It’s all Change…
Just as providers begin to understand and use the term ROATP!
Many of you will have seen the recent announcement from the Department of Education (DFE) of the merger of the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) and the register of End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO's). Both will now come under ‘one umbrella’ known as the Apprenticeship Providers and Assessment Register (APAR).
So what do we know…
From the 1 August 2023, when an organisation receives recognition for a standard from Ofqual or the Office for Students (OfS) they will automatically be placed onto the list of approved EPAOs.
DfE will merge this list with the Register of Apprenticeship Training providers (ROATP) and rename it the ‘apprenticeship providers and assessment register’ (APAR).
New organisations will still need to create an account on the apprenticeship service to confirm their place on the register, but they will no longer have to undertake two application processes.
Maintenance of the register will be undertaken automatically through data exchanges between the regulators and the awarding bodies, and we are now developing that process.
Although DfE are merging the ROATP with the new APAR the application process for providers and supporting providers will remain the same.
Both Ofqual and OfS are fully supportive of these changes and are working alongside DfE to implement them.
From the 1 August 2023 apprenticeship providers will be responsible for choosing the EPAO for an employer unless the employer wishes to continue to select the EPAO themselves.
Further information and guidance on both changes for employers, providers and EPAOs will be made in the next few weeks.
We will update this blog with the latest information when available.
Nikki Witham
Managing Director