Guides to learner support in further education and apprenticeships

These guides are written for inclusion leads, learning support managers, tutors, assessors, quality teams and employers. Each one links to the primary source so you can check the detail. They explain duties and good practice; they are not legal advice. For quick definitions see the glossary, and for ready-made documents see the templates and free tools.

How do I choose which guide to read first?

Start with the question you need answered this week, then follow the links in that guide. Most questions fall into one of five groups:

• Duties and the law. Reasonable adjustments in further education, the Equality Act 2010 for FE providers and the SEND Code of Practice post-16.
• EHC plans and funding. EHCPs in further education, post-16 annual reviews and high needs funding in FE.
• Apprenticeships. Reasonable adjustments for apprentices, learning support funding, adjustments at assessment and Access to Work.
• Everyday practice. Learner voice, writing a support plan, recording delivery evidence and reviewing whether support worked.
• Data, systems and accessibility. Special category data, DPIAs, using AI safely and WCAG 2.2.

How do SEND and reasonable adjustments fit together in FE?

They are two overlapping frameworks, and many learners are covered by both. The Equality Act 2010 requires providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled learners and apprentices, whether or not they have an EHC plan. The SEND framework, set by the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 0 to 25, applies to young people with special educational needs, including those with EHC plans. The SEND reform proposals published in 2026 do not change these duties unless and until the law is changed. The Equality Act guide and the SEND Code of Practice guide explain where they meet.

What is different for apprenticeships?

An apprentice is both a learner and an employee, so support can involve the provider, the employer and the assessment organisation. Responsibility for apprenticeship policy and funding rules moved to the Department for Work and Pensions in November 2025, and funding rules are published for each funding year, so always check the current year’s rules. Our guide to working with employers on adjustments covers the practical side.

How are the guides kept accurate?

Each guide names its primary sources, such as legislation.gov.uk, gov.uk and Ofsted, and shows the date it was last updated. Rules on funding and inspection change, including Ofsted’s renewed framework from November 2025, so check the source before you rely on a detail. If you spot something out of date, tell us.

Where do templates and software fit in?

The guides explain the practice, the templates give you a document to use today, and free tools help you build one interactively. If you are thinking about software, read choosing learner support software and see the platform, which is pre-pilot.