Question: How are traineeships affected by the crisis?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
section_headers: Traineeship flexibilities
Extending 16 to 19 study programme traineeships
section_content: Our funding guidance sets out that planned hours should not be changed after
the qualifying period unless correcting an error or starting a new study
programme in-year. However, we recognise that in the current circumstances
some students may need more hours than originally planned in order to complete
their traineeship programme.
Where learners need longer than originally planned to complete their
traineeship programme, we expect, in most cases, stretching their existing
planned hours over a longer duration should provide the flexibility providers
need.
In exceptional circumstances, where a learner with part-time hours requires
significant extra delivery, while they are unable to deliver work experience
with an employer, providers can increase the planned hours. Providers should
record where an increase of planned hours is required in the learner file and
demonstrate the need for increased hours to ensure learners remain engaged. We
may ask for this evidence through monitoring processes.
The planned end date must not under any circumstances be changed or extended
within the ILR. Providers should continue to record the end date of the
programme using ‘Learning Actual End Date’.
We expect providers to arrange alternative provision to cover the delivery
that cannot take place. The alternative delivery needs to be above the already
planned work experience hours as these cannot be funded again within the same
time period.
This is a temporary measure that applies only in this period of social
distancing and while students are not able to access work placement activity.
*[ILR]: individualised learner record

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Discusses COVID on traineeships, but focuses more on work hours instead of a general overview
This answer gives information related to the question that is relevant.

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Acceptable

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
section_headers: Traineeship flexibilities
section_content: The current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation means that many trainees are not
able to carry out the work placement element of the programme due to social
distancing measures and employers being closed or having ‘work at home’
arrangements that are not suitable for trainees.
We want to enable providers to continue to deliver where possible given
traineeships will play an important part in re-engaging and supporting young
people to get back into learning and work following the coronavirus (COVID-19)
outbreak.
Where flexibilities are used, providers should record this and retain it as
evidence for audit purposes.
New trainees can start programmes during this period with programme aims
adjusted in line with these flexibilities.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Discusses the effects COVID will have traineeships, but doesn't go too indepth
This answer directly addresses the question and relates to the original question.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Acceptable

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:
Directly addresses the effects COVID will have on traineeships and provides excellent details
This answer gives an exhaustive list of information and relevant content for the original question.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent