Service messages

Updated on [13/10/2026]

As we shared last month, we’ve now combined all our essential regulatory, qualification and assessment updates for all product areas into one central area of our website.  

We’ll send you a monthly newsletter where we’ll highlight any key updates, and you can click through to this webpage to read the full details. We recommend bookmarking this page so that you can check back regularly for key information.  

October 2026

Updates across multiple qualification types  

Remember to register your learners to avoid late registration fees  

We wanted to send a reminder about our late registration fees to ensure you have all the information you need to register your learners on time and avoid any additional charges. Read more in our fees and pricing guide and make your registrations on our Portal. 

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Planned NCFE Portal downtime 

The NCFE Portal will be unavailable from 4:30pm on Friday 30 October until 8:30am on Monday 2 November. This is to support preparations for the integration of Active IQ with NCFE. 

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Did you know? Many of our qualification pages include a range of useful learning resources to support delivery and achievement. Whether you're looking for guidance, teaching materials or additional support documents, visit the relevant qualification page to explore the resources available.  

Use our qualification search 

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View our assessment timetable for 2026-27 

We wanted to remind you that we’ve updated our assessment timetable for all V Cert and CACHE qualifications with an assessment for 2026-27 and 2027-28.   

In July, we made some amends to some 2026-27 assessment dates. These changes were mainly to work around GQ exams, aiming to avoid clashes and reduce the burden on schools and colleges in an already busy period. You can find details of these changes here. 

Please note that the assessment timetable is a controlled document and is subject to regular updates and revisions. To ensure you’re always working from the correct version, please don’t download and save the assessment timetable, and instead always access the live version on our website.  

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Term-time checkpoints: what you need to know 

Visit our timely delivery of results webpage for this year’s term-time checkpoints process. If you are in scope of the arrangements, we’ll contact you before the end of this month to let you know.  

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Qualification updates and withdrawals  

View this month’s Horizons update for the latest qualification changes and withdrawals. This is an essential read to ensure you don’t miss any information about qualifications that may be withdrawn.

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T Level updates 

Education and Early Years 

Learning resources 

We've developed a range of flexible learning resources to support delivery of the T Level Technical Qualification in Education and Early Years (610/5748/4). Covering key knowledge across the seven Core elements and aligned to the Qualification Specification, the resources are designed to save planning time and support effective teaching and learning. 

Each Core element is supported by an editable Scheme of Work, while session packs provide everything you need to deliver engaging, student-focused learning, including: 

• structured session guides with teaching guidance and activity ideas in a flexible, customisable format 

• interactive e-learning presentations featuring activities, knowledge checks and progress checks 

• flexible activity sheets with varied, structured tasks to help students develop and apply their learning 

• editable PowerPoint presentations to support flexible, tutor-led delivery 

Each session provides at least three hours of delivery, combining structured content with scenarios, case studies, research, home study tasks and interactive activities to help students apply their knowledge. The resources provide a strong foundation that can be adapted to suit your students and delivery approach. 

Download our free Schemes of Work and three Core 1.1 session packs to explore the content, structure and learning experience. 

Visit the teaching materials tab on the qualification page or access our learning resources factsheet to learn more about our resources and pricing. 

Share your feedback on the Education and Early Years T Level 

To ensure T Levels remain at the forefront of education, each year they are reviewed by industry representatives and providers to ensure they remain valid and reflective of current industry practice. As part of this process, we’re inviting you to share your feedback in our provider survey before Monday 2 November. 

The survey will take around 5-10 minutes to complete and contains key questions in relation to the T Level Technical Qualification in Education and Early Years (610/5748/4) content.  

Complete the survey 

Health and Science 

Registrations: students commencing Generation 2 Health and Science T Levels in September 2026 

Providers delivering the Generation 2 T Level in Health and the T Level in Science with Pearson can now make student registrations for cohorts starting this academic year. 

We’d like to remind you that you must be approved by Pearson to deliver each Technical Qualification you intend to deliver. If you did not seek Provider Approval during the approval window (February – June 2026) please contact Pearson immediately via their service portal and they will be able to support you through the process. 

Transition to Pearson Generation 2  

For Providers transitioning to the Generation 2 T Level in Health or the T Level in Science in September 2026 you can keep up to date with relevant updates via Pearson’s E-Bulletin.  

Sign up here to receive Pearson’s T Level e-bulletin. 

Exams officer training  

Pearson will be running their annual exams officer/administrator training on Wednesday 4 November from 1:30pm. If you deliver the Health or Science T Levels, you can sign up for the event using this link.  

This session will support your transition and understanding of the administration involved, including gaining provider approval, making registrations and entries, and assessment scheduling. 

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V Cert updates 

V Cert drop-in Q&A with Rachel and Beth: preparing for the NEA, Wednesday 16 December - 3:30-4:30pm  

Join Provider Development Officers Rachel and Beth for a relaxed drop-in session focused on practical delivery support for V Cert Level 1/2 Technical Awards. This is your chance to ask questions and get guidance on key areas of planning and classroom management for the NEA. 

Sign up now  

Introducing our new ‘Level 1/2 Technical Awards: All about V Certs’ podcast  

Welcome to All About V Certs, the go-to podcast for busy teachers delivering NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Awards. Hosted by our experienced Provider Development Officers, Rachel and Beth, each bite-sized episode (just 15–20 minutes long) is packed with practical insights, top tips, and expert guidance on all things V Certs. 

Listen now 

V Certs Level 1/2 Technical Awards standardisation events 

Whether you're new to assessment, assessing our qualifications for the first time, or an experienced assessor seeking continuing professional development (CPD), join us at our in-person training event focused on standardisation and best practice in assessment, taking place in York, Stevenage or Manchester.    

Stevenage: Wednesday 13 January 2027   

 🕘 9am - 4pm  

📍Holiday Inn, St. George's Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, SG1 1HS  

Sign up now 

Manchester: Tuesday 23 February 2027  

 🕘 9am - 4pm  

 📍The Alan Hotel and Meeting Space, 18 Princess Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, M1 4LG  

Sign up now 

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Functional Skills updates 

CPD Maths: maximising marks in Functional Skills maths assessments, Thursday 10 December 2026 - 3:30-5pm  

This free CPD session focuses on effective strategies to help learners achieve maximum marks in Functional Skills maths assessments.  

Sign up now 

CPD English: Entry Level English Standardisation, Wednesday 9 December – 3:30-5pm 

This free CPD session is designed to support consistency and confidence in the assessment of Entry Level Functional Skills English, with a focus on the Reading and Writing components.  

Sign up now 

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Training and events 

Assessor and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) training events are available to book 

Sign up now to our upcoming training sessions, using the links below: 

• Assessor training – this training provides an excellent opportunity to connect with assessment professionals and develop your knowledge and understanding of assessment practices and our qualifications 

• IQA training – this training provides a place for you to connect with internal quality assurers and further develop your knowledge and understanding internal quality assurance practices and our qualifications 

• V Cert Assessor/IQA training 

Horizons archive

Explore our Horizons portfolio archive below.