Question: I have a trainee working under me who will find it very difficult to complete their placement. What is the situation please?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Guidance for prospective students
section_headers: Will my application be delayed?
section_content: Although these are extraordinary circumstances, we will continue to process
any applications that have been received as quickly as we can. We do not
currently expect any delays.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Doesn't mention apprentices at all or address struggles to complete placements. Entirely off topic.
This is a vague answer, and it is not clear that they are referring to trainees and their placements.

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:
Has some information about how to help struggling trainees, but doesn't really provide a comprehensive solution.
This is a very detailed answer regarding how trainee placements are being altered due to the difficulties of the current work environment.

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors
section_headers: If you’re sponsoring a student who’s waiting for their Tier 4 visa application to be decided
section_content: You may allow students to start their studies before their visa application
has been decided if:

you are a Tier 4 sponsor (other than Tier 4 Legacy Sponsors)
you have assigned the student a CAS
the student submitted their application before their current visa expired and has shown you evidence of this
the course they start is the same as the one listed on their CAS
the student has a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if required

Your reporting responsibilities start from the date that you issue the CAS,
not from the date that their application is granted.
If the student’s application is eventually rejected as invalid or refused you
must terminate the student’s studies.
*[CAS]: confirmation of acceptance for studies

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Doesn't address the situation of existing apprentices who are struggling to complete their placements.
This is about students starting their studies, not about trainees.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad