Question: What can we do to maintain education and skills training during the COVID-19 epidemic

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
section_headers: Regulation, accountability and audit
Audit
section_content: Prior to the Prime Minister’s announcement of the new coronavirus (COVID-19)
restrictions on Monday 23 March 2020, we made the decision to pause the start
of any new routine funding audits for all post-16 providers for the short
term, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We have now extended
this pause to cover the period for, at least, the duration of the lockdown.
Where funding audits and investigations were already in progress, we have
sought to complete the work, taking into account providers’ capacity to
resolve any issues. We understand the challenges providers face as a result of
the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and have been sensitive to these
challenges when contacting providers.
It may be necessary for the ESFA to contact providers during the coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak in order to continue to maintain effective oversight and
protection of public funds. Where such contact is necessary, we will continue
to be sensitive to the challenges providers face as a result of coronavirus
(COVID-19).
We will continue to monitor and review the situation in the light of the
circumstances. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are reduced and
there is a return to office-based working across the country, we will assess
when it is appropriate to restart routine funding audits.
*[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
It doesn't answer the question. The answer is about a funding pause.
This does not answer the question. This is an information on funding audits for post-16 providers and does not contain any information on what can be done to maintain education and skills training during Covid-19 pandemic.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
section_headers: Traineeship flexibilities
Reduced work experience duration
section_content: The unprecedented impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) has meant that it is
currently extremely difficult for providers to continue to organise and
deliver work placements within traineeships. We are therefore relaxing the
required work placement duration.
If the trainee has completed more than 70 work experience hours AND the
provider is satisfied that the learner has gained sufficient work skills, then
providers can record the work experience learning aim as complete within the
ILR and census returns during this temporary period of coronavirus (COVID-19)
social distancing measures. This should be evidenced in the learner file. The
trainee should continue with other traineeship learning aims via alternative
methods such as online learning in order to complete these elements of their
traineeship.
If the trainee has completed less than 70 work experience hours, or the
provider is not satisfied with their progression, given these exceptional and
unprecedented circumstances, providers will not be penalised for not
delivering the required 100 hours for this academic year.
Providers should demonstrate how they have continued to support trainees to
develop their work experience skills in the absence of a work placement in the
learner file and we may ask for this evidence through monitoring processes.
Activities we would expect to continue to go ahead:

preparing students for work and/or work placements through alternative distance and online training that develops their skills for work
continuing to build relationships with employers and developing engagement strategies for different industries for apprenticeships and other employment
developing traineeship content that aligns with apprenticeship provision to facilitate smooth transitions from traineeship to apprenticeship
developing matching processes for when students can go on placements again

These are temporary flexible measures that apply while learners are unable to
undertake work placement activity due to social distancing measures.
*[ILR]: individualised learner record

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
It provides a lot of advice on how to help people learn during the pandemic.
This is a direct answer to the question. This answer provides information on what providers can do to support trainees to develop work experience skills in the absence of work placements during the covid-19 pandemic.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) and external quality assurance providers about changes to apprenticeships due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
section_headers: Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
Why should I continue my learning if I can’t attend my place of work?
section_content: We do not want the disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to
prevent apprentices continuing to learn where this is still possible. Not
being able to apply the learning straight away might present some challenges,
but there are benefits from carrying on with the apprenticeship during this
time, including continued engagement and progression that can all be applied
to the job once it is safe and practical to do so.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
I think the answer is too short. It's relevant, but it should be providing more advice and information.
This does not answer the question. It does not provide any information on how to maintain education and skills training during Covid-19. Instead, it provides information on the benefits of carrying on apprenticeship without applying the learning straightaway to the related job during covid-19.

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Bad