ELN COVID-19 Assessment Strategy

Last updated on 15th March 2021

(No longer in effect since December 2021)

At ELN The e-Learning Network, our ethos has always been to support our learners which has resulted in a 90% completion over the last 4 years. Even now during the current crisis around the COVID-19 pandemic, most of our students across the world have continued completing their courses and are getting certified.

Closer to home, in the UK, we have been following the announcements and consultations by Ofqual, The Education & Training Foundation and our various awarding bodies, we continue as always to ensure that these updates are included within our ELN COVID-19 Assessment Strategy and communicated to our learners.

During this difficult time, we are ensuring that as many of our learners get qualified as possible, despite local and national restrictions in the countries where we operate. 

We can confirm that in most cases, we can continue to assess and help you complete your qualifications. 

Additionally, in response to current demand and to support learners who are struggling with study during the Pandemic, we have introduced regular tutorials and live sessions based on relevant topics both within our qualifications further afield. Details including how to register for one of our live sessions can be found here. If you are a current student you can register for our tutorials direct with your tutor. 

Our guidance does vary from course to course and unfortunately, some qualifications have been impacted more than others. 

Please see the relevant section below regarding our qualifications and the current guidance in moving forward. If you have any additional questions or you just need clarity on any of our guidance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your tutor or if you are interested in studying with us, info@eln.co.uk.

The Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) and the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET)

For theory units, we will continue to support you as usual via our Learner Management System. Theory units for both the AET and CET will not be affected. 

For practical work-based units, i.e. your Microteach (AET) or the three observed and assessed Observations (CET), remote delivery may be used. You will however need to ensure that these are accompanied with robust performance records, which include sufficient evidence of learner engagement during your sessions. This applies to teaching in both groups and on a 1:1 basis. 

In addition, for the CET, one of the three sessions (CET) can be in the form of a planned and pre-recorded session, i.e., completed prior to your learners being given access, with learners not actually present during the session. Performance evidence of planning, recording and teacher follow-up will need to be included.

The assessment of these sessions will include observation (live or recorded), review of the materials created for remote teaching, learner engagement and interaction as well as a professional discussion for any criteria not covered by the remote teaching.

There is no change to the duration of the sessions, these should still reflect the requirements for your respective qualification. 

Specifically, for the CET, you are still required to:

1. Submit evidence of 30 hours of teaching practice, however, this may include live remote delivery i.e., where the tutor and learners are simultaneously present online and engaged and there is live interaction.
2. A maximum of 10 of the 30 hours can be in the form of pre-recorded sessions as mentioned previously.

The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET)

For theory elements of the qualification, we will continue to support you as usual through our Learner Management System.  

The Society for Education and Training and Awarding Bodies want to maintain the rigour and quality of the DET as the recognised teaching qualification for the FE sector and as this, in normal times, means competence to deliver face to face teaching and training, and employers expecting as such from a qualification holder. 

However, given the continuing inability in some cases for face-to-face delivery, updated guidance is now as follows:

1. The requirement for 8 observations remains, however, it may now be possible to complete all of your teaching observations remotely if face-to-face is not possible. Written confirmation of why face-to-face is not possible needs to be submitted. 
2. Two of these sessions can be delivered on a 1:1 basis, with the remaining six delivered to groups.
3. One of the eight sessions can be in the form of a planned and pre-delivered, recorded session, i.e., completed prior to your learners being given access, with learners not actually present during the session. Performance evidence of planning, recording and teacher follow-up will need to be included.
4. Evidence of 100 hours of teaching practice remains, however, this may include one-to-one sessions, of up to a maximum of 15 hours, and pre-delivered recorded sessions as mentioned in point 3, of up to a maximum of 30 hours.

For all sessions as with face-to-face delivery, you will need to ensure that each teaching observation is accompanied by robust performance records, which includes sufficient evidence of learner engagement and interaction during your live sessions and pre-recorded sessions. The assessment of all sessions will include observation (live or recorded), review of the materials created for remote teaching, learner engagement and interaction as well as a professional discussion for any criteria not covered by the remote teaching.

The Level 3 Assessor qualifications and Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance qualifications.

The theory units for both of these qualifications are not affected.

The following applies to Units 2 & 3 of the Assessor and IQA courses only.

Practical evidence: We understand that a lot of our learners do have access to electronic systems and records from their workplace. Many of you are also continuing to assess and sample work online so work-based evidence is still being generated.

If you are completing assessments or completing quality sampling activities remotely as per your workplace policy, we may be able to observe a video of you doing this alongside other evidence to prove authenticity, contact your tutor to see if this can be done in your case.

The Level 4 External Quality Assurance qualification.

The theory unit for this qualification is not affected.

The Level 3 Award in the Delivery of Conflict Management Training.  

Unit 1 External Assessment

Due to current restrictions, the assessment cannot be completed at our venue in London, we can however arrange to have it at a location nearer to you, within the UK. However, this situation shall remain fluid and arrangements made will need to comply with both national and/or local Covid-19 restrictions at that time. Your tutor shall coordinate this element and ensure that appropriate guidance is followed. 

Unit 2 Micro-Teach

If you can facilitate your DCM Micro teach session in a secure environment that adheres to both national and/or local Covid-19 restrictions at that time, then the Micro-teach session can be completed. This session needs to be completed face to face and cannot be conducted remotely at this time. 

The Level 5 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and the Level 3 Award in Managing Contractors Compliance with Health and Safety.

The theory aspects for these qualifications are not affected.

Practical evidence: We understand it may be very difficult for candidates to collate work-based evidence due to the nature of the work involved, however for further guidance and advice regarding meeting the assessment criteria please get in touch with your tutor or if not yet registered Contact Us. 

*Prior to the completion of any face-to-face delivery, assessment or quality sampling activities we require the completion of our COVID-19 declaration form which confirms your compliance with Health and Safety guidance within the training and assessment environment. 

Please remember the guidance is very much based on the current situation in regard to the impact of COVID-19. When the circumstances and restrictions change the qualification requirements in terms of observations will change also.