02 Mar 2021
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Recognise personal growth and engagement in learning
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
The suite of Gateway Qualifications qualifications in Personal Progress has been designed to address the needs of learners working at Entry 1 or below and in particular those with learning difficulties and disabilities. The qualifications ensure that all learners are given the same opportunities to access appropriate and relevant education and improve their life chances.
The qualifications have been developed to enable the achievements of learners working at Entry 1 (a level previously known as pre-Entry and excluded from national qualification frameworks) to be recognised. The qualifications follow the agreed Rules of Combination across all awarding bodies for qualifications at this level and with these titles.
Achievement is reported against the 10 stage Entry 1 achievement continuum which was developed by QCA as part of the trial of the Personal Progress qualifications in 2009. This continuum allows learners to demonstrate very small steps of progress and enables providers to differentiate between the levels of achievement of learners working within Entry 1.
Since 2009 the Personal Progress qualifications have been used successfully by providers with learners with a range of complex needs to recognise highly individualised achievements in areas of personal significance to learners (including, for example, self-advocacy, independent travel and communication skills). This suite of qualifications is now established as the main vehicle for formally recognising the achievements of learners with the most complex needs.
Rules of Combination
Learners must achieve 8 credits in total. The credits can be taken from any combination of units within the qualification.
Due to the large number of units contained within this qualification we are unable to display them here. Please check the qualification specification for a full unit listing and then search for the unit title in the unit search to find more information about each unit.
Recognised Centres can also find full unit information in Prism.
What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification has been designed for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including those with the most complex needs, who are working within Entry 1, including at its very earliest stages.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification covers a range of skills, at a very basic level, relating to personal and social development, employability, communication, number and ICT, and learning skills. Units can be combined in any way enabling the recognition of highly individualised achievements in areas of personal significance to learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including those with complex needs.
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is part of a suite which includes an award, certificate and diploma. The award will be most suitable for those learners who are combining a small amount of accredited learning with a broader unaccredited programme, for example a learner on a supported internship or taking part in Project Search, where the majority of learning is experiential and takes place in the workplace. The award is also appropriate for learners who have particularly ‘spiky profiles’ where only a small proportion of their learning needs to be at this very basic level, with the remainder of their programme being at a higher level. It is also suitable for learners with the most complex needs, where it is beneficial for their programme to be specifically focused on a carefully selected core skill set, relevant to their specific needs.
Which sector does this qualification support?
A small number of learners is expected to progress directly from this qualification to supported (or less often) open employment. Others are likely to pursue further learning before moving into employment. Learners can progress from the qualification to a wide range of entry-level job roles across a number of different sectors. These would typically be characterised by having high levels of supervision and involve routine tasks. Learners in supported employment could expect to have the support of a job coach where appropriate.
How will this qualification support the learner’s independence?
For some learners will be able to make vertical progression to other Gateway Qualifications’ Entry level qualifications, including personal and social development, preparation for employment and skills for independent living.
For other learners, whose cognitive impairment will prevent them from progressing up the levels, the qualification will prepare them for further non-accredited learning relating to independence and autonomy and for becoming active citizens within their own communities.
Progression & entry requirements
There are no age restrictions for this qualification and no prior learning requirements.Funding information
There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.
The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).
View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you to deliver this qualification.
Special Considerations and Reasonable Adjustment Forms
Gateway Qualifications Personal Progress Additional Guidance for Providers
Personal Progress QCDA Factsheet
Expert View: Entry Level Webinar