This Foundation Apprenticeship is recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. However, shorter duration apprenticeships like this one will only be possible once the legislation changes to allow for durations below 12 months. Once this happens, Skills England will formally confirm this apprenticeship is available for use. However, starts on the apprenticeship will only be possible once a suitable end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) has obtained Ofqual recognition. Once the EPAO has obtained Ofqual recognition, funding for apprentice starts will be permitted and this message will be removed.
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
Finishing trades relates to painters and decorators, wall tilers and floor layers. Finishing construction work is found in both the new build and refurbishment construction sector. Project size will vary in size ranging from domestic repairs to larger contracts for home builders, commercial and retail developments. Employers and contractors vary in size from small, local family building companies to major home builders and commercial contractors.
The broad purpose is to always work in an efficient and safe manner to support the wider construction team.
Daily duties will vary depending on which setting they work at. The apprentice will interact with customers, other trades and the site management team.
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
- Painter and decorator
- Wall and floor tiler
- Floorlayer - textile and resilient floorcoverings
- Floorlayer - wood- based floorcoverings
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: Employee responsibilities under health, safety and welfare regulations relevant to the role*
- K2: Sustainability principles and practices relevant to the role, including waste disposal and the impact of construction trades on the environment.*
- K3: Types, use and storage of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- K4: Common construction techniques and basic functional requirements of a building: walls, roofs, floors and fenestrations and how they interact.
- K5: Industry standards and regulations relevant to the role, including fire safety and Building Safety Act and how they interact with each other associated with finishing trades.*
- K6: Roles and responsibilities of an employee and other relevant personnel in the workplace.
- K7: Use and characteristics of common materials and components, including material preparation associated with finishing trades.*
- K8: Types, use and storage techniques of tools and equipment associated with finishing trades.
- K9: Work area preparation and maintenance techniques.*
- K10: Techniques to carry out simple tasks associated with finishing trades.*
- K11: Methods of protecting materials and work in progress associated with finishing trades from damage, weather and theft.
- K12: Techniques to carry out simple repair tasks associated with finishing trades.*
- K13: The importance of customer service to their organisation.
- K14: Fundamental principles of equity, inclusion and diversity regulations relevant to the role.*
- K15: Mental and physical health considerations in self and others when working in construction and the importance of reporting issues.
Technical skills
- S1: Comply with employee responsibilities under health, safety and welfare regulations.*
- S2: Use and store PPE.
- S3: Follow written and verbal work instructions.*
- S4: Apply techniques to carry out simple tasks associated with finishing trades.*
- S5: Protect work in progress and materials from for example, damage, weather or theft.
- S6: Apply techniques to carry out simple repairs associated with finishing trades.*
- S7: Prepare and use materials associated with finishing trades.
- S8: Use and store tools and equipment associated with finishing trades.
- S9: Prepare and maintain the work area.
- S10: Dispose of waste safely and sustainably. Segregate resources for reuse and recycling.
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
CSCS will issue an Industry Placement card to apprentices upon their application for the Foundation Apprenticeship, subject to all relevant CSCS published requirements being met.
Assessment details
This assessment plan sets out the requirements for the assessment of the level 2 Finishing Trades 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
| Assessment Outcome | mapping |
|---|---|
| AO1 Health, safety, regulatory, and environmental responsibilities - Demonstrates understanding of and compliance with health, safety and regulatory requirements, including the understanding of appropriate sustainability practices, and waste disposal. | K1*, K2*, K3, K5*, K14*, K15, S1*, S2, S10 |
| AO2 General construction practices - Demonstrates knowledge and skills in common construction techniques, functional requirements, roles and responsibilities and ways of working. | K4, K6, K9*, K13, S3*, S9 |
| AO3 Materials, tools, and tasks - Demonstrates knowledge and skills in the use of materials, tools, and techniques used in finishing trades, and carries out simple tasks and repairs. | K7*, K8, K10*, K11, K12*, S4*, S5, S6*, S7, S8 |
(*) English and maths are important to Foundation Apprenticeships. Knowledge and skills statements which offer opportunities to develop functional English and maths are identified with an asterisk. Please see the occupational standard for further details.
Performance descriptor
The performance descriptor for a Pass is:
Foundation apprentices must demonstrate the requirements, as set out in the occupational standard:
- Reliably
- Effectively
- To an appropriate degree for the level of the standard
Overall performance across the range of requirements for the foundation apprenticeship assessment is secure.
Assessment requirements
Access to work: Regulation and safety in a construction environment
AO1: Health, safety, regulatory, and environmental responsibilities
Access to work knowledge and skills are fundamental to employment in occupations related to this Foundation Apprenticeship. These knowledge and skills are mapped to AO1. Where acquiring these knowledge and skills is required to access the workplace, this assessment should happen early in the programme.
AO1 must be EPAO set and marked. This may be in a single assessment or more than one assessment, providing there is no duplication of content. Digital assessment methods should be prioritised, where appropriate.
Technical knowledge and skills
AO2: General construction practices
AO3: Materials, tools and tasks
Technical knowledge and skills are areas of technical ability in related occupations. These knowledge and skills are mapped to AO2 and AO3.
AO2 describes those knowledge and skills associated with general construction practices, including knowledge of the broad range of occupations operating on a construction site. AO3 describes those knowledge and skills specifically associated with finishing trades, and the correct use of materials and tools.
The EPAO must ensure that a foundation apprentice is assessed on AO2 and AO3. This may be in a single assessment or more than one assessment, providing there is no duplication of content.
Employability skills and behaviours
Employability skills and behaviours are highly transferable and universal across Foundation Apprenticeships. They support work-readiness. Employability Skills and Behaviour (EB) statements are not formally assessed. However, EPAOs must confirm with employers that they have been suitably demonstrated over the course of the Foundation Apprenticeship before awarding the Foundation Apprenticeship. EB6 does not need to be confirmed by the employer but should form a key element of the apprentice’s off-the-job training package.
Version log
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 01/08/2025 | Not set |