The content of this Pathway has been agreed by Learning & Skills Improvement Service (LSIS). This is the only Learning and Development Apprenticeship Pathway in the Education and Information Services sector approved for use in Wales that is eligible for Medr funding.
Learning Programme Content
The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:
- Qualifications,
- Essential Skills
- On/off the job training
The total minimum credit value required for the Level 3 Pathway in Learning & Development is 48 credits.
Entry requirements
New entrants for the Apprenticeship must have:
- Vocational competence in an area of their choice; and
- Access to a learning environment.
It would also be advantageous for entrants to have successfully completed any of the following:
- The Welsh Baccalaureate, GCSEs in English and Mathematics, or equivalent level literacy and numeracy awards;
- Foundation learning programmes of study; or
- Any relevant previous work or training in areas related to learning and development.
Entrants to this apprenticeship will also need to be:
Motivated to succeed in completing the apprenticeship; Well organised; Flexible and adaptable; willing to learn and apply what they have learnt in the workplace; willing and able to communicate effectively with a range of people; and Numerate, literate and able to use ICT.
Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)
Level 3: Learning & Development
Level 3: Learning & Development Qualifications
Participants must achieve one of the following combined qualification(s) below.
| Level 3 Certificate in Learning and Development | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| City & Guilds | C00/0392/2 600/2746/0 | 30 | 300 | Combined | English Only |
| Agored Cymru | C00/0620/8 | 30 | 300 | Combined | English-Welsh |
Please see Annex 1 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge units within the combined qualification.
Essential Skills Wales (ESW)
| Level 3: Learning & Development | Level | Minimum Credit Value |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2 | 6 |
| Application of number | 2 | 6 |
| Digital literacy | 2 | 6 |
Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh
On/Off the Job training
| Pathway | Minimum On the Job Training Hours | Minimum Off the Job Training Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3: Learning & Development | 171 | 149 |
On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
Level 3 Certificate in Learning and Development - 30 credits/320 GLH
Average duration of this pathway is 14 months.
On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Digital Literacy
Other additional requirements
The Apprenticeship may involve working with children/young people and/or vulnerable adults, entrants must be willing to undergo a criminal records bureau (CRB) check.
Individual employers may require learners to attend supplementary training, such as in the essentials of first aid or health and safety, providing this is relevant and necessary in helping a learner carry out their role in the organisation. However, this will not be a mandatory requirement for achieving an apprenticeship completion certificate.
Progression
Learners may progress into the pathway through a number of routes including:
- Relevant previous work experience and training, or volunteering;
- Vocational qualifications (including Apprenticeships); and
- Academic qualifications (e.g. The Welsh Baccalaureate, GCSEs and A Levels).
The pathway provides a sound basis for people to undertake further learning and development of their careers in the Learning and Development sector. Progression could be to higher level courses and qualifications or more senior roles, including into other areas such as management, wider HR, finance and project management.
Examples of higher level courses and/or Higher Education opportunities may include (but are not limited to) professional degrees and other awards in the learning and development sector, and professional qualifications and awards of other bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
It is expected that almost all apprentices will advance their career through further development and progression and that opportunities exist across all sectors of industry to achieve this.
Equality and diversity
It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.
The Protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.
Training providers and employers MUST also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics.
The Learning & Development sector values and celebrates the contributions made by different individuals, groups and communities; and is committed to their support and promotion.
Education and Training in Learning & Development is committed to eliminating discrimination, to advancing equality of opportunity for all involved and to fostering good relations between diverse groups.
There are some key issues around recruitment and retention within the Learning and Development sector. A key priority will therefore be to use the Apprenticeship Pathway to help promote L&D as a career option to diverse groups that may have traditionally not been attracted to this area of work, and to encourage participation from a wider range of learner groups. Flexible entry conditions will also help to attract applicants from under-represented groups, therefore opening up the potential of a more diverse workforce.
The principles of equality and diversity relate to all those systems and procedures, which have the potential to discriminate against apprentices at any point during the programme – from recruitment, selection, and induction, through to successful completion. It is expected that all partners involved in the delivery of the Apprenticeship – providers, assessment centres and employers:
- Must demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity and have an equality and diversity policy or mission statement in place;
- There should be open recruitment process which is available to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, race or ethnic origin, gender or gender identity, religion or belief and sexual orientation or who meet the stated selection criteria; and
- Employers and providers must be able to demonstrate that there are no discriminatory practices in place regarding selection and employment.
Data and other information will be collected to monitor the impact of the Apprenticeships in relation to equality and diversity, and to take action to redress any potential imbalance in the profile of individuals that are being recruited to the Apprenticeship programme, or which can inform the development of case studies to promote good practice.
Employment responsibilities and rights
Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory. But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18 year group) receive a company induction programme.
Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Training Provider and Employer to ensure that the requirements of this pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government/Medr Apprenticeships Guidance.
Further information may be obtained from: Medr
Annex 1 Level 3: Learning & Development
Competence and knowledge have been integrated within this qualification but are assessed separately.
To be awarded this qualification the learner must achieve a minimum of 30 credits, 12 of which are mandatory and 18 optional.
A summary of which units of the qualification relate primarily to competence, which units relate primarily to knowledge and those that address both competence and knowledge is as follows:
- Understanding the principles and practices of learning and development (6 Knowledge credits)
- Reflect on and improve own practice in learning and development (4 Competence and 2 Knowledge credits)
- Facilitate learning and development in groups (4 Competence and 2 Knowledge credits)
- Facilitate learning and development for individuals (4 Competence and 2 Knowledge credits)
- Identify individual learning and development needs (2 Competence and 1 Knowledge credits)
- Plan and prepare specific learning and development opportunities (6 Competence credits)
- Develop and prepare resources for learning and development (4 Competence and 2 Knowledge credits)
- Engage learners in the learning and development process (3 Competence and 3 Knowledge credits)
- Evaluate and improve learning and development provision (3 Competence and 3 Knowledge credits)
- Understanding the principles and practices of assessment (3 Knowledge credits)
- Assess occupational competence in the work environment (6 Competence credits)
- Assess vocational skills, knowledge and understanding (6 Competence credits)
- Provide information and advice to learners and employers (2 Competence and 1 Knowledge credits)
- Engage with employers to develop and support learning provision (3 Competence and 3
- Knowledge credits) Understanding the employing organisation (3 Knowledge credits)
The Level 3 Certificate in Learning and Development contains mandatory and optional units. Assessors should offer guidance to apprentices to ensure they select optional units that are most suitable for their role, needs and circumstances.