From 29th September 2017 the new minimum English and maths requirements needed to complete an apprenticeship has been adjusted to Entry level 3 functional skills for a defined group of people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has summarised the adjustment as follows:
• The apprentice has either an existing or previously issued Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) or a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA).
• The provider has conducted an evidenced assessment demonstrating that even with support, reasonable adjustments and stepping stone qualifications the apprentice is not able to achieve English or maths to the minimum level as a result of their learning difficulty or disability.
• The employer and provider must reasonably expect that the apprentice will be able to successfully achieve all other aspects of the apprenticeship requirements, become occupationally competent and achieve Entry Level 3 in the adjusted subject(s) before the end of their apprenticeship.
• There are no minimum requirements in the framework or standard that are higher than the minimum apprenticeship requirements.
The new rules can apply to new apprentices, as well as existing apprentices.
Full details of the changes to improve Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (LLDD) access to apprenticeships can be found on here.
A comparison between adult skill levels:
| Adult UK | Schools |
| Level 2 | New GCSE 9-4 / Old GCSE A* – C |
| Level 1 | New GCSE 3-1 / Old GCSE D – G |
| Entry Level 3 | Expected age 9 to 11 |
| Entry Level 2 | Expected age 7 to 9 |
| Entry Level 1 | Expected age 5 to 7 |