Glossary
Qualifying period
The minimum period a learner must remain on an aim before funding is generated for it.
In full
Several funding arrangements include a qualifying period: a learner who leaves before completing it generates no funding for the aim, or only a reduced amount.
The length of the period and how it is measured are set out in the funding rules for the stream and year.
Where this comes up
scenario
A learner starts three weeks after the class
A late joiner is enrolled with the class start date rather than their own. It looks tidier and it is wrong.
scenario
A learner transfers to a different course in October
A learner decides the course is not right for them and moves to a different one. Two aims have to be handled correctly.
scenario
A new finance director asks why income moved
A finance director new to further education sees earnings fall in a month where recruitment was strong. The explanation is in the mechanism.
scenario
An adult learner withdraws in week six
A learner on a fully funded adult qualification stops attending six weeks in. Follow it from the tutor noticing to the audit test.
diagnostic
An aim is on the ILR but generates no funding
The aim validates and appears on the ILR, but generates no earnings. Validation and funding are different tests: a record can be perfectly valid and still not qualify for funding.
diagnostic
An apprentice is on the ILR but is not generating any payments
The apprentice exists on the ILR and looks correct, but no earnings are being generated for them. Apprenticeship funding depends on the ILR and the apprenticeship service agreeing, so a record that is perfect in one and absent or different in the other produces nothing.