Creating Framework Templates (Programme Pathways)

A Framework Template is used to group Apprenticeship Standards and Learning Aims together to then be assigned to a group of learners who are enrolled on the same programme pathway. Normally, this involves learners being assigned the same apprenticeship standard, gateway and end-point assessment aims, however, you can create multiple templates with variations to accommodate different unit selections and durations.

The following examples show how a framework template may differ based on either of these accommodations:

Framework Template by Duration and Prior Learning

1. Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship – 18 Month Pathway
2. Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship – 2 Year Pathway
3. Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship – 3 Year Pathway

Framework Template by Unit Selection

1. Academic Professional Apprenticeship – Research
2. Academic Professional Apprenticeship – Teaching

What is the difference between a Cohort and a Framework Template?

When creating learners, you will need to allocate them both a cohort and a framework template. The Framework Template combines multiple learning aims such as the Apprenticeship Standard and Gateway to End Point templates and assigns the duration for a specific pathway, whereas the Cohort allows you to group students according to their programme start date. The start date from the cohort is used with the framework template duration to calculate the learners expected completion date.

Creating a Framework Template

In order to create a Framework Template, you will need to be logged in using your Centre Manager or User Manager account on the relevant centre, then from the homepage locate the ‘Centre’ tab, and choose Framework Templates.

1. When you access the Framework Templates area, you will see a table of existing templates, and a button to begin creating a new one, select the ‘Create Framework Template’ button.

Please note the dates and durations used in example screenshots are demonstrative only, please consult the relevant programme documentation for the dates that should be used in this template.

2. You will need to enter a title for this template, we reccommend that you combine the short form name of the programme, and the differentiating factor, for example the duration or the programme focus, as previously mentioned in this guide.
3. Next, enter the Default Unit Planned Start Date and the Default Anticipated Completion Date. On the next screen you will be able to adjust these values based on the individual learning aim, which allows us to differentiate for the gateway and EPA, we reccommend for these values to set the overall programme duration. Click the save button at the bottom of the page.

4. Once we have setup the title and default dates, we need to select the learning aims and apprenticeship standards for this pathway, to do this, click on the ‘Select Learning Aims’ button.

5. The next page will contain two columns. On the left hand side, you will see a list of all learning aims available on the centre, you will need to select the checkbox next to the ones you wish to add to the template, then click the add button. If you make a wrong selection, you can repeat these steps in the column on the right hand side, and choose the remove button instead. Click the save button at the bottom of the page.

6. Once redirected to the learning aims page, you will be able to set the weighting, start date and anticipated completion date for each aim. Whilst the weighting values can be left blank, you may wish to change the weighting numbers on this page in order to impact how the overall progress percentage is calculated for the learner.

• If you want to change the importance of a specific learning aim, increase the weighting of that aim, or decrease the weighting of the other aims. If you don’t want to use weightings and want to calculate overall progress based on the actual size of the learning aim, remove the numbers and leave all the fields blank.
• Please note, these numbers are not percentages. If you do decide to base your weightings on a percentage, don’t forget to adjust existing weightings if you add or remove learning aims.
• The Start Date and Anticipated Completion Date, will impact the ‘target progress’ value for each learning aim on the front of the learner’s portfolio, if you leave the start date as 0, the target progress will begin increasing from the start date set in the cohort. Target progress is calculated based on how far through the learner is on their programme in relation to the start and anticipated completion date.

7. Click the save button at the bottom of the page once you have configured these dates.

8. The Unit Selection page displays all core and optional units within the learning aims. You can change the learning aim selection from the drop-down menu. For most programmes you can click the save button to progress to the next screen, however some programmes will have optional modules to choose from – for example a Research module or a Teaching module. Tick and untick the boxes as required. The Units Required value is based on the details provided to One File by the Institute for Apprenticeships, you may need to tick the override box if your selection does not meet the ‘standard’ format. Click the save button at the bottom of the page once you have configured the selection.

9. Lastly, you will have the opportunity to amend the weightings, planned and anticipated completion dates for the individual units. For most programmes, the units within the standard will have the same start and end dates, however you do have the option to adjust as required. If you add weighting values to the individual units, this will impact the current progress values for the learning aim on the front page of the learner’s portfolio.

Support with Centre Setup and Management

If you require support with the setup or management of your One File Centre, please contact the Digital Education Team by emailing digitaleducation@lincoln.ac.uk. For queries relating to non-technical support and about the operation of your apprenticeship programme, you should contact the University of Lincoln’s Office of Quality, Standards and Partnerships.