mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Public spaces / outdoor activities / exercise
Are there restrictions on how far I can travel for my exercise or outdoor activity?
No. You can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance. You
shouldn’t travel with someone from outside your household unless you can
practise social distancing - for example by cycling. Leaving your home - the
place you live - to stay at another home is not allowed.
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Schools and Childcare
Can children go back to early years settings, schools or university?
We initially urge those who are currently eligible to use school provision
(children of critical workers and vulnerable children) to attend. As soon as
it is safe to do so we will bring more year groups back to school in a phased
way when it is safe to have larger numbers of children within schools, but not
before. Keeping children and staff safe is our utmost priority.
Schools should prepare to begin opening for more children from 1 June. The
government expects children to be able to return to early years settings, and
for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to be back in school in smaller class sizes
from this point.
Secondary schools and further education colleges should also prepare to begin
some face to face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next
year, in support of their continued remote, home learning.
The government’s ambition is for all primary school children to return to
school before the summer for a month if feasible.
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Workers’ rights
What if they try to fire me because I won’t go to work but cannot work at home?
We urge employers to take socially responsible decisions and listen to the
concerns of their staff. Employers and employees should come to a pragmatic
agreement about their working arrangements.
If individuals need advice, they should approach ACAS where they can get
impartial advice about work disputes.
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Going to work / Safer spaces
Will you open pubs / cinemas / hairdressers in July?
The roadmap sets out that some businesses
(like pubs, cinemas or hairdressers) will not open until Step 3 is reached.
The government’s current planning assumption is that this step will be no
earlier than 4 July and subject to further detailed scientific advice,
provided closer to the time, on how far we can go. When they do reopen, they
should also meet the COVID-19 secure guidelines.
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Public spaces / outdoor activities / exercise
Can I go out to help a vulnerable person?
You can go out to care for or help a vulnerable person, or to provide other
voluntary or charitable services, following the advice set out here. You
should not do so if you have coronavirus symptoms, however mild.
Wherever possible, you should stay at least two metres away from others, and
wash your hands for at least 20 seconds (or use hand sanitiser if soap and
water are not available).
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Going to work / Safer spaces
What is a critical worker?
Critical workers are those working in
health and care and other essential services, who can still take their
children to school or childcare and can use hotels and other accommodation
services for work related purposes - for example if they can’t get home after
a shift or need to isolate from their families. This critical worker
definition does not affect whether or not you can travel to work – if you are
not a critical worker, you may still travel to work provided if you cannot
reasonably work from home.
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Enforcement
How will police enforce the new rules?
The police and local authorities have the powers to enforce the requirements
set out in law if people do not
comply with them. The police will act with discretion and common sense in
applying these measures, but if you breach the law, the police may instruct
you to go home, leave an area or disperse, and they may instruct you to take
steps to stop your children breaking these rules if they have already done so.
The police can also take you home or arrest you where they believe it is
necessary.
If the police believe that you have broken the law – or if you refuse to
follow their instructions enforcing the law – a police officer may issue you
with a fixed penalty notice of £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days),
an increase of £40 from the previous £60 fixed penalty amount. If you have
already received a fixed penalty notice, the amount for further offences will
increase in line with the table below.
First offence £100
Second offence £200
Third offence £400
Fourth offence £800
Fifth offence £1600
Maximum penalty £3200
For both individuals and companies, if you do not pay your fine you could be
taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Borders / international visitors
What is self-isolation and which countries will it apply to?
Please note - these measures are NOT yet in force. We will set out further
detail, including from when these will be in force, in due course.
We will be asking people travelling to the UK to make some sacrifices to stop
coronavirus cases from being imported. In the same way as people in the UK
have made large sacrifices to control the spread of coronavirus.
So what we will be asking people to do on entering the UK is supply their
contact details and details of their accommodation, and to self-isolate in
their accommodation for 14 days, other than those on a short list of
exemptions.
We will set out further details shortly.
Guidance Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can't do
Going to work / Safer spaces
What is meant by the phased approach?
Not all forms of work will return to normal at once. People will have to
prepare for a new type of normal. We need to make sure that any changes we do
make are carefully monitored and that we aren’t doing anything to increase the
risk of infection and push the Reproductive value ‘R’ above 1. ‘R’ describes
how many people on average will be infected for every one person who has
COVID-19.
We will ensure that businesses have time to prepare their premises to operate
as safely as possible.
We will set out more detail about the phasing in due course.
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)
Apprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions
I am on a fixed-term contract which would ordinarily have given enough time to complete the training and the EPA. If the training is delayed, and I have not completed my EPA before I leave employment, can I do the EPA afterwards?
You must be employed when you are taking your EPA, so where a break in
learning has been necessary, and the planned end-date for your apprenticeship
has had to move back, please speak to your employer and training provider. We
would expect them to work with you to reschedule your training which may also
include reviewing your apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement. We
will keep this under review as the situation evolves.
*[EPA]: end-point assessment
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)
Apprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions
Should employers use the ‘Stop’ or ‘Pause’ apprentice facility in the apprenticeship service?
In circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19), employers should use the
‘Pause’ function in the service. Employers must ONLY use the ‘Stop’ function
when they are certain that training will not resume at any point. Using
‘Pause’ will stop payments temporarily, and allow the employer and apprentice
to resume the apprenticeship at a later date.
We are reviewing options to simplify the process of re-starting apprentices on
the service, including to facilitate a transfer to a different apprenticeship
or employer in due course.
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)
Apprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions
Can you release early the 20% completion payment that would normally be withheld until the end of apprenticeship training to manage cash flow challenges faced by training providers?
Government policy does not allow payment for services in advance of delivery.
The government has set out a substantial package of support to
businesses) to mitigate
the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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)
Apprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions
What about the level 2 English and maths exit requirements for level 3 and higher apprenticeships?
This requirement applies to intermediate (level 2) apprentices only.
Apprentices undertaking a level 3 or higher apprenticeship are still required
to hold or achieve an approved level 2 English and maths qualification before
they can successfully complete their apprenticeship.
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)
Apprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions
How are the ESFA monitoring the number of cancelled and postponed EPAs?
EPAOs are an important element to delivering quality apprenticeships. In order
to support them, and the wider market, to meet the future demand, we have
asked end-point organisations to complete a weekly return to the ESFA
recording all coronavirus (COVID-19) related EPA cancellations.
We sent each organisation on the register of end-point assessment
organisations a copy of the template return, which should be sent back to the
apprenticeship assessment mailbox.
This information will help us to understand and manage the post coronavirus
(COVID-19) pipeline of apprenticeship assessment.
[EPAOs]: end-point assessment organisations
  [ESFA]: Education and Skills Funding Agency
  *[EPA]: end-point assessment
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)
Apprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions
What happens to my funding reservation as a non-levy employer if my apprentice can’t start?
Reservations will expire if they are not turned into a commitment within 3
months of the apprenticeship start date, detailed in the reservation. Where a
commitment is needed and a previous reservation has expired, a new reservation
must first be made.
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)
Apprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions
How will invigilation of assessments be conducted remotely?
Remote tests should be supervised by an appropriately trained invigilator or
assessor who has the necessary qualifications, training or experience and who
has not been involved in the training, preparation or line management of the
apprentice.
Tests must only be carried out within a supervised and controlled environment
and EPAOs must ensure that all testing meets security requirements and that
the details of invigilators are recorded and available for confirmation by EQA
providers.
[EPAOs]: end-point assessment organisations
  [EQA]: external quality assurance
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)
Apprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions
Will levy payments be paused for employers?
The apprenticeship levy is an important part of our aim to raise
apprenticeship quality which supports employers to make a long-term,
sustainable investment in training. Due to this, HM Treasury have no current
plans to pause the collection of the apprenticeship levy because of the
coronavirus (COVID-19) disruption.
The Chancellor has set out an unprecedented package of support for businesses
and employers and stands ready to announce further action wherever necessary.
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)
Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
Are the evidence arrangements around obtaining learner signatures being relaxed during coronavirus (COVID-19)?
When starting a new apprenticeship, and throughout training, signatures are
required to form part of the evidence pack. Examples of where the funding
rules ask for evidence of signatures to be retained are:

the apprenticeship agreement
the commitment statement
external audit reports for subcontractors
evidence linking to additional payments such as additional learning support and the care leavers bursary
contracts for services
agreements that an apprentice has passed all gateway requirements

It is expected that where providers already have a digital/electronic
signature process, they must continue to utilise their existing processes in
accordance with the respective funding rules.
Where a provider has no digital or electronic systems and processes in place
to capture a learner or employer signature then, under normal circumstances, a
wet signature is required for recruitment and evidence of continuing learning.
A wet signature is created when a person physically ‘marks’ a document.
It is recognised that providers delivering training and/or recruiting learners
during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will experience difficulty in
obtaining learner and employer wet signatures. Therefore, where providers do
not have systems and processes in place for electronic/digital signatures,
during the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions we will allow
confirmation/evidence to be obtained through email.
For the purpose of audit evidence, we expect a record of acknowledgement or
adoption of a genuine electronic message or document.
Acceptable alternative evidence includes:

an email from the learner and/or employer’s email address with details of the confirmation and their typed name at the end of the message
a typed name on an electronic form or document emailed from the learner and/or employer
a signed scanned document attached to an email from the learner and/or employer
photo taken on a camera/digital medium of the signed document attached to an email from the learner and/or employer

We are allowing providers to use this type of electronic confirmation during
the period of restrictions due to coronavirus (COVID-19), only where no other
usable digital or electronic processes exist. This is not to be used as
alternative evidence as part of the provider’s business as usual process once
the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted.
Following the period of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, providers using
the above alternative evidence must resume their usual process for obtaining
wet signatures on relevant documentation. Providers must ensure that all
alternative evidence replacing wet signatures received during the coronavirus
(COVID-19) restrictions is genuine and irrefutable, and the evidence is
retained for audit purposes.
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)
Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
Where an apprentice is furloughed can they and their employer still take part in a progress review?
Yes, where apprentices are furloughed, they can continue to train for their
apprenticeships as long as it does not provide services to or generate revenue
for their employer. This includes progress reviews.
If the employer (line manager) is also furloughed, then we appreciate that
arranging a progress review may be more difficult at this current time. But,
provided the discussion is about the progress of the apprenticeship, they are
able to take part in the discussion.
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)
Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
My provider has put my apprentice on a break in learning because they can’t deliver training. As the apprentice is working as normal and I want their apprenticeship to continue, can I override this break in learning?
We have committed to apprenticeship training providers continuing to be paid
retrospectively for the training that they have delivered and can evidence.
Where training cannot take place for any reason, and this may include the
ability of the provider to continue delivery, an apprentice must be put on a
break in learning to pause payments. Providers are working hard to develop
flexible learning packages to ensure continuity of training where possible and
for some, this may take some time. If you have concerns, we encourage you to
discuss these with the provider.
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)
Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
If my apprentice continues to do off-the-job training, can this be more than one day a week?
Yes. The normal off-the-job training rules will apply, so training can be done
as a block where this is agreed between the provider and the employer. The 20%
minimum off-the-job training over the length of the apprenticeship will still
need to be satisfied.
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)
Apprenticeship levy and service frequently asked questions
Will you increase the time available to employers to spend their levy funds?
Employers already have 24 months in which to spend their levy funds before
these expire. For now, we do not intend to make any changes to current
arrangements.
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)
Apprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions
What evidence do I need to provide to show the apprentice did not take the level 2 English and/or maths functional skills test before entering them for EPA?
You should add a dated note to the evidence pack for the apprentice explaining
that the test was not taken due to revised guidance during coronavirus
(COVID-19).
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)
Apprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions
What will happen if I am not well enough to take my EPA?
If you are unwell, or in a period of self-isolation, and unable to attend your
EPA, please contact your training provider as soon as you are able, to allow
them maximum time to re-schedule your assessment.
*[EPA]: end-point assessment
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)
Apprenticeship assessment frequently asked questions
What does this mean for the arrangement for gateway prior to EPA?
We want to make it as straightforward as possible to continue EPA. Lifting the
rule to take the test for intermediate (level 2) apprentices should help them
to progress to EPA during the coronavirus (COVID-19) disruption.
*[EPA]: end-point assessment
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)
Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
I am having to move critical worker staff into different and/or business critical roles that are connected to their apprenticeship. Can they continue training?
Where apprentices can remain on their programme, they should continue to
fulfil the minimum 20% off-the-job training entitlement. Off-the-job training
can already be delivered flexibly at a time and way to suit the employer and
apprentice (remote observations, distance learning, etc.) and many providers
have developed additional training material in response to coronavirus
(COVID-19). If a critical worker apprentice has been redeployed into another
role, then some of this activity may still count towards off-the-job training
but this should be discussed and agreed between the employer and provider. All
off-the-job training must be relevant new training that develops the
knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship and, where funding is
being accessed, it must be delivered by an organisation on the Register of
Apprenticeship Training Providers. Evidence of delivery must be kept.
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)
Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
I need to take care of myself/a family member. Can I continue my apprenticeship learning at home?
Yes, this may be possible, depending on your apprenticeship and whether
e-learning is available from your training provider. Please check their
website or contact them to discuss your options.
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)
Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
How do I record progress towards my apprenticeship while I am subject to different working conditions like working from home?
You should already be recording your off-the-job training activity using an
approach agreed with your training provider. Please continue to use this in
the coming weeks.
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)
Apprenticeship training frequently asked questions
My employer is making me redundant. What happens to my apprenticeship?
Please speak to your training provider if you are made redundant as your
apprenticeship training may be able to continue.
Your training provider may still be able to offer training, based on your
circumstances, in the short term. They may even be able to support you in
finding a new employer.
If that move becomes permanent, you should look to see which alternative
apprenticeship your apprentice can transfer to at Find Apprenticeship
Training
and liaise with your training provider in the usual way.