Overview

The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 is a UK Act of Parliament that reformed apprenticeships, education, and training systems in England and Wales, creating new bodies to oversee these areas and improving children's services.

Description

Apprenticeships

The Act established a new framework for apprenticeships, including standard completion conditions (apprenticeship agreement, recognised framework, completed training, consistent work, meeting framework requirements) and alternative conditions for those not working under an agreement. It defined the roles of certifying and issuing authorities for apprenticeship certificates and frameworks in both England and Wales. The Act also specified requirements for apprenticeship standards, including on-the-job and off-the-job training and relevant competencies and knowledge.

Education and Training

The Act introduced a general duty for local education authorities (LEAs) to ensure sufficient education and training for those over compulsory school age, especially those under 25 with learning difficulties. It provided additional support for employee study and training, including a statutory right to request time off for study or training. The Act also addressed transport arrangements for sixth formers and young adults with learning difficulties, and established requirements for education provided to young people in youth detention.

New Bodies

The Act created several new bodies: The Young People’s Learning Agency for England (YPLA) to fund and secure the provision of education and training, the Chief Executive of Skills Funding to oversee skills funding, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) to regulate qualifications and assessment, and the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) to negotiate pay and conditions for school support staff.

Children's Services

The Act introduced safeguarding targets, strengthened the role of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs), and established Children’s Trust Boards to improve children's well-being through better inter-agency cooperation. It also made provisions for children’s centres, requiring LEAs to provide sufficient centers to meet local needs and for inspections of these centers.

Government Spending

The Act led to significant changes in the allocation and management of government spending on education and training. While exact figures are unavailable from this text alone, the creation of the YPLA and the Chief Executive of Skills Funding shifted significant financial responsibility for education and training from local authorities to these central bodies. This included funding for apprenticeships, vocational training and the support of education for those over compulsory school age. Further spending is likely to be incurred in the establishment and operation of the new bodies created by the Act.

Groups Affected

The Act significantly impacts numerous groups including:

• Apprentices: New standards and regulations affect apprenticeship completion and certification.
• Employers: New responsibilities for supporting employee study, providing apprenticeship places, and contributing to training costs.
• Employees: New right to request study or training time off.
• Local Education Authorities (LEAs): New duties and responsibilities for ensuring sufficient education and training provisions for young adults, including provision for those with learning difficulties. Transfer of some functions to new bodies.
• Students (19+): Access to further education and training is impacted.
• Further Education Institutions: Changes in funding and governance.
• Schools: New complaints procedures and responsibilities regarding behavior, safeguarding, and reporting.
• School Support Staff: New pay and conditions negotiation body.
• Qualifications Awarding Bodies: New regulations imposed by Ofqual.
• Young people in youth detention: New requirements for education and training provisions.

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