Understanding Apprenticeships at The University of Salford

UNDERSTANDING APPRENTICESHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD

APPRENTICESHIP GUIDES Welcome to the University of Salford’s (UoS) apprenticeship guides which we have written to help you on your apprenticeship. The guides cover key apprenticeship topics such as our Individual Learning Model and Six Fundamentals. All the guides can be found on the Apprentice hub.

This guide is an introduction to apprenticeships and aims to introduce you to some important elements of an apprenticeship programme.

WHAT IS AN APPRENTICESHIP? / An apprenticeship is a job with training / Apprenticeships are used to plug skills gaps in the local economy / Apprenticeships are paid for through the apprenticeship levy, a tax paid by employers / Apprenticeships are subject to additional rigorous external audit and inspection / Each apprenticeship programme has its own apprenticeship standard / Apprenticeship standards are written by groups of employers who identify the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) apprentices must achieve by the end of the apprenticeship / E mployers also write the End Point Assessment (EPA) which is the final test of occupational competence / Providers, such as the University of Salford, deliver the apprenticeship standards / A key element of a successful apprenticeship is the partnership between the apprentice, the employer and the provider (university)

APPRENTICESHIP BENEFITS Employers: hiring an apprentice is an effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.

Apprentices: are provided with the opportunity to achieve a qualification, gain work experience and guidance from industry experts and get paid while they train without accruing student debt.

University: apprenticeships allow universities to diversify their learner population, increase social mobility and boost the economy.

APPRENTICESHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD Apprenticeships are at the heart of what we do at the University of Salford. Having delivered apprenticeships since 2016, we are a leading provider of higher and degree apprenticeships across health, society, science, engineering, and construction. We partner with over 500 national and local organisations providing apprentices with a wide range of opportunities to develop industry relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours. With an apprenticeship, you earn and learn whilst on the job, putting new found skills into practice and building real world experience.

Visit our apprenticeship page to find out more: salford.ac.uk/apprenticeships

APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS AND EPA / Each apprenticeship has its own standard / Each apprenticeship standard consists of:

A list of knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) A detailed End Point Assessment plan (EPA) / The KSBs are specific to the job role / KSBs are taught, developed and assessed at university and in the

workplace / The End Point Assessment (EPA) ensures apprentices have reached

the necessary level of competence to be awarded an apprenticeship certificate

OFF-THE-JOB LEARNING / Off-the-job (OTJ) learning is training that delivers new skills, which are

linked to the apprenticeship standard / Throughout the apprenticeship, employers must provide apprentices

with regular OTJ learning which must take place during the apprentice’s normal working hours / The university works closely with the employer to plan and coordinate

the apprentice’s OTJ learning / OTJ learning consists of academic and work-based learning (e.g.

employer CPD sessions, industry visits, and shadowing) to develop new KSBs relevant to the apprenticeship standard / The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) stipulate how

much OTJ learning an apprentice must have on average each week throughout their apprenticeship / The amount of OTJ learning required is confirmed at the start of the

apprenticeship and detailed in the training plan / Apprentices must regularly log their OTJ learning, and the university is

required to monitor this / The university monitors the quality of the OTJ learning and works with

the apprentice and employer to address any challenges / Alongside OTJ learning, apprentices spend most of their time on-the-

job applying and embedding their new KSBs

PROGRESS REVIEW MEETINGS (PRMs) / Regular Progress Review Meetings (PRMs) are held to monitor apprentice progress towards achieving the KSBs / PRMs are a requirement of the apprenticeship / The apprentice, employer and the university are required to attend each PRM / P reparation for the PRM by the apprentice, employer and university is important / The PRM is a three way discussion to review individual progress with academic studies and work based learning / All parties must sign the PRM as evidence they agree with its contents

BREAK IN LEARNING (BIL) / Sometimes an apprentice needs to take a break in learning (BIL) / This might be due to a number of factors including personal issues such as ill-health / There are funding body requirements that require a BIL e.g. absence from learning for a period of time / The employer has to agree to the BIL and a meeting is usually held with the apprentice, employer and university to discuss the reasons for the BIL and agree a Supportive Action Plan (SAP) / The SAP will detail any support required throughout the BIL and on return to the apprenticeship

INDIVIDUAL LEARNING MODEL (ILM) At the University of Salford we have developed an Individual Learning Model (ILM)

THE ILM CONSISTS OF: 1. An individual learning plan (ILP) based on individual starting points, six fundamentals and individual target for the apprenticeship 2. Individual SMART goals based on the ILP 3. Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) (where required) 4. Individual progress status (RAGB) 5. Supportive Action Plan (SAP) (where required) 6. Progress Review Meetings (PRM) 7. Review of ILP 1. INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PLAN (ILP) A. INDIVIDUAL STARTING POINTS

Skills scan against the KSBs Prior learning Prior experience Additional learning needs BKSB maths and English results B. SIX FUNDAMENTALS C. TARGET FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP (EPA)

INDIVIDUAL LEARNING MODEL (ILM)

2. INDIVIDUAL SMART GOALS 3. REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT PLAN (RAP) 4. PROGRESS STATUS (RAGB) 5. SUPPORTIVE ACTION PLAN (SAP) 6. PROGRESS REVIEW MEETINGS (PRMs) 7. REVIEW OF ILP FOR NEXT LEVEL OF STUDY

SIX FUNDAMENTALS / W e have developed the University of Salford’s Six Fundamentals / Each of the Six Fundamentals are designed to support successful completion of the apprenticeship and enhance employability / Apprentices complete e-learning on the Six Fundamentals including a module on safeguarding during induction / The Six Fundamentals are embedded throughout the apprenticeship and discussed at every PRM Please see our supporting guide on the Six Fundamentals.

Safeguarding & Prevent Health, wellbeing & enrichment

Careers & employability Six Fundamentals End Point Assessment (EPA)

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Maths, English & digital

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT COACHES (LDCs) ur experienced Learning and Development Coaches (LDCs) support O apprentices and employers throughout the apprenticeship, they: / Attend PRMs / E nsure effective communication between the apprentice, employer and university / E nsure the ILP is of high quality and provide support, stretch/challenge through individual SMART goals / Work with programme teams to ensure RAPs are in place / S upport apprentices by identifying when they are not progressing as expected and ensure Supportive Action Plans are in place to get the apprentice back on track / Enable apprentices to access appropriate student experience services / Work with employers to ensure appropriate support and learning is provided in the workplace / Support apprentices to review their ILP for each level of study

REPORT + SUPPORT We take the safety of our apprentices, students and staff seriously and we believe that bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual violence, discrimination, domestic abuse, stalking, physical violence, racism, microaggressions and hate crime are never OK. Anyone can report any concerns to Report + Support. It is important to speak up so that we can act on it and support those involved. reportandsupport.salford.ac.uk

SUPPORT AND FURTHER INFORMATION The University of Salford’s Individual Learning Model and Six Fundamentals Apprenticeship Guides are on the Apprentice Hub site along with lots of other useful information: testlivesalfordac.sharepoint.com/sites/Apprenticeships/ All of our student services can be found at AskUS including Disability and Learner Support and Wellbeing and Counselling: salford.ac.uk/askus The Student Union has lots of clubs, societies and activities to get involved in: salfordstudents.com/your-union Check out our first class sports facilities: salford.ac.uk/sports-centre The Library’s Skills website offers a wide range of study skills training. If you need to improve your IT skills, learn how to find information for your assignments or improve your study skills this is a great place to start: salford.ac.uk/skills To complement specialist Library support we also provide free online English, maths and digital support: Wordscope for help with common writing issues salford.ac.uk/skills/writing-support/wordscope Mathscope helps with maths and statistics problems salford.ac.uk/skills/maths-and-numeracy-support/mathscope Microsoft Office courses are located here: salford.ac.uk/skills/it-skills/microsoft-office-courses The Careers and Enterprise Service offer a range of services, including impartial advice and guidance, plus employability workshops and resources. Visit: salford.ac.uk/careers

ACRONYM

MEANING

BIL

Break in Learning

EPA

End Point Assessment

ILM

Individual Learning Model

ILP

Individual Learning Plan

KSB

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours

LDC

Learning and Development Coach

OTJ

Off-The-Job

PRM

Progress Review Meeting

RAP

Reasonable Adjustment Plan

SAP

Supportive Action Plan

UoS

University of Salford

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