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T Level Foundation Year
A programme to take your students to the next level
Our T Level Foundation Year offer has been developed in close collaboration with providers to ensure it’s fit for purpose and provides students with the best start to achieve future T Level success.
In response to provider feedback, we have designed our offer to enable you to build a tailored Foundation Year programme which meets the individual needs of your students.
Talk to us about building your programmes
Introducing our T Level Foundation Year offer
Our T Level Foundation Year programmes recognise the diverse needs of students and are designed to provide a well-rounded route onto a chosen T Level. Students that would benefit from taking the foundation year include those that may need some extra study and prep time before taking on a T Level or that need additional support with attainment, personal development or English and maths.
T level Foundation Year
Delivery components of the T Level Foundation Year
Guidance from the DfE says, “We expect education providers to design and combine the components into a holistic programme to engage and support students, provide stretch and challenge, and prepare them effectively for T Level study in their chosen route.”
By choosing to work with NCFE, you will get support on the essential delivery components so that your students can develop the core knowledge, skills and behaviours required. View the DfE’s framework for delivery here.
Health and science Foundation Year
Our health and science T Level Foundation Year will prepare students for progression onto a health and science T Level.
At NCFE we offer the following three health and science T Levels which have been developed in collaboration with over 133 leading health and science sector bodies, employers, expert practitioners and training providers:
Each T Level Foundation Year has national technical outcomes (NTOs) that set out what students are expected to be able to do by the end of their course to progress onto a T Level. You can view the NTOs on gov.uk. We've created mapping documents for you, with a simple visual aid to share which of the National Technical Outcomes (NTOs) are met should you opt to offer one of the qualifications detailed below, or the technical skills guides.
- NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Working in the Health Sector 601/4128/1
- NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care 601/8854/6
These qualifications don’t fully cover the NTOs, however we’ve created additional resources that fully map to the NTOs. These resources contain a content specification with associated sample assessment materials. This is not a regulated qualification but the assessment style mirrors that of T Levels and prepares learners for going on to study a T Level.
Education and childcare Foundation Year
Our education and childcare T Level Foundation Year will prepare students for progression onto the Education and Early Years T Level.
At NCFE, we worked with over 45 sector bodies, employers, expert practitioners and training providers to develop the technical qualification that underpins the Education and Early Years T Level.
Each T Level Foundation Year has national technical outcomes (NTOs) that set out what students are expected to be able to do by the end of their course. You can view the NTOs on gov.uk. We've created mapping documents for you, with a simple visual aid to share which of the NTOs are met within the qualifications detailed below Download the mapping document.
Unlocking opportunities: a guide to T Level Foundation Year Programmes
Our Product Manager for Technical Education, David Rowley, delves into the T Level Foundation Year – looking at what it is, who it’s for, and how it prepares students for their T Level of choice.
Learn moreSkills assessment and Enhance resources
To support diagnostics, monitoring and guidance as well as English, maths and digital, we offer initial assessment tools and learning resources to support your provision and help to set your students up for success and prepare them for progression into a T Level.
See how our skills assessment tools and additional resources can transform how you approach your student’s development by providing accurate visibility of skills and updates on their progress.
Skills Builder
Skills Builder is a comprehensive initial assessment and diagnostic solution that enables you to determine a future T Level student’s current level in Functional Skills, GCSE English and maths, and Essential Digital Skills.
Skills Builder
Skills Work
Designed in partnership with employability practitioners and adult education specialists, Skills Work is a psychometric test that measures students’ core employability skills, as identified by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Test key skills including collaboration, communication, creativity, motivation, persistence, personal responsibility and more with Skills Work.
Skills Work
Enhance resources
We've developed 100 hours of free non-qualification activities to support your learners.
These employability, enrichment and pastoral activities have been designed to enhance your learners’ transferable skills and confidence. They cover the following areas:
- Employability
- Business and Enterprise
- Study Skills
- Personal and Social Development
- Digital Skills.