On 11th February 2025, the Department for Education announced that the requirement for all apprentices over the age of 19 in all sectors to study functional skill qualifications (FSQs) will now be determined by the apprentice’s employer. This represents a new approach to functional skills qualifications in apprenticeships.
Numeracy, literacy and digital skills remain important for all occupations in health and care, however. In most cases, these skills will be aligned strongly to the requirements of the occupational Knowledge Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) in the relevant apprenticeship. These are already designed to meet occupational competence and deliver safe, quality patient care.
The new rules state that the study of FSQs (Functional Skill Qualifications) is now optional for apprentices over the age of 19 and in the gift of the employer. It is not for either the education provider, or the apprentice, to take the decision to stop studying their FSQ, without consultation with both other parties.
All employers and education providers should still aspire to provide access to high quality English and maths training. This is so that the literacy and numeracy skills for each post are achieved and for the purposes of the apprentice’s future development.
Check out frequently asked questions on the functional skills changes.