The ESFA has published new guidance describing the approach that will be used, and the actions that will be taken by ESFA, for any providers that apply to the new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) and are unsuccessful in their application, and providers that do not apply following an invitation. They confirm that if a provider does not make an application to the new RoATP by the deadline they have been given, the ESFA will contact them formally giving them 10 working days to confirm whether they plan to apply to the new RoATP or that they are withdrawing from delivering apprenticeship training. They have also updated the application guidance for RoATP here.
FE Week reports that since the RoATP re-opening, the ESFA has received a higher than anticipated number of new applicants, and that despite the aim of assessing applications within 12 weeks, many providers have been waiting much longer to find out if their application has been successful.