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
- Skills England work begins
Skills England starts working on the reformed apprenticeship assessment plan (AAP).
- 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.
- Public survey
The AAP is shared for public consultation. To keep up to date with the latest Skills England live surveys, visit this page.
- 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
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
Skills England start date: December 2025
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey
Skills England implementation status: 2. Expert group review
Skills England start date: March 2026
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey
Skills England start date: February 2025
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey
Skills England start date: April 2026
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey
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
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)
Skills England start date: May 2026
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey
Skills England start date: May 2026
Skills England implementation status: 2. Expert group review
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
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
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
Skills England start date: December 2025
Skills England implementation status: 2. Expert group review
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
Skills England implementation status: 2. Expert group review
Skills England start date: April 2026
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey
Skills England start date: December 2025
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public Survey
Skills England start date: February 2026
Skills England start date: April 2026
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public survey
Skills England start date: March 2025
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
Skills England start date: March 2025
Skills England start date: May 2026
Skills England implementation status: 3. Public survey
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.
Want tailored guidance on how you can navigate the apprenticeship reforms with confidence?
Book a consultation with a member of our team