Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on considering the evidence required to access flexibilities to standard English and mathematics requirements for apprenticeships.

Achieving a good standard in English and mathematics is important to longer term career prospects and improving social mobility, with research showing that achieving English and mathematics qualifications can correlate to higher earning potential. This is why the department provides funding for all apprentices to achieve up to a Level 2 in English and mathematics. Providers can access funding where apprentices require additional learning support.

The department also recognises that some groups require more flexibility to achieve English and mathematics qualifications. There are already flexibilities in place which allow apprentices who have Education Health and Care (EHC) plans to achieve their apprenticeship with lower entry Level 3 English and mathematics.

In addition, from 1 May 2023 to 1 May 2024 the department is conducting a pilot which considers how other apprentices with learning difficulties and disabilities, but without an EHC plan, could access these same flexibilities, in line with our objectives to support all apprentices to achieve. The department will share the outcomes of the pilot in due course.