Latest: The ESFA will close, bringing all current functions into the DfE on 31/03/25
ACE | Ashton Consultancy for Education
ACE can help you to fully understand and compliantly adhere to the complex world of apprenticeship delivery funding rules. I have over 20 years of experience as a leader within the work based learning space, working for small, medium and large/national providers in roles such as Data Analyst, Internal Auditor and Fraud Prevention lead, GDPR Data Protection Officer, Data and Compliance Director and Board member. I can assist you with any areas you are unsure of, that could potentially be harming your main provider risk status - including but not limited to: PDSATs, FRMs, the AAF, QARs, DAS, Compliance with the latest Funding Rules and the ESFA's Financial Handbook.
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Get ahead with ACE!
"Main" and "Employer Provider" Support and Guidance
I can relieve the often huge burden on main and employer providers and the complex compliance requirements from the ESFA - with clear support and guidance to help you remain an apprenticeship delivery supplier of choice. Do not risk your delivery contract - stay compliant! Do you often find yourself waiting in line for an answer from the helpdesk, sometimes only to be quoted the same funding rules excerpts you have been scratching your head at? I can assist you with the day to day compliance challenges you face - quickly and clearly.
FRM: Post-16 Financial Assurance
The FRM (Funding Report Monitoring) suite is issued in a dashboard format to you on a monthly basis. The ESFA monitor the results of your ILR submissions to assure that the provision they buy meets the published funding rules, and taxpayers’ money is used for its intended purpose. This dashboard houses your results. Keeping your FRM results low provides reassurance to the government. If you consistently have high concern rates here, you could be contacted for further discussions. Not sure what an FRM is or any idea on where to start to clear these? I do - let's get your "monthly desktop audit" where it needs to be.
AAF: Apprenticeship Accountability Framework
The ESFA provide you with a dashboard, usually each month, detailing your progress against the Apprenticeship Accountability Framework (AAF). This is the specification the Department for Education (DfE) use to review the quality of apprenticeship training from you as the main provider. The AAF has a number of quality indicators and thresholds - you must stay within these as falling below can place you as "needs improvement" or even "at risk" - leaving your entire delivery contract at stake. Avoid the "reds" and stay in the "green" with my support!
QAR: Qualification Achievement Rates
Qualification achievement rates (QARs) give one measure of how well training organisations perform each year - around for many years these were hugely damaged in an unprecedented way by the 2020 pandemic, yet, as providers recover their position it is clear they are here to stay as a quality indicator marker. They currently sit within the AAF as a quality threshold - where an overall achievement rate below 50% will place you "at risk" The business rules and technical specification for the QAR can be daunting, you need to fully understand how these work to remain compliant - data submission errors can have dire consequences for your future delivery. If QARs are a regular headache for you, let me help you.
PDSAT: Provider Data Self-Assessment Toolkit
The provider data self assessment toolkit (PDSAT) portal & reports are provided by the government to assist providers to make accurate and complete individualised learner record (ILR) data returns each month. If you are selected for a reassurance audit, this is the same tool an audit team will reference before they arrive. PDSATs are not just a year-end tool - regular checking and analysis of these are crucial to keep any potential non-compliance issues away. Stay "audit-ready" knowing your reports are regularly being checked, and any data issues corrected each month. No time? Delegate it out to me.
The Month-End Data Export
Accuracy across your month end ILR submission is vital! This needs to be consistently free of any rule violations - this is what is used to pay you each month, even one error on your return can affect the funding you are owed. I have over 20 years of experience of solving such violations that can knock hundreds off your remittance! The month end process is more than just ensuring your errors are zero and your warnings are low - each return triggers a report suite to assist you in checking your financial position and allows you to pro-actively monitor DAS data locks and ILR rule violations amongst many other things. Feel like your month end process is not given the attention it deserves? Get in touch!
DAS: Digital Apprenticeship Service
DAS has been a constant since 2017 - all employers engaging in apprenticeship delivery must now have a DAS account. Gone are the days when you would upload your apprenticeship data to the ESFA, and that would be sufficient. Now all data must be agreed with an employer, any prior learning logged and agreed price stated via this portal - before you can be paid. Is your on-boarding process and assessment of prior learning strong enough in this new climate? These elements are crucial, in line with timely DAS administration, in order to remain compliant. Failure to utilise DAS in a timely fashion can cause you financial heartache - and flag multiple "data locks" on your month end return. These data locks will prevent you from being paid what you are owed. The amount of locks are also monitored by the ESFA. Stay focused, and paid in full, with my support - DAS made easy with ACE!
Financial Handbook - Audit & Risk Committee representation
Have you checked your mandated requirements in the new Financial Handbook for ITPs yet? This new legislation went live on 1st August 2024, with varying levels of compliance required, depending on your size. Don't fall foul of this - I can assist you with meeting your obligations here. One of the biggest challenges for main providers has been sourcing a third party, independent representative to sit on your Audit & Risk committee. Independence is key! You need someone who knows their stuff here, who can offer robust and valid challenge plus support to your organisation. I can be that representation. I am fully trained as a fraud prevention lead. Let's chat!
Additional Compliance Support
Additional Compliance Support
Feeling comfortable with your oversight of all things apprenticeships? I can offer valuable support with other funding streams, having had multiple years of experience leading compliance on Study Programmes and 19+ Advanced Learner Loans. Similarly, you may want assistance keeping sub-contractors in check? Remember that you, as the main provider, are accountable here. I also have extensive experience of dealing with the ESFA and DFE during the audit and investigative process - happy to share the knowledge on this and provide additional support to help you navigate such scrutiny.
As a relatively new ITP, I wanted to ensure we were fully compliant with DFE key metrics. Rich's expertise, professionalism, and approachable nature made the entire process seamless, and our team felt completely at ease with his guidance. I can’t recommend him highly enough!
Debbie Whitehead, CEO of Clear Quality Ltd - February 2025
Get in touch today!
Rich Ashton - Owner
Please use the "get in touch" button below to give me an initial steer on the areas in which you could use support. I look forward to working with you.
ACE | Ashton Consultancy for Education
Rich is extremely skilled across DfE funding rules and compliance requirements and has extensive experience in working with government departments, and Ofsted. I would wholeheartedly recommend his consultancy services via ACE.
Brendan Tate, Founder of Cleata Ltd - March 2025