ASDAN Supporting Apprenticeships

The government is aiming to create 350,000 apprenticeships during this parliamentary term. John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, has said: "The government has put apprenticeships at the heart of our programme for skills. We have already delivered 100,000 new places and will create 250,000 more over this parliament."

ASDAN Education is introducing a number of new resources to support the delivery of this provision.

All frameworks must specify the number of guided learning hours (GLH) that an apprentice must receive for completion - a minimum of 280 GLH, of which at least 100 GLH or 30% (whichever is greater) must be delivered ‘off the job’ and clearly evidenced. ASDAN's resources can support off-the-job delivery and its focus on teaching and learning in the following areas.

Functional Skills

Function Junction is a development activity resource that helps learners prepare for Functional Skills assessments in Mathematics and English. It is suitable for use in off-the-job learning as part of an Intermediate or Advanced apprenticeship framework.

Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills

Intermediate, Advanced and Higher apprenticeships specify that an apprentice has to achieve the standards of attainment set out in the Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) framework. All three framework levels must specify where achievement of the PLTS is located within the apprenticeship programme - either within a qualification or elsewhere - and how achievement will be evidenced.

ASDAN has developed a series of resources that are suitable for supporting apprenticeship delivery in this area. Resources can provide activity-based learning as well as recording of PLTS. The Level 3 resources can be used with those following Advanced apprenticeships.

Activity-based development materials provide learners with activities to practise and develop their skills linked with on-the-job experience and can be integrated into occupational areas. PLTS logbooks provide a suitable recording document for apprenticeship frameworks. The logbook enables learners to track their PLTS within a range of contexts associated with their apprenticeship framework. Download the PLTS information flyer for further details.

Tutor guidance for PLTS

ASDAN PLTS publications are supported by tutor guidance that provides practical advice to staff implementing and delivering this provision. A copy of the relevant tutor guidance can be downloaded for free or hard copies can be purchased from the online catalogue.

Employability

ASDAN's Employability qualifications provide a useful preparation route into apprenticeship programmes pre- and post-16.