.
Planning throughout your apprenticeship for observations/assessments required at the workplace/Site be arranged with you and your employer to determine assessment opportunities for specific jobs required in the Apprenticeship Standard.
When your training has completed on programme, this meeting will review any gaps in learning or further evidence required to enter gateway ready for your End Point Assessment. You also need to ensure that you have your final portfolio evidence ready to provide to the End Point Assessment organisation.
This meeting will take place prior to your end date to ensure you are on track.
This meeting with involve signing a triparty agreement between you the apprentice, your employer and Trainer to confirm you are ready to enter gateway and evidence is ready for End point Assessment, this includes your maths and English evidence for mandatory or working towards.
Throughout your apprenticeship your Trainer will plan Mock End Point assessments to support you with your knowledge and skills. Your progress Coach will periodically carry out professional discussion with you in relation to the behaviours you have built along your apprenticeship so that you can clearly articulate at your End Point Assessment.
This final meeting would generally take place once End point Assessment is achieved. This will enable the Progress Coach /Trainer obtain your feedback of your apprenticeship programme and determined your next steps in your further career.
For the Apprenticeship Standard we (as the Training Provider) work collaboratively with your Employers and
Apprentices generally attend college on a day release model, workplace delivery or a range of master classes/remote/recorded sessions dependent on the standard. You would be informed of the type of delivery at sign up and further guidance by your Trainer/Progress Coach at your induction meeting.
We use a range of tools and remote platforms, they include:
Smart Assessor - This is the college e-portfolio system which includes the off-the-job learning and time log, resources and progress indicators. Employers can have access if they wish to enable tracking of the apprentices apprenticeship.
Please note - Motor Vehicle and Heavy Vehicle also use IMI portfolio system, Progress coaches will give access and support with this system for workplace mentors.
SVLE - is an online virtual platform and part of Smart Assessor with activities as well as further courses, work is sent by an automated learning and assessment tool via email. For example, this tool is used to ensure Apprentices understanding of skills to develop eg, strengths and weakness, Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety. Apprentices will also use this prior to sign up for their initial assessment in Maths and English.
Google Classroom - often used by Tutors/Trainers this enables them to post regular sessions for independent study. This is useful for when your apprentices is absent or has been on annual leave as well as for revision.
Apprentice Community Hub - apprentices will be linked to a range of resources and activities throughout their apprenticeship. This learning tool is to support development of apprentices personal and professional skills, which contribute to their sustainable attributes, adding value to you as the employer.
Education & Training Foundation (ETF) - side by side models for safeguarding and Prevent, guidance and link is within the SVLE induction activities to be completed within the first 8 weeks.