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Apprenticeship Funding Summit ~ book now
In light of all the funding and SASE changes, I will be holding an Apprenticeship Funding Summit on the 15th March in London. This will be a unique opportunity to hear details on how Apprenticeships will be funded in 2011/12 (with practical examples), as well as updates on other important policies, such as: Minimum Contract Levels (MCL); minimum guided learning hours in the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE); introduction of the QCF and the transfer from Train to Gain. I will announce the full line-up of speakers shortly, and there is a £50 early bird discount if you book before Friday 4th February (reducing the cost to £145 + VAT per delegate and with no limit per organisation). Find out more and book your place here: http://tinyurl.com/6cbn6mw

Apprenticeship software ~ sponsored topic
Sunesis software provides a fully integrated solution to manage all aspects of Apprenticeship delivery and all forms of employer and learner responsive provisions, including qualification management, funding maximisation and learner/portfolio tracking. It is a tried and tested product which really does support the entire Apprenticeship operations process. To find out more and register your interest in a product demonstration visit: http://tinyurl.com/45htddv

New Apprenticeship standards (SASE) already criticised
In Lsect update 20-01-11 details of the final SASE were included, and the minimum guided learning hours were considered. http://tinyurl.com/69b2vsp

Ann Watson, Managing Director of the awarding organisation EAL (EMTA Awards Ltd) is quoted in a www.theengineer.co.uk article yesterday as saying the SASE has “failed to recognise the needs of the advanced skills sectors,” and “A one size fits all mentality is not appropriate for sectors which require bespoke, tailored training. In asking us to provide this, the Government is undoing what has made the engineering and manufacturing industries flagship examples of how apprenticeships should be designed and delivered.” Read the article in full here: http://tinyurl.com/4n4aypd

19+ Foundation Learning funding
Today the Skills Funding Agency confirmed to me that they have asked Ministers whether foundation learning provision (provision below Level 2 which is not Skills for Life) in 2011/12 could be fully-funded as part of the level 2 Entitlement, and are waiting a response.

Functional Skills funding and success rate update
Today the YPLA told me they will confirm in their rates document whether learner-responsive functional skills will remain unlisted (for non-schools) in 2011/12. I did of course point out that colleges are modelling the impact of the SLN rate to Entitlement and curriculum planning now, so it would be helpful to know sooner rather than later.

Also today the Skills Funding Agency confirmed to me that they are still considering whether to include functional skills in success rate calculations. The latest news on the 2010/11 success rate methodology is published here: http://tinyurl.com/4avmqf4

Outcome Incentive Payments (OIPs) ~ the latest
The Skills Funding Agency have presented their latest thinking on the pilot and longer term plans for OIPs to their external advisory group, and they are considering at least four options. Read their presentation for yourself here: http://tinyurl.com/5vjzjz2

YPLA technical funding presentation
The YPLA have been presenting more of the technical detail behind the allocations process. This including the implications of moving from the 2004 to 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) when calculating the disadvantage factor and detailed examples of how the allocations are being calculated (using the lagged learner number approach). Read their presentation for yourself here: http://tinyurl.com/6ko7n8o

Have some sympathy for Geoff Hall’s dog!
It was announced yesterday that Geoff Hall, Principal and Chief Executive of New College Nottingham, has accepted the position of information authority chairman, and is preparing to chair his first board meeting at the end of this month. Read the full announcement here: http://tinyurl.com/65lg7l4

Geoff announced his retirement from the college in May 2010 (as of July 2011), and at the time he is quoted in www.thisisnottingham.co.uk as saying: "The main motivation is to spend far more time with my wife, to smell the roses, enjoy the coffee and walk our dog.” (http://tinyurl.com/4jfpyc4).

I suspect with all the changes announced by the information authority that were listed the last Lsect update (http://tinyurl.com/4kareqb) - and after he would have accepted the job - Geoff will have plenty to keep him busy and the dog is likely to miss out on the walks!

In all seriousness, I know Geoff and he is a great appointment. I wish him well.

Kind regards,

Nick
www.twitter.com/nicklinford