A revised version of the assessment plan is approved by Skills England under the 2025/2026 apprenticeship assessment reforms and is available for information only. On 02 June 2027, it will replace the current version for new starts, allowing providers and employers to begin working with assessment organisations to deliver the assessment. Until then, the current end-point assessment remains in place. Further details of this and other apprenticeships in revision are available in the revisions and adjustments status report.
Rigorous robust and independent assessment undertaken by an apprentice at the end of training to test that the apprentice can perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the occupational standard
End-point assessment organisation (EPAO)
An organisation approved to deliver end-point assessment for a particular apprenticeship standard. EPAOs must be on the register of end-point assessment organisations
Holistic or synoptic
Assessment of an apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in an integrated way i.e. assessing several KSBs at the same time
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB)
What is needed to competently undertake the duties required for an occupational standard
Valid
Referred to in relation to assessment methods; fit for purpose
Change request policy
Most changes to an apprenticeship are made as a result of a holistic review of it. We prioritise the need for such reviews based on a range of factors. These include:
the time since the apprenticeship was developed or last reviewed (taking account of its typical duration)
the existence of any known problems with it (e.g. lower than expected starts, low achievement rate, high withdrawal rate, any issues with the availability of training or end-point assessment provision)
whether the apprenticeship is currently subject to a dispensation
the relative significance of the apprenticeship based on how many users it has
The availability of an employer group to support a review and its potential impact on any related technical education product also inform the timing of a review.
Details of apprenticeships that are currently being revised or adjusted are available in our revisions and adjustments status report.
Employers involved in creating the standard: Animal Behaviour and Training Council, Guide Dogs, Dogs Trust, Ministry of Defence, British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Other stakeholders included: IAT Education, iPet Network
