Software and data foundation apprenticeship

Introduction

Foundation apprenticeships are employed positions and are for younger people who will benefit from a wide range of experiences. Each foundation apprenticeship provides a mix of employability skills and behaviours, technical knowledge and skills, and associated English and maths. It combines valuable hands-on practice in the workplace with off-the-job learning. The apprentice’s experiences will not only help them to grow their skills but will also help to inform their next career steps. Completion of this foundation apprenticeship will certify achievement of all of the technical knowledge and skills, together with all of the employability skills and behaviours described. The typical progression routes will likely include employment or progression onto another skills product such as a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship.

Foundation apprenticeships benefit employers as they get to see the apprentice in work-based settings while the apprentice receives extra support. Employers also benefit from accessing a broader talent pool of young learners than they might otherwise do.

Under DfE Apprenticeship funding Rules 25/26 the employer qualifies for up to £2,000 per foundation apprentice, subject to retention and progression.

Overview of the role

Software and data operatives are found in organisations large and small in all sectors and within public, private and voluntary organisations.

They support the collation, formatting and storage of data. They also validate data checking and identifying errors. They will follow instructions to support elements of software development and testing.

As all organisations use data and software, their work will support the functions of the organisation and individuals working to manage data, develop and or test software.

They will carry out fundamental duties, including supporting the storage, retrieval and sharing of data, the manipulation of data by following instructions and testing and or the development of software, all by following guidance and instructions.

This Foundation Apprenticeship requires a minimum 187 hours off-the-job learning. Upon successful completion, the apprentice will be competent in the knowledge, skills and behaviours outlined in this standard. Someone who completes some or all of this content will be part-way through a journey to a more specialist occupation. Taking another apprenticeship after this one is one way of progressing. More information about the main occupations involved can be found via the links below.

Included occupations

• Data technician
• Software development technician
• Digital support technician - Digital Applications Technician (DAT)
• Digital support technician - Digital Service Technician (DST)
• Cyber security technician
• Information communications technician - Digital Communications Technician
• Information communications technician - Network Technician
• Information communications technician - Support Technician

Typical job titles include:

Entry requirements

The apprentice must normally be age 16 to 21 at the start of their apprenticeship. Exceptions to this are set out in the Department for Education Apprenticeship funding rules.

Information for providers

Coverage of each knowledge and skill statement must include each and every occupation it is mapped to, unless expressly stated otherwise. For instance, if skill S1 is mapped to occupation 1 and occupation 2, then the range of coverage must include elements of both 1 and 2 so the apprentice benefits from a broad experience. Competence is to the level described by this Foundation Apprenticeship’s knowledge and skills and not the often higher level of the mapped occupations. Coverage will be a blend of on and off the job learning. Please refer to the Knowledge and skills coverage document.

Technical knowledge

• K1: Health, safety and security including organisational policies and procedures.*
• K2: Digital systems, infrastructure, networks, software packages and programmes.*
• K3: Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.
• K4: Own role and responsibilities and how they help to achieve the needs of the organisation.
• K5: Documentation and systems.*
• K6: Essential cyber security compliance including phishing and scams.
• K7: Function and operation of the stages within the solutions life cycle.*
• K8: User requirements, needs and priorities.
• K9: Essential solution architecture and testing.*
• K10: Emerging technologies: automation or AI in the sector and or occupation.*
• K11: Identify types and sources of data.*
• K12: Essentials of safely storing and retrieving data.*
• K13: Principles of data extraction, validations, formatting, collating and anonymising.*
• K14: Fundamentals of data presentation.*
• K15: Essentials of the software development cycle and how it connects with the user experience.*
• K16: Software testing frameworks.*
• K17: IT security vulnerabilities.*

Technical skills

• S1: Comply with health and safety and security requirements.
• S2: Use of infrastructure, networks, software, packages or programmes.*
• S3: Apply knowledge of solutions to resolve issues and support users knowing when and who to escalate to.*
• S4: Test performance and usability.*
• S5: Apply sustainability practices in their role.
• S6: Maintain documentation, systems and follow organisational process and procedures.*
• S7: Use digital technologies to support daily work activities.*
• S8: Safe and ethical use of emerging technologies.*
• S9: Format, present and save data.*
• S10: Support to store, retrieve and communicate data.*
• S11: Review data sets to ensure accuracy.*
• S12: Write or source simple code for software requirements.*
• S13: Test simple code.*

Employability skills and behaviours

• EB1: Communicate and share information using verbal, non-verbal, written and digital methods.
• EB2: Act in a professional manner including good time keeping and conduct.
• EB3: Apply new learning and feedback to everyday practice.
• EB4: Complete own work tasks and ask for help when needed.
• EB5: Work with colleagues to contribute to team outcomes.
• EB6: Seek ways to manage own financial, health and wellbeing needs using available resources.
• EB7: Overcome challenges and adapt to changes at work.
• EB8: Work in line with health, safety and environmental requirements.

English and maths

Functional English and maths

(*) Knowledge and skills statements which offer opportunities to develop functional English and maths are identified with an asterisk.

These are knowledge or skills statements which provide a learner with an opportunity to utilise English and maths in a workplace. This could include reading instructions, measuring or recording information.

English and maths qualifications

Apprentices must follow the English and maths formal qualification requirements as set out in the Department for Education Apprenticeship funding rules.

Mandatory qualifications or licence to practice

There are no mandatory qualifications or license to practice requirements for this occupation.

Assessment details

This assessment plan sets out the requirements for the assessment of the level 2 Software and Data Foundation Apprenticeship. The assessment outcomes group and summarise the knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated in assessments and are of equal weighting. The End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) must ensure that all assessment outcomes are met.

It is important that the assessment of foundation apprentices is proportionate and supports the swift progression of learners onto their next destination, whether that be a further apprenticeship, entering the workplace, or another programme of study. As such, EPAOs must design assessments to ensure there is no unnecessary delay in the progression of learners.

This assessment plan does not prescribe when assessment takes place. Apprentices may be assessed at appropriate points (or milestones) throughout their Foundation Apprenticeship.

This assessment plan does not prescribe assessment methods, but does require:

• a knowledge test
• a practical assessment

The practical assessment must give the foundation apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the practical application of the knowledge and skills they have acquired over the course of their training. This may take many forms, including (but not limited to) observation, undertaking a set task in a simulated environment, direct assessment of materials generated during their training, projects, presentations, compiling a portfolio of evidence.

The EPAO must set Foundation Apprenticeship assessments. The EPAO may design the assessment to permit a centre to mark the assessment(s). The EPAO is responsible for ensuring all assessments are sufficiently reliable and valid, and the accuracy of any centre marking. EPAOs are permitted to sample within knowledge and skills statements, and evidence can be drawn from one or more occupations.

Assessment outcomes