Responsibility Group   ACL Extended Leadership Team

Author of Policy   CL Working Lives

Date of acceptance   July 2014

Last review date    June 2024

Next review date   August 2025

Audience   All managers, academic and support staff, volunteers, learners, and other service users engaged with apprenticeship delivery.

 This policy is in addition to the Learner Attendance Policy and Apprentice Attendance Guidance.

Stored location   Master Copy on ComEd Pool/Policies and Strategies. ACL Website  

 

​​Contents

• Policy Aims and Intentions
• The Policy
• Method of Implementation
• Monitoring and Evaluating

 

 

Policy Aims and Intentions 

 

To monitor and improve levels of attendance on apprenticeship programmes including those that are centre/employer based and online/remote learning.   

 

We aim to give apprentices the level of support needed to select and complete their apprenticeship programme, ultimately leading to successful completion of their learning aims through the End Point Assessment (EPA) process.  It is important that the service aims to be proactive in monitoring performance in this area. 

 

The Policy

 

It is the policy of the Service that apprentice attendance is monitored, reviewed and appropriate strategies are implemented to support learner attendance and retention/achievement and success. 

 

 

Method of Implementation 

 

Attendance is monitored through: 

• E-Registers 

• Observation of Teaching and Learning 

• Tutor records – ACL tutors will keep in regular contact with apprentices 

• Attendance and retention data for all provision including monitoring logging in report from the e-portfolio system, one to on meetings and attendance at taught sessions including maths and English as required 

• Course metrics for Off-Job- Learning on e-portfolio 

• Completion and achievement data for all apprenticeship provision 

• Individual Learning Plans (e-portfolio) 

• Learner feedback 

• Employer feedback (as appropriate) 

• Apprenticeship withdrawal and Break in Learning (BIL) processes 

• Progress Reviews 

• Staff personal development reviews 

 

The Service is committed to equal access to the curriculum for all its apprentices irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation or social and economic circumstances. 

 

Learners are expected to: 

• Complete at minimum an average of 6 hours per week on their apprenticeship main aim off-job learning for the duration of their planned practical learning in line with their agreed Commitment Statement/Training plan. 

• Attend maths and/or English learning where required in line with their delivery plan.  

• Attend all sessions punctually, arriving prepared and ready for a prompt start. 

• Inform ACL staff in advance of non-attendance and reasons for this. 

• Demonstrate consistently high positive attitudes and commitment to their education and/or training.  

• Have read the ACL Learner Charter and Apprentice/Learner Handbook.  

• Set a positive example by treating others with respect and dignity. 

• Feedback to their tutor or other appropriate member of staff if they feel they are not progressing. 

 

Monitoring and Evaluation

 

Tutors are expected to: 

• Follow up apprentice absence after the first non- attendance.  If there is a safeguarding concern this should be reported to the Safeguarding and EDI Lead.   

• Keep in touch with the apprentices during periods of non-attendance and monitor proposed return to learning. 

• Make necessary arrangements for learners with additional needs to receive appropriate, and timely support.  

• Provide additional leaning resources and/or support so that apprentices are not disadvantaged when exceptional circumstances prevent attendance. 

• Liaise with employers (as appropriate) if apprentices are not attending and put action plans in place for attendance to resume. 

• Deliver high quality teaching, learning and assessment that motivates and inspires apprentices to attend 

 

If an apprentice continues not to be engaged for four weeks, we will contact the apprentice and the employer to agree timely action plan to move forward. If the non-engagement is for personal, health reasons or the apprentice is transferring to another employer, a Break in Learning will be agreed. 

 

If an apprentice or employer advises that they do not wish the apprenticeship to continue, or the apprentice has left the workplace (not made redundant)– interventions will be put into place to provide opportunities to support them. If these are not successful. the apprentice will be withdrawn from the programme 

 

 

Breaks in Learning (Apprentices only)  

 

• A break in learning can be used for economic reasons, long term sickness, maternity leave, religious trips, etc. In addition, a break in learning up to 12 weeks can be agreed when an apprentice is moving to another employer and the apprenticeship will be continued once all compliance has been completed. This allows the apprentice to continue learning at a later date with the same eligibility that applied when they first started their programme.  

 

• Apprentices will not be funded during a break in learning. Evidence needs to be provided that the apprentice agrees to return and continue with the same learning aim, otherwise they will be withdrawn from the apprenticeship programme. A break in learning must not be used for short-term absences, such as holidays or short-term illness. 

 

Return to apprenticeship learning 

 

If an apprentice returns to programme after either a Break in Learning or being withdrawn, a new or amended commitment statement/training plan and apprentice agreement will be completed including a recalculated price for withdrawn learners. 

 

Related ACL Policies:  

 

Diversity and Equality Policy 

Safeguarding Policy 

Prevent Policy 

Distance Learning Policy