Apprenticeship Standards Outdoor Learning Specialist (L5)
About the role
This Level 5 apprenticeship standard is typically designed as an 24-month programme (this does not include EPA period) and is for apprentices interested in the outdoor sport, leisure, tourism, public health, youth work and education sectors.
Outdoor Learning Specialists work within a range of outdoor activity or education centres from schools and universities to national parks and nature reserves.
The broad purpose of the occupation is the design, planning and delivery of programmes that provide progressive learning and change using outdoor activities and experiences. Typical impacts are educational achievement, personal and social development, health and wellbeing, nature connection, outdoor science, team cohesion, or practical skills development.
In smaller organisations Outdoor Learning Specialists are likely to perform all duties of this standard within their role. In larger organisations their role may specialise in duties related to programme delivery, customer relationship management, staffing and team support, or safety and risk management for example.
Professional recognition
Successful apprentices will have the opportunity to register as a Professional Member of Institue of Outdoor Learning.
On this page
Standard
On-programme
We provide a clear learning programme to take apprentices from entry through to the gateway for end-point assessment.
You can use our on-programme offer regardless of whether you are using Pearson as your end-point assessment organisation or not.
Qualifications
The qualifications required are:
- Ofqual Level 2 Safeguarding Qualification appropriate to the employer’s business
- Ofqual Level 3 two-day Outdoor First Aid Award
- Apprentices must have achieved English and mathematics 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.
As both an vocational and academic awarding organisation, we can offer a wide range of English and maths qualifications in line with your standards’ requirements, from Functional Skills through to GCSEs.
Learning resources
English and maths resources
We have a wide range of resources and useful tools to complement your programme, including assessment tools, podcasts and training events.
End-point assessment
As an ESFA-approved Assessment Organisation, we provide a full range of assessment services, resources and support from our experienced EPA team to equip you and your learners with the diverse requirements of the apprenticeship standards.
You can use Pearson as your end-point assessment organisation, regardless of whether you choose to use our on-programme offer or not.
Please note that we expect to have specifications and further documentation available for this standard by mid to late 2022.
There are three assessment methods for this EPA
1: Customer proposal report, presentation and questioning
This assessment method has 2 components
- an outcome component - a customer proposal report based on post-gateway work
- a presentation with questioning to ensure the apprentice is assessed against the KSBs assigned to this assessment method.
The assessment method is the production of a customer proposal report, presentation and questioning. The work is carried out after the apprentice has gone through the gateway. A customer proposal report involves the apprentice completing a relevant and defined piece of work that demonstrates meeting a real business need. The report must be undertaken after the apprentice has gone through the gateway. Apprentices will prepare and deliver a presentation that, along with the report, appropriately covers the KSBs assigned to this method of assessment. It will be followed by questioning from the independent assessor.
The customer proposal report should be designed to ensure that the apprentice’s work meets the needs of the business, is relevant to their role and allows the relevant KSBs to be assessed for the EPA. The employer will ensure it has a real business application and the EPAO will ensure it meets the requirements of the EPA, including suitable coverage of the KSBs assigned to this assessment method as shown in the mapping of assessment methods.
The customer proposal report will be a proposal to deliver a programme of progressive outdoor learning activities and experiences to enable participants to achieve outcomes agreed with the customer. The programme does not need to be delivered or evaluated during the EPA period. The EPAO must refer to the grading descriptors to ensure that reports are pitched appropriately.
2: Observation with questions
This assessment method has 1 component.
An observation with questions involves an independent assessor observing and questioning an apprentice undertaking work as part of their normal duties in the workplace under normal working conditions. This allows for a demonstration of the KSBs through naturally occurring evidence. The observation must be of an apprentice completing their usual work and simulation is not permitted.
3: Professional discussion (underpinned by a logbook of evidence)
This assessment method has 1 component.
A professional discussion is a two-way discussion which involves both the independent assessor and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the KSBs mapped to this method. The professional discussion which must be appropriately structured to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence and cover the KSBs assigned to this assessment method. It will involve questions that will focus on areas of knowledge and skills where there are a number of potential answers.
Our range of EPA resources such as EPA specification, additional resources document and practice knowledge test are designed to enhance learners’ knowledge and/or hone essential skills required.
They are available to our customers who have signed up to Pearson EPA and include information on:
- Structure
- Grading
- Gateway requirements
- Assessment content
- Evidence requirement for each component
We have designed a step-by-step guide, with signposts to our key supporting information, resources and services available at every stage of the process.
