The apprenticeship programme responded quickly to support apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment (EPA) organisations and external quality assurance providers, in dealing with and responding to the impact of COVID-19. On 31 March 2022, the ESFA will be removing the temporary flexibility introduced in March 2020 that allows employers and training providers to initiate and report a break in learning in certain scenarios. Apprentices will continue to be able to initiate a break in learning, as set out in the funding rules. This follows the next phase of the government’s pandemic response, Living with COVID-19, set out by the Prime Minister on 21 February 2022.
