ITS a hair thing - May 2021

Recommencement of full EPAs

With the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, full EPAs can finally take place once more! At the time of writing, we eagerly await EPA results for two apprentices from Salon Sixteen who completed their EPA last week. Fingers crossed for distinctions!

TQUK Update: dispensations for EPA

We are currently awaiting the outcome of the discretion applications submitted to TQUK for the first cohort of apprentices requiring completion of EPA via the dispensation route. These were submitted last week and it is hoped a decision will be received in the next few days. If approved, TQUK will send across their evidence requirements. Apprentices taking this route will be required to complete a professional discussion and this will be assessed by their IEPA. We have been given an estimate of late-May for professional discussion IEPA bookings.

To gain a deeper understanding of the requirements for dispensation and professional discussion, we recommend reviewing this webinar hosted by City & Guilds (with particular interest from minute 12:00 of the recording).

Virtual Meetings with ITS

We have all become very familiar with Zoom and Teams meetings during the pandemic. ITS has used them for team meetings and our own training. We have also had a few virtual meetings with some of you to discuss particular issues such as funding rules, the apprenticeship service, apprentice motivation, and training plans. Not only did the employers find these meetings useful, we have found them helpful as we are able to obtain precious employer feedback to inform any changes to our delivery of apprenticeships (within the parameters of the funding rules).

So this article is just to make all employers aware that the Admin Team, the Head of Provision and T/A's are all available to hold ad hoc remote meetings/discussions if you need us. Just email ten/dtl-sti//ofni and we will liaise with the necessary staff and get something in the diary!

Employer Incentive Scheme

Did you hire a new apprentice between 1st August 2020 and 31st March 2021?... MAKE SURE YOU CLAIM YOUR INCENTIVE

The original incentive scheme came to an end on 31st March. If you employed and signed up a new apprentice between 1st August and 31st March, you have until 31st May to make your claim for the incentive. As we have previously advised, YOU are responsible for making the claim, we cannot do this for you, but we don't want you missing out!

If you have an apprentice on the apprenticeship service, that meet's the eligibility criteria, you need to make your claim on the apprenticeship service by the deadline of 31st May.

How to claim

• Login to your apprenticeship service account.
• Scroll to the "finance" section and click on it.
• You should see "apply for the hire a new apprentice payment". Click on it.
• Follow the instructions on each page.
• Please note you will need the salon bank details to hand.

The ESFA have created a helpful step-by-step video on how to apply. Click here to watch the YouTube video. We recommend you watch this ahead of starting your claim.

Safeguarding Children In Education - low cost online course

Everyone who comes into contact with learners, including those over the age of 18, has a responsibility to help safeguard children. This safeguarding children course is designed specifically for those who work in an education setting, including apprenticeships.

By the end of the course, you will:

• Understand your individual responsibilities for safeguarding learners of all ages, including those over the age of 18.
• Be aware of the general indicators that suggest physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect are taking place.
• Have an awareness of the specific types of abuse relevant to an educational setting and how to recognise them, including radicalisation and extremism, FGM, forced marriage, modern slavery, child sexual exploitation, child trafficking, peer on peer abuse, bullying, self-harm and self-neglect.
• Understand how to respond appropriately to a disclosure of abuse or neglect.
• Be aware of the importance of record keeping, confidentiality and reporting concerns to the appropriate people.

The course is divided into six accessible, interactive modules and includes an assessment at the end:

• Introduction and Background to Safeguarding in Education - why this course is important, laws and guidance and the difference between safeguarding and child protection.
• Mechanics of Safeguarding in Education - Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018, individual responsibilities, governing body responsibilities, headteacher responsibilities, DSO responsibilities, training, online safety and students missing from education.
• Recognising Abuse and Neglect - where does abuse take place? Signs of abuse in a student, general indicators, physical abuse (bruising, bite marks, burns and scalds, fractures, scars), recognising emotional abuse, recognising sexual abuse and recognising neglect.
• Types of Abuse and Neglect - radicalisation, extremism and terrorism, Prevent, reporting concerns, female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and modern slavery.
• Further Types of Abuse and Neglect - child sexual exploitation (CSE), grooming, child trafficking, peer on peer abuse, bullying and cyber bullying, domestic abuse, self-harm and self-neglect, special educational needs and disabilities.
• Taking Action - dealing with disclosures of abuse, concerns about abuse, recording information, confidentiality, child protection procedures, local authority procedures, family drug and alcohol courts, looked after children, working with parents and further resources.

The course costs £30 (plus VAT) and booking is available here.

Level 2 Functional Skill upskill waiver

The ESFA have confirmed an extension to the level 2 Functional Skills upskill waiver. This has been extended until 31 July 2021. This means apprentices can now pass to gateway up until 31 July 2021 without attempting level 2 Functional Skills assessments.

As always, we will continue to support apprentices in developing their maths and English skills and facilitate Functional Skills assessments where apprentices elect to take them.

Congratulations! to the following apprentices who achieved their On Programme Tasks in April:

Taylor Arentsen
Kailea Poole

Congratulations! to the following apprentices who reached gateway in April:

George Harris

Congratulations! to the following apprentices who are on track to achieve timely:

Erin Sharpin
Kiera Bancroft
Thea Smith
Taylor Arentsen
Lauren Petryna-Walters
Katy Bevan
Elise Carey
Emma Freeman
Lucy Titheridge
Ella Lomas
Lottie Friend
Jessica Gadbury

Apprentice of the month!

Another month of incredible talent! and once again, an extremely hard task to select this month's winner. Team ITS extends huge congratulations to Layla from Macco (Slide number 1) who has been voted Apprentice of the Month!

Kind regards
Lauren Pullen
Head of Provision
Inter Training Services Ltd
Mobile: 07875 303317
Web: www.its-ltd.net

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