Countdown Issue 956

Yesterday I got a short email in my inbox from the Tory party – I get them from all the parties before you ask, and I think they grabbed my email before the days of GDPR. As my parents will tell you, they still get letters for me at their house from all the parties as many years ago I joined all three parties for a year so that I could go to their conferences at member rates – I think that is against all the rules, but I didn’t know at the time! Anyway, it wasn’t a long email from the Tories

Thousands of SMEs denied chance to recruit apprentices as a result of levy shortage, latest AELP survey finds

Thousands of SMEs denied chance to recruit apprentices as a result of levy shortage, latest AELP survey finds Two-fifths of training providers are having to turn away smaller businesses wanting to recruit apprentices because of the growing shortfall in funding from the £2.8bn apprenticeship levy. The levy is designed to fund the entire apprenticeship programme for large and small employers but providers are now on average turning down approaches from 40 SMEs each due to their non-levy

Countdown Issue 955

New Year, New Challenges Happy New Year – here we go 2020!! It is a shame that my break got interrupted by blatant publicity grabbing fake news about fake apprenticeships, squeezing the pips out of a story once again. That wasn’t reality two years ago, let alone in 2020. Anyway, what has been quite encouraging is the backlash against the report and a tide of agreement that actually apprenticeships at all levels, and particularly level 2, have real value and we need more not less.

20% Off the Job Training - Making it work for you

20% Off-the -Job Training is still seen as the biggest barrier to Apprenticeship growth. This webinar reviews the key rules and how they can be interpreted to ensure that providers deliver an effective apprenticeship programme.

Understanding and preparing for the requirements of the New Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF) (Manchester)

An essential guide to understanding the content of the EIF. How inspectors will form their judgments on the quality of education and how colleges and training providers can gather and present evidence to demonstrate how their work meets or exceeds the expectations of the inspection framework.

A Day with Ofsted

Ofsted continues to play a vital part in the further education and skills system. Inspection can be a major 'make or break' event for a provider. Understanding how Ofsted looks at things, its latest thinking, and where its concerns lie, is important for all of us.