Introduction
Progress Reviews are a crucial activity in an apprentice’s learning journey. They provide a formal opportunity to review an apprentice’s progress towards developing the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the relevant Standard. Evidencing Progress Reviews is also an essential requirement of our funding.
Progress Review Overview
Progress Reviews have a developmental focus, however, due to apprenticeship funding rules and regulations, they are required to take place every 3 calendar months. There will be 4 - 5 Progress Review meetings per year of the apprentice’s learning journey which will take place online.
Progress Reviews provide an opportunity to:
· Review the apprentice’s progress against the apprenticeship Standard, including the development of a Portfolio of Evidence, and engagement with a Work-based Learning, plus preparation for End Point Assessment (EPA)
· Review and discuss evidence demonstrating apprentice’s learning and the application of the Standard’s KSBs in the workplace
· Make sure the apprentice is on target to meet the Off-The-Job Training requirements
· Explore opportunities within the workplace to challenge and stretch the apprentice which supports the development of KSBs
· Discuss the apprentice’s performance, including attendance, contribution in classes plus grades, and progress
· Consider the apprentice’s ongoing support, including that which they receive from their Work-based Learning Advisor/ Academic Mentor
· Ensure that any well-being and safeguarding needs of the apprentice are being met
· Identify, recognise and celebrate the apprentice’s key milestones and share developmental feedback as well as exploring any needs and support
· The Review must be a three way discussion involving the provider, employer and apprentice. The employer should attend in the majority of occurrences
Example Progress Review Timeline
Start of Academic year: September
Review 1: December (KSB’s covered)
Review 2: March (KSB’s covered)
Review 3: June (KSB’s covered)
Review 4: September (KSB’s covered)
Prior to the start of the academic year the KSB’s should be mapped per review period which outlines to the apprentice what they will be covering in that period and allow them to reflect on what they have covered. This information should be shared with the apprentice at the start of the year.Work Based Learning Advisor preparation
· Confirm availability email,
· Have KSBs mapped for the 3-month period of the Progress Review to enable apprentices to reflect on their learning both WBL and academic
· Initiate Progress Review via PebblePad and send email to apprentice
· Prepare open ended questions to probe the apprentices examples
· Set the KSBs for the next 3-month period to help apprentice set targets and objectives for next review
· Capture further discussion during the Progress Review meeting
· Discuss feedback from assessments/ coursework
· Document Skills Scan self-assessment review on an annual basis
The Progress Review
Step 1: Populate PebblePad template (2 weeks prior to meeting)
Apprentice name
Start/ end date
Planned OTJ requirement
Progress Review number/ date/ time
Ensure apprentice has received KSBs for that period
Initiate Review 2 weeks prior to meeting to allow apprentice time to detail reflection
Step 2: Assess documentation (1 week prior to meeting)
Check that apprentice and employer have contributed to reflection
If no comments have been added, issue reminder
Step 3: Review meeting
Work based Learning Advisor discussion on reflection and evidence provided. Use open ended questions to encourage discussion. E.g.
o Can you give contextualised examples to demonstrate your competency in KSBs?
o Feed in any information from PDPs
o How did you approach this?
o What resources did you use?
o Can you expand on this?
o Did you face any challenges?
o Academic feedback
The WBLA should only be speaking about 30% of the time. The discussion should be 70% apprentice/ employer
Review targets and objectives from previous meeting, document progress and status
Support the apprentice to set objectives and targets for the next meeting, focusing on KSB’s for the next 3-month period
Step 4: Support and Wellbeing
· Are there any local safeguarding/ Prevent issues? (in relation to workplace e.g. animal rights demonstrators, financial services threats)
· Personal issues (e.g. homelife)
· Learning support (Any additional training required/additional prior learning/learning support needs since the initial assessment and/ or last Progress Review)
· Change of circumstances (break in learning)
· If the apprentice has OTJ slippage what steps will be put in place to address this
· Are there any updates required on the Training Plan?
· If an initial assessment has taken place update this annually
· Agree approximate date for next review meeting
Step 5: Confirmation
All 3 parties confirm they agree with the content of the Review by ticking relevant box on PebblePad
Pebblepad – WBLA Guidance
For progress review, the WBLA is responsible for creating the initial submission. The workflow has been designed so that the WBLA will initiate the process and share the template with the apprentice. Apprentices will have a progress review tab in their existing workbooks and WBLA will have access to a separate progress review workspace.
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