Status of reformed apprenticeship standards | NCFE

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Status of reformed apprenticeship standards

Here you can explore how our reformed apprenticeship standards are progressing. In the dropdowns below, you’ll find information on the current status of the reformed standards and NCFE apprenticeships available.

Understanding the reform stages

  1. Skills England work begins

Skills England starts working on the reformed apprenticeship assessment plan (AAP).

  1. Expert group review

Skills England convene the expert group (previously trailblazer group) to review the draft AAP and lead-in period to allow development and preparation.

  1. Public survey

The AAP is shared for public consultation. To keep up to date with the latest Skills England live surveys, visit this page.

  1. Assessment plan published

When the AAP is finalised, Skills England will publish a ‘revised version awaiting implementation’ with an earliest start date.

Status of NCFE apprenticeship standards

Administration Assistant

Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

Assessment:
Assessment organisations must design apprenticeship assessments to include
a portfolio.
Any additional assessment(s) must be selected from the following list of
methods to ensure the assessment outcomes are met in full:

  • Interview
  • Presentation
  • Question and answer
  • Project
  • Simulation

Business Administrator

Skills England start date: December 2025

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey

Employability Practitioner

Skills England implementation status: 2. Expert group review

Customer Service Practitioner

Skills England start date: March 2026

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey

Customer Service Specialist

Skills England start date: February 2025

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey

Fundraiser

Skills England start date: April 2026

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey

Associate Project Manager

Skills England start date: May 2026

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey

Assessment:

Assessment organisations must design apprenticeship assessments to include at least one project.

Any additional assessment, or assessments, must be selected from the following list of methods, to ensure the assessment outcomes are met in full. Assessments available in the list may be used more than once:

  • demonstration
  • presentation
  • interview
  • professional discussion
  • question and answer
  • portfolio
  • written assessment
  • additional project

Early Years Educator

Skills England start date: December 2025

Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

  • Qualification: Paediatric First Aid or Emergency Paediatric First Aid
  • Assessment:

To ensure safeguarding is maintained, assessment organisations must design apprenticeship assessments to include at least one assessed observation administered in person by the assessment organisation in the workplace.

Any additional assessment(s) must be selected from the following list of methods to ensure the assessment outcomes are met in full:

    • professional discussion
    • oral question and answer
    • case study based on child study
    • additional observation(s)

 

Early Years Practitioner

Skills England start date: May 2026

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey

Teaching Assistant

Skills England start date: May 2026

Skills England implementation status: 2. Expert group review

Specialist Teaching Assistant 

Skills England start date: April 2026
Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

  • Assessment:

Assessment organisations must design apprenticeship assessments to include a professional discussion. Any additional assessment(s) must be selected from the following list of methods to ensure the assessment outcomes are met in full:

  • Question and answer
  • Portfolio
  • Observation

Adult Care Worker

Skills England start date: December 2025

Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

NCFE update: Live

  • Qualifications: Level 2 Diploma in Care.
  • Assessment: n/a

 

Early Intervention Practitioner

Skills England start date: February 2026

Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

  • Assessment:

Assessment organisations must design apprenticeship assessments to include at least one professional discussion.

Any additional assessment(s) must be selected from the following list of methods to ensure the assessment outcomes are met in full:

    • observation
    • presentation
    • portfolio
    • journal
    • case study
    • questions and answers
    • additional professional discussion

 

Lead Adult Care Worker

Skills England start date: December 2025

Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

  • Qualification: Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (Approved by Skills for Care)
  • Assessment:

Assessment organisations must design apprenticeship assessments to include at least one professional discussion.

Any additional assessment(s) must be selected from the following list of methods to ensure the assessment outcomes are met in full:

    • observation
    • question and answer
    • portfolio
    • presentation
    • case study
    • additional professional discussion

Leader in Adult Care

Skills England start date: December 2025
Skills England implementation status: 2. Expert group review

Dental Nurse

Skills England start date: December 2025

Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

NCFE update: Live

  • Qualification: A qualification approved by the GDC to enable professional registration with the GDC as a Dental Nurse
  • Assessment: n/a

 

Oral Health Practitioner

Skills England implementation status: 2. Expert group review

Healthcare support worker 

Skills England start date: April 2026

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey

 

Data Technician

Skills England start date: December 2025

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey

 

Data Analyst 

Skills England start date: February 2026

Community Activator Coach

Skills England start date: April 2026

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public survey

Outdoor Activity Instructor

Skills England start date: March 2025

Sports Coach

Skills England start date: April 2026

Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

Assessment:
Assessment organisations must design apprenticeship assessments to include
at least one observation.
Any additional assessment(s) must be selected from the following list of
methods to ensure the assessment outcomes are met in full:

  • professional discussion
  • project
  • portfolio
  • presentation
  • question and answer
  • additional observations

Outdoor Activity Instructor

Skills England start date: March 2025

Personal Trainer

Skills England start date: May 2026

Skills England implementation status: 3. Public survey

Leisure Duty Manager

Skills England start date: April 2026

Skills England implementation status: 4. Assessment plan published

Assessment:
Assessment organisations must design apprenticeship assessments to include
at least one professional discussion.
Any additional assessment(s) must be selected from the following list of
methods to ensure the assessment outcomes are met in full:

  • observation
  • simulation
  • interview
  • additional professional discussion
  • question and answer
  • presentation
  • project
  • written assessment
  • journal
  • portfolio

For the latest government announcements on apprenticeship reforms and how NCFE is responding, head to our dedicated page.  

 

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