ESFA Update further education: 15 April 2020
Published 15 April 2020
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-15-april-2020/esfa-update-further-education-15-april-2020
1. Latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance about COVID-19 in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students on GOV.UK.
Please check GOV.UK regularly for updates.
There is also guidance on the apprenticeship service about COVID-19.
2. Information: Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers - applications from employers of critical workers
As previously communicated, and due to the COVID 19 outbreak, the Register will close to new applications at midnight today, 15 April 2020. However, we are keen to ensure that levy paying employers delivering services critical to the COVID-19 response, such as Police Forces and the NHS, are able to provide the apprenticeship training their organisation needs.
Levy payers that employ critical workers, as defined by DfE’s advice to schools, may be permitted to apply to the employer provider route by exception whilst the Register is closed, and should contact their Account Manager in the National Apprenticeship Service for further information in the first instance.
3. Information: Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers – Conditions of Acceptance
We have made changes to one of the Conditions of Acceptance to the Register in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and to allow providers greater flexibility in these challenging times. All main providers and employer providers had to agree to these Conditions when they made their application.
Main providers and employer providers are now required to directly deliver apprenticeship training within 24 (previously 12) months of being listed on the register, or in any 24 (previously 12) month period. Delivery as a sub-contractor does not count as direct delivery for these purposes.
The updated Conditions of Acceptance have been published on GOV.UK.
4. Information: COVID-19 – information and guidance on payment of suppliers to ensure service continuity
Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 220 sets out information and guidance for public bodies on payment of their suppliers to ensure service continuity during and after the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Contracting authorities, including the Department for Education, are considering how to respond to suppliers at risk so that they are in a position to resume normal contract delivery once the outbreak is over.
Cabinet Office has also issued an FAQ document that is updated regularly to support you with implementing the PPN guidance.
DfE’s commercial team is available to support schools should they have any further questions, please contact PPN0220.QUESTIONS@education.gov.uk.
5. Information: availability of Recruit an apprentice and Find an apprenticeship
Recruit an apprentice and Find an apprenticeship will both be unavailable on 20 and 21 April 2020. These services will be available again from 22 April 2020. For information any vacancies approved on 20 and 21 April 2020 will not show in Find an apprenticeship service until after 22 April 2020.
Please can you also check with your employers that previously posted apprenticeship vacancies are still valid and open for applications.