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Employer Set Project (ESP)
Please use the categories below to find the relevant answer to your question.
Why are there multiple ESP specialisms within a qualification – must students complete the same ESP as their Occupational Specialism?
Where multiple ESPs are available, students would usually choose the one linked to their intended occupational specialism. However, students are not required to do so and may choose a different occupational specialism later or complete a different ESP at re-sit, if they wish to.
It’s up to the provider to give appropriate advice and guidance to the student to make an informed decision, ensuring that all required learning has been completed before any assessment attempt.
An exception may apply where a student has completed the ESP in Assisting Teaching and wishes to move to Early Years Educator, this may not be possible. We advise contacting [email protected] in this instance.
Do the same people have to supervise the ESP throughout, and can teaching staff who are involved in the delivery supervise ESP sessions?
There can be changes in supervisor between sessions, as long as everyone acting as a supervisor is clear on the requirements of the role, and changes to personnel do not adversely impact students.
We recommend using independent supervisors rather than tutors or teachers for ESP sessions. Where this isn’t possible, tutors or teachers may supervise the assessment, but they must not provide teaching, guidance, or support.
A student has missed tasks in the ESP but will return before the window ends – what are the options available?
The options available depend on the specific ESP. Some include set date and time activities, while others allow students to catch up during the assessment window.
Please refer to the provider guide for further information in the first instance. If you have any queries, please contact our T Level Support team on 0191 2398000 or [email protected].
If the student cannot return during the assessment window, you may wish to submit a Special Consideration request, depending on the reason for absence.
In some cases, transferring to a future assessment series may be the most appropriate option.
Is there a tutor declaration form to be signed, or just a student declaration form?
Only students need to sign a declaration of authenticity – it is called the External Assessment Cover Sheet and can be found under the Assessment Materials on the relevant T Level qualification page.
In the Health ESP, can the person performing the role of the standardised patient access the project brief insert before the assessment?
Yes. To support preparation for this task, this can be shared with the designated person who will take on the role of the standardised patient within the provider ahead of the ESP window.
The project brief insert and the Standardised Patient Guidance document can both be shared from the date it’s made available on the NCFE Portal. However, they should not be shared with others beyond the person playing this role before the date the assessment window opens.
Evidence submission and recordings
I forgot to press record on a presentation – how should this be resolved?
If this was noticed immediately after the presentation, you should ask the student to repeat the presentation and ensure this is recorded.
If the student has had feedback, completed the Q&A, or this is only realised a significant period of time after the assessment has taken place, please fill out a special consideration form.
Please note: Re-recording is only an option if the mistake is realised during the presentation, or immediately after. Re-recording cannot be done at a later date, or if the student has since received any form of feedback or completed Q&A (depending on the assessment/qualification).
Is Microsoft Teams an acceptable way to record the tutor discussion task for the ESP?
Yes. If using Microsoft Teams is the recognised and familiar way for students to complete these tasks, then it is appropriate for it to be used to record the live assessment.
It’s important to ensure that all other requirements and regulations are followed, such as controlling access to the internet as required. The audio produced should be clear, and the student must be visibly identifiable where video evidence is listed as a requirement. The recordings must be able to be securely saved, stored, and submitted for marking.
How do we send our recording as part of the ESP to you?
All learner evidence, including video recordings, should be uploaded via the Bookings and Upload Learner Evidence area of the Portal.
For ESP, do the video recordings need to include just the learner’s presentations, or our questions as well?
The full presentation recording should include the student's presentation, followed by tutors asking questions and the student’s responses to these questions, so examiners can review all of the student’s evidence.
Can multiple users upload the evidence submission?
All users with access to the Bookings area of the Portal will be able to upload learner submissions; however, we would expect providers to have processes in place to ensure that where more than one user is uploading evidence, checks are carried out to ensure that nothing is missed or duplicated.
What is the deadline for uploading evidence at the end of the ESP?
The upload window opens from the first day of the ESP window, and evidence can be uploaded throughout the window as students complete tasks.
Evidence needs to be uploaded within three working days after the end of any given ESP window. For example, if the window ends on a Friday, uploading by midnight the following Wednesday is appropriate (assuming no bank holiday takes place).
What type of files are we able to upload to the Portal? Is there a limit on size or how many we upload?
A list of accepted file types can be found in the Qualification Specific Instructions for Delivery (appendix 1).
Individual files must be smaller than 2GB, and we recommend keeping files below 1GB where possible.
Zip files aren’t accepted via the Portal. The Portal will accept uploads of up to ten files at a time.
When and how can students complete the preliminary research activity for the Generation 2 Education and Early Years ESP?
For the Generation 2 Education and Early Years ESP preliminary activity, the students will have one three-hour window in the week running up to the start of the assessment period. They will not have access to the preliminary activity brief before or after the three-hour window.
During this three-hour window, students will undertake research and prepare their four pages (A4) of notes which can then be used to support them as they complete tasks 1 - 4 of the ESP. This ensures all students have the same amount of preparation time ahead of sitting the ESP.
For more information, providers should refer to the provider guide, which outlines how the preliminary research activity should be administered.