ESOL funding & qualification
changes 2014
How ESOL is funded now
• On GLH per learner up to 450 hours per year:
ESOL will no longer be calculated on Guided Learning Hours (GLH) Instead,
ESOL will be listed on the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF). Currently,
providers are paid for delivery up to 450 hours, 1 Standard Learner Number
(SLN) so if a student completes a course of study in 100 hours, the provider
is paid for 100 hours; if she does 420 hours, the provider is paid for 420
hours.
• Learners are unaccredited or take ESOL
qualifications E1- L2
First the good news.... some
unaccredited provision remains
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Categories of non-regulated provision approved for funding
69.Non-regulated provision eligible for funding in 2014/2015 must be one of
the following.
69.1. Provision for learners with learning difficulties or disabilities as part
of a personalised learning programme where there is no
appropriate vocational or non-vocational regulated qualification
available.
69.2. Provision for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL),
where there is no appropriate regulated qualification available. (You
must take account of the introduction of new ESOL Skills for Life
QCF qualifications before enrolling an individual onto non-regulated
provision).
69.3. Provision in the area of Preparation for Work, where there is no
appropriate alternative regulated qualification available. (We expect
the volume of your provision in this area to be at the same level as
in recent years.)
70.For any non-regulated provision we fund in the categories above, you
must:
70.1. apply the Recognising and Recording Progression and
Achievement (RARPA) standards and keep the necessary
evidence within each Learning Agreement; and
70.2. provide the learner with a clear record of their achievement. This
can be in the form of a certificate.
71.Any non-regulated learning aims not in one of the categories above will not
be available for funding in 2014/2015, with the exception of learners who
are continuing learning aims.
Changes in the funding structure
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The funding goes from GLH to listed qualifications on the QCF
In 2014 to 2015 existing ESOL adult basic certificates will be funded at the same published rates as
2013 to 2014. These were based on historical national delivery patterns and awarding organisation
recommended guided learning hours (glh).
Unaccredited provision: during the extension, if any ESOL learner needs to progress before starting
a regulated ESOL qualification or needs to broaden their learning beyond the scope of the regulated
ESOL qualification, these additional requirements can be recorded using ‘learning aim class codes’
and will be funded using providers’ planned guided learning hours. This is the same as for nonregulated ESOL provision and is defined and explained in appendix H of the ILR specification.
Learning support is also available for ESOL learners where required in accordance with our funding
rules.
In summary, funding for existing ESOL qualifications and units in 2014 to 2015 will be based on:
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the published rates for the adult basic certificates in ESOL skills for life
non-regulated ESOL provision
learning support to meet an identified need
Once there are new ESOL qualifications available from awarding organisations for delivery providers
will be expected to deliver them to new students. These will be funded in line with the Adult Skills
Budget approach and not on the basis of these interim arrangements.
How the QCF works
• All qualifications are built up from units
• Each unit has a credit value of 1 or 2 credits in
the case of English and Maths
• Each credit covers a notional 10 hours of
learning and c. £50 of funding in E&M.
• Units are bound together to form an ward
ESOL qualifications are now listed
Please note these figures are approximate
Qualification
Programme
Weighting (PW)
Programme
Weighting (PW)
Programme
Weighting (PW)
Programme
Weighting (PW)
Programme
Weighting (PW)
D – High
E – Lower Specialist or G*
& (Credits)
n/a
A –Base
B – Low
C –Medium
– Higher Specialist
(un-weighted rate)
Award (1-4)
£148
£166
£193
£237
£255
Award (5-12)
£336
£376
£437
£537
£578
Certificate (13-24)
£724
£811
£941
£1,159
£1,246
Certificate (25-36)
£1,265
£1,417
£1,645
£2,025
£2,176
English& Maths Listed Qualifications
Please note these figures are approximate
Qualification
Funding Band
Funding
Functional Skills in English and maths
Certificate (13-24)
£724
Functional Skills in IT
Award (5-12)
£336
Free Standing English Awards Entry Level
Award (5-12)
£336
Free Standing Maths Awards at Entry Level
Award (1-4)
£148
Award (5-12)
£336
When do the new qualifications begin?
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New skills for life qualifications
In February 2013 we set out the principles to shape the future suite of new skills
for life (SfL) ESOL qualifications. Since that time awarding organisations have been
developing a number of new ESOL SfL qualifications and some of these have been
submitted to Ofqual for accreditation.
To enable providers to complete their planning for 2014 to 2015 and to ensure
there is time to prepare for the delivery of the new qualifications we have agreed
with BIS and Ofqual to put in place interim arrangements to continue funding the
existing ESOL adult basic certificates and ‘units’ for a further period up to 31
December 2014.
Ofqual are writing to awarding organisations with provision to extend the end
dates of the existing suite of qualifications and associated assessments.
Once the new ESOL qualifications are accredited and approved for funding, we will
update our funding lists. Providers should also speak with their awarding
organisations as they will know the exact switch over point for their individual
qualifications.