What’s included in this EPA?
There are four pathways available in this Apprenticeship. For all routes there are core skills, knowledge and behaviours Apprentices learn during their on-programme training. As well as being assessed on all core elements there are additional skills and knowledge to learn depending on their chosen pathway.
- Installation of traction and hydraulic lift systems
- Installation of escalator/moving walk systems
- Servicing, repair and maintenance of lift systems
- Servicing, repair and maintenance of escalators/moving walks
Full EPA Specification
Get all the details about this Apprenticeship’s assessment including the applicable skills, knowledge and behaviours it will be measured against
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The EPA process
When does it happen?
Apprentices learn at different speeds, typically they’ll spend between 36-42 months training on the job and being guided through their structured learning plan (ST0252) by the Training Provider.
The Gateway for EPA will be when an employer (in consultation with the Training Provider) believes the Apprentice can consistently demonstrate all of the knowledge, skills and behaviours outlined in their pathway’s learning plan.
What must be complete?
Your Apprentice will be ready for EPA when they have:
- Achieved Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics*
- Completed Level 3 NVQ Diploma training
Training Providers must submit the learner Gateway Form and supporting evidence via ACE360
The Apprentice must also submit their Project proposal for approval.
*For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and Maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to English qualifications for those whom this is their primary language.
What happens next?
LEIA Assessment
Reviews Gateway Form and passes Apprentice through the Gateway
Employer or Training Provider
Books EPA dates with LEIA ASAP. It can take up to 3 months to schedule Assessments, so the earlier the better.
Training Provider
Receives and pays the EPA invoice, which must be paid in full prior to EPA
Apprentice
Starts to prepare their Project and writes their Report.
From Gateway and starting project report preparation EPA must be completed within 6 months.
NextWhat is it?
This is a 30-question test to assess the Apprentice’s underpinning knowledge. Questions are a mix of multiple choice (c16), multiple select (c7), true/false answer (c3) and calculations (c4).
Multiple Choice = select 1 answer from 4
Multiple Select = select 2 answers from a list of 5
True/False = select one answer
Calculation = select 1 answer from 4
How does it work?
This test is taken under controlled conditions in the presence of an EPAO appointed invigilator.
It can be done online or face-to-face, either paper or computer-based.
The time limit is 90 minutes.
How is it assessed?
Tests taken via our online testing tool will be marked automatically by the system.
Paper based exam will be marked manually by LEIA.
One question equals one point, 30 points are available.
Score of 19 or less = Fail
Score 20 – 25 = Pass
Score 26 or more = Distinction
1x Knowledge Test re-sit for each Apprentice is included in our EPA price.
NextWhat is it?
The Project Report is written by the Apprentice. The subject is an element of their work (project) after Gateway, which is wide ranging and undertaken over a period of c10 days. The report can include illustrations and videos and should be 2,000 words long.
It should highlight the processes and activities involved as well as demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours identified in the relevant pathway’s Learning Plan.
A 10 minute presentation about the project must also be created which will be presented to an Assessor as part of the EPA. After the presentation the Assessor will ask the Apprentice a set of related questions.
How does it work?
The topics should be agreed with us at Gateway. The report will need to be sent to us via ACE360 at least three weeks before any presentation date.
This can be in hard copy, electronic or a combination.
Presentations don’t need to be sent ahead of time.
After the 10 minute presentation, assessors have a further 20 minutes to ask questions. They will ask a minimum of 10 questions.
How is it assessed?
The Project Report, the presentation and the Q&A are assessed and graded with a Pass, Distinction or Fail. Grading is against the Standard (ST0252) and the Grading Table is used.
Q&A topics will include:
What were the difficulties and how did you overcome them? What safety and health controls were included? How were safety and health issues dealt with? How was the delivery of the element affected? What behaviours did you demonstrate during the job? What teamwork was involved?
NextWhat is it?
We have developed a brief (a structure) for the Assessor to follow, ensuring a consistent and reliable discussion where all required areas are explored.
Questions asked cover what the Apprentice has achieved, their standard of work and also how they went about it. It helps Assessors to validate judgements about quality of work and explore aspects in more detail.
How does it work?
A structured dialogue takes place between the Assessor and the Apprentice in controlled conditions.
The location will be agreed between LEIA Assessment and the employer.
Where possible this can be done remotely.
Between 16 and 19 questions will be asked over a 45 minute period.
How is it assessed?
The Structured Dialogue is assessed and graded with a Pass, Distinction or Fail. Grading is against the Standard (ST0252) and the Grading Table is used.
The dialogue covers topics such as:
- Approach to health & Safety
- Professionalism and work ethics
- Workplace communication skills
- Understanding of legislation affecting their work
Grading
Marks for all three elements of the EPA are combined to reach an overall grade of a Pass, Distinction or Fail. To achieve final certification for this standard, the Apprentice must achieve a minimum of a Pass in each of the three EPAs. Those who gain Distinction will have demonstrated exceptional performance above the standard requirements. Those who fail will be able to analyse their grading feedback and, with employer approval, may be able to take resits.
Full Grading Table
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FAQ’s
When should I book my EPA?
An Apprentices EPA should be booked as soon as an Apprentice has moved through the Gateway. It’s advisable to register learners on ACE360 at the earliest opportunity during their on-programme learning and keep their progress record up-to-date so we can try to ensure we have resources available at the earliest opportunity once the Apprentice is ready. As a minimum we must know about the Apprentices intention to move towards EPA 3 months prior to coming to the Gateway.
How long does the EPA take?
This is determined by each individual assessment plan, but an EPA can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months depending on what’s included.
Do EPA assessments have to be in the same order?
Although a lot of assessment plans mandate an order that some assessments need to be taken in, this requirement has now been permanently removed by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. This means that assessments can be taken in any order for all assessment plans.
What happens if my Apprentice fails their EPA?
If an Apprentice is unsuccessful in passing their EPA they’ll be given a detailed final grading report containing feedback on their unsuccessful areas. The Apprentice may need some additional training before re-sitting their assessment. Where this is the case, the Apprentice must still complete their EPA in the assigned EPA window as defined in the Assessment Plan.
Apprentices will only need to re-sit the element(s) of the EPA in which they were unsuccessful. The decision on whether the Apprentice is able to re-sit the EPA is up to the Employer. Re-sits / re-takes will be chargeable at a rate per assessment and are not included in the initial agreed costs.
