New QCF ESOL Skills for Life qualifications: funding arrangements for 2014 to 2015 (published October 2014)
Updated 7 October 2014
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2014
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esol-qualifications-interim-arrangements/new-qualifications-and-credit-framework-english-for-speakers-of-other-languages-skills-for-life-qualifications-funding-arrangements-for-2014-to-2015
1. Background and purpose
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In May 2014 we issued a note setting out interim funding arrangements, up to 31 December 2014, for the current suite of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications. Since that time the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) has accredited new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) ESOL Skills for Life qualifications. These are operationally available for delivery 2014 to 2015.
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This note sets out the funding arrangements for the new QCF ESOL Skills for Life qualifications and confirms that the Skills Funding Agency (the Agency) will stop funding the existing ESOL qualifications from 31 December 2014. However, continuing learners will be able to complete their existing qualifications.
2. Funding Arrangements
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In the funding year 2014 to 2015, the Agency will fund new QCF ESOL in line with single rates as set out in the funding matrix. In addition to these rates, colleges and training organisations (providers) offering these new qualifications can claim additional funding using the ‘non-regulated’ funding mechanism to take account of any shortfall in funding resulting from the rates matrix. This means that for learners undertaking their QCF ESOL qualification, where single rates do not provide enough funding to cover costs, the provider can add to this using the ‘non-regulated’ mechanism.
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You can record the additional funding using ‘learning aim class codes’ and as such we will fund it using providers’ planned guided learning hours. This is the same approach used for non-regulated ESOL provision and is explained in the Funding Rates 2014 to 2015 and Appendix H of the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) specification. Learning support is also available for ESOL learners where required, in accordance with our Funding Rules.
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We have agreed this approach following consultation with the Agency’s Funding External Technical Advisory Group (FETAG) and it is intended to reflect the diverse nature of the ESOL learner intake. It retains the use of the matrix but enables ‘top-up’ where necessary, and only for those learners where the single rate is insufficient to complete their QCF ESOL qualification.
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These ‘top up’ arrangements do not apply to learners whose main learning aim is non-regulated provision.
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The new QCF ESOL qualifications will be approved automatically for delivery and included in the Simplified Funding Rates Catalogue, due for publication in November 2014. They will also appear on the Learning Aims Search Facility in the Hub two to three weeks after publication of the Catalogue. Qualifications will be backdated to their operational start date.
3. 2014 to 2015 Interim ESOL Funding Arrangements
With the new QCF ESOL qualifications now accredited, providers can organise their implementation and necessary delivery arrangements. We will remove the interim funding arrangement for the current ESOL qualifications from 31 December 2014. We will not approve existing ESOL qualifications for public funding after 31 December 2014. However, continuing learners will be able to complete their existing qualifications.