NOCN is a market-leading independent End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) who have been successfully delivering End Point Assessments since 2017. NOCN is at the forefront of apprenticeship reforms including the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in the UK, working in partnership with employers, Further Education colleges, Training Providers and skills experts to develop a range of standards and assessments for new apprenticeships.

NOCN is also an established Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisation, bringing this level of quality assurance to its End Point Assessment provision.

This standard has options:

HE ASSISTANT TECHNICIAN AND SIMULATION-BASED TECHNICIAN
This standard covers two related occupations. A Higher Education (HE) Assistant Technician will work within higher education institutions such as Universities. They will typically work in one of the following academic settings: applied science, engineering, arts and humanities, environmental science, sports science, performing arts or healthcare science. A Simulation-based Education (SBE) technician may be employed and work within NHS Trusts, higher education institutions or within industry or in private facilities on a consultancy basis.

SBE technicians will typically work in a skills and simulation centres, clinical and non-clinical areas and conference or event venues.

Both occupations provide valuable technical support to academic or healthcare professional in learning, teaching or research

The broad purpose of both occupations is to provide skilled technical support in teaching, learning and research environments across their respective sectors to personnel such as teachers, healthcare professionals, lecturers, educators, researchers and students. This is done by demonstrating and using techniques, materials, equipment, and machinery; collating and interpreting data or research outcomes and providing specific documentation and resources that support and enhance teaching, learning, or research activities, events or productions.

NOCN works in partnership with employers and Training Providers to provide a quality-first End Point Assessment (EPA). End Point Assessment is the final stage of the apprenticeship where the apprentice demonstrates the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours gained on-programme to an independent End Point Assessor.

The required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the Education Technician apprenticeship standard will be fully communicated to the apprentice at the start of their apprenticeship, in preparation for End Point Assessment. End Point Assessment is carried out independently by qualified NOCN End Point Assessors to ensure a quality robust End Point Assessment you can trust.

The required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the Education Technician apprenticeship standard that the apprentice will be required to learn during the on-programme phase of the apprenticeship, are found on the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education website. Click the link below to see the apprenticeship standard and assessment plan in further detail:

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/education-technician-he-assistant-technician-and-simulation-based-technician-v1-0

The apprentice should only enter the gateway once the employer is content that the apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard. In making this decision, the employer may take advice from the apprentice’s training provider(s), but the decision must ultimately be made solely by the employer. The EPAO determines when all gateway requirements have been met, and the EPA period will only start once the EPAO has confirmed this. In addition to the employer’s confirmation that the apprentice is working at or above the level of the occupational standard, the apprentice must have completed the following gateway requirements prior to starting EPA:

• achieved English and mathematics at Level 2. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and mathematics minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications are an alternative to English qualifications for those who have BSL as their primary language. For the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence the apprentice will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence.

There will be two stages; Practical observation with questions & answers Professional discussion supported by a portfolio of evidence.

Practical Observation

The practical will be carried out over two and half hours (with a 10% variation) and followed by a Q&A for an additional 15 minutes. The NOCN End Point Assessor will conduct the practical at the employment of the apprentices (COVID pending). This will be done on a single day and each practical session will last for at least 30 minutes. The apprentice may move between areas within the employment. The apprentice will be required to work within a reflective condition of their usual employment and have the opportunity to cover all the K,S,B’s from the apprenticeship standard. The apprentice will be provided with 1-week notice for the observation and has the option to be split over two days if required. The Q&A will last for 15 minutes at the end of the observation.

Professional Discussion

The professional discussion will be a two-way dialogue that involves both the independent assessor and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. It allows the apprentice to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the KSBs mapped to this method. The professional discussion must last for 60 minutes. The independent assessor has the discretion to increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete their last answer. The NOCN End Point assessor will conduct and assess the professional discussion. Only the NOCN EPA and the apprentice shall be present. NOCN will give the apprentice a minimum of one weeks’ notice of when the professional discussion will take place. The apprentice may take their portfolio into the professional discussion and refer to it throughout.

NOCN organises the EPA at a suitable time for the employer, training provider and apprentice. We then book the independent expert assessor who will deliver the EPA.

Because arranging a quality EPA involves a number of people and organisations, NOCN requires a minimum of three months to ensure all elements of EPA are in place including, contracting, invoicing and scheduling.

When the Gateway stage is reached, NOCN will expect the employer or the Training Provider to inform NOCN and to make the final booking for the End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment for the apprenticeship standard will take place after the apprentice has completed a minimum of 20% off-the-job training, and achieved all required mandatory elements of the apprenticeship.

NOCN will provide the employer and Training Provider guidance on the pre-requisite requirements needed to be submitted to NOCN and how the End Point Assessment will be undertaken.

When the Gateway stage is reached, NOCN will expect the employer or their Training Provider to inform NOCN and to make the final booking for the End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment management system allows the apprentice/s data to be added to the system, and this data will match the ESFA database. All pre-requisites for the apprentice will be added to the system before the End Point Assessment booking.

NOCN has a range of useful EPA resources available and our friendly team is available to offer expert advice and support for both Employers and training providers.

On successful completion, NOCN will issue an EPA grade notification and apply to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to produce the final apprenticeship certificate.

NOCN EPA services are priced fairly and competitively. As a leading non-profit organisation we ensure our charges are below the maximum 20% of the total apprenticeship. A pre EPA fee is charged at the contracting phase to secure support materials and assessment booking. The remaining balance for the EPA is charged upon Gateway entry and EPA booking. NOCN applies a flexible approach to pricing based upon cohort size and delivery model.

• Technician scientist
• Laboratory technician
• Learning Skills Teacher