Question: What needs to be done to extend the learning program?

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:
This answer does not relate to the learning program and what needs to be done to extend it.
This offers all the details about what circumstances allow for an extension, how to get it, and what it will entail.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Excellent

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:
This answer does not relate to the learning program and how to extend it.
This only discusses the reporting of the training hours and does not address the need to extend them.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
section_headers: Traineeship flexibilities
Extending 19 to 24 adult education budget and 16 to 18 traineeships without 16 to 19 study programme funding
section_content: Where learners need longer than originally planned to complete their
traineeship, programme providers should stretch their existing planned
learning aims over a longer duration.
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’.
Additional funding demand in 2020 to 2021, as a result of the programme’s
actual end date extending from the original planned end date in 2019 to 2020,
may impact on the availability of growth in 2020 to 2021 if there is not
sufficient budget available to support demand. It is your responsibility to
ensure you meet the cost of trainees that continue into the following year
within your funding year allocation.
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.
For more information, we are publishing a traineeship addendum to the ESFA
adult education budget funding rules 2019 to
2020 on 13 May.
[ILR]: individualised learner record
  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This answer does not relate or outline the learning program and how to extend it.
This offers details about how to extend the learning program for the temporary crisis.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Excellent