Equine groom

This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the equine groom apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.

Equine groom apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.

This is a core and options apprenticeship. An apprentice must be trained and assessed against the core and one option. The options are:

• Flat riding groom

• Jump riding groom

• Racing exercise groom

• Racing yard-based groom

• Non-riding groom

• Breeding groom

• Driving groom

A full-time equine groom apprentice typically spends 12 months on-programme. The apprentice must spend at least 12 months on-programme and complete the required amount of off-the-job training in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.

The EPA should be completed within an EPA period lasting typically 4 months.

The apprentice must complete their training and meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA. The EPA will assess occupational competence.

An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must work with the training provider to select an approved EPAO from the apprenticeship providers and assessment register (APAR).

This EPA has 2 assessment methods.

The grades available for each assessment method are below.

Assessment method 1 - practical observation with questions and answers:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

Assessment method 2 - professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

The EPA is taken in the EPA period. The EPA period starts when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements have been met and is typically 4 months.

The EPAO should confirm the gateway requirements have been met and start the EPA as quickly as possible.

The apprentice’s employer must be content that the apprentice is occupationally competent. That is, they are deemed to be working at or above the level set out in the apprenticeship standard and ready to undertake the EPA. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider, but the employer must make the decision. The apprentice will then enter the gateway.

The apprentice must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.

They must:

• confirm they are ready to take the EPA
• have achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules

• submit a portfolio of evidence for the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio

Portfolio of evidence requirements:

The apprentice must compile a portfolio of evidence during the on-programme period of the apprenticeship. It should only contain evidence related to the KSBs that will be assessed by this assessment method. It will typically contain 15 discrete pieces of evidence. Evidence must be mapped against the KSBs. Evidence may be used to demonstrate more than one KSB; a qualitative as opposed to quantitative approach is suggested.

Evidence sources may include:

• workplace documentation and records, for example:
• workplace policies and procedures
• witness statements
• annotated photographs
• video clips (maximum total duration 10 minutes); the apprentice must be in view and identifiable

This is not a definitive list; other evidence sources can be included.

The portfolio of evidence should not include reflective accounts or any methods of self-assessment. Any employer contributions should focus on direct observation of performance (for example, witness statements) rather than opinions. The evidence provided should be valid and attributable to the apprentice; the portfolio of evidence should contain a statement from the employer and apprentice confirming this.

The EPAO should not assess the portfolio of evidence directly as it underpins the discussion. The independent assessor should review the portfolio of evidence to prepare questions for the discussion. They are not required to provide feedback after this review.

Gateway evidence must be submitted to the EPAO, along with any organisation specific policies and procedures requested by the EPAO.

The assessment methods can be delivered in any order.

The result of one assessment method does not need to be known before starting the next.

Overview

In the practical observation with questions and answers, an independent assessor observes the apprentice in their workplace (or similar environment) and asks questions. The apprentice completes their day-to-day duties under normal working conditions. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because it allows the day-to-day activities of an equine groom to be assessed in the most realistic and real-world way.

Delivery

The practical observation with questions and answers must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.

An independent assessor must conduct and assess the practical observation with questions and answers.

The independent assessor must only observe up to a maximum of two apprentices at a time to ensure quality and rigour. They must be as unobtrusive as possible.

The EPAO must give the apprentice 14 days' notice of the observation with questions.

The observation must take 5 hours.

The independent assessor can increase the time of the observation with questions by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to complete a task or respond to a question if necessary.

The observation may be split into discrete sections held on the same working day.

The EPAO must manage invigilation of the apprentice during the assessment, to maintain security of the EPA, in line with their malpractice policy. This includes breaks and moving between locations.

The independent assessor must explain to the apprentice the format and timescales of the observation with questions before it starts. This does not count towards the assessment time.

The independent assessor must observe the following during the observation:

Core

• Horse welfare and grooming including trimming, plaiting and foot and shoe care.
• Caring for the horse in the stable and at grass (to include watering, feeding, mucking out, bedding, stable construction).
• Handling horses including tying up, leading, trotting up, turning out and catching in.
• Maintaining and fitting saddlery and equipment.
• Preparing for and providing non-ridden exercises including lungeing.
• Preparing horses for travel and loading and unloading horses.
• Identifying parts of the horse's and performing routine health and welfare checks.

Flat Riding Groom (option)

• Riding at walk, trot, and canter, with or without stirrups.
• Riding a variety of school figures, movements and paces.
• Riding in the open across different terrain.
• Riding to instruction independently or as part of a group.
• Walking and trotting over ground poles.
• Riding in public spaces or on highways, including opening and shutting gates.
• Riding a quiet horse whilst leading another quiet horse.

Jump Riding Groom (option)

• Riding with control, security and balance to jump over a course of show jumps (7 jumps to a height of 75cm)
• Riding a variety of school figures, movements and paces.
• Walking and trotting over ground poles.
• Riding in the open across different terrain.
• Riding to instruction independently or as part of a group.
• Riding in public spaces or on highways, including opening and shutting gates.
• Riding a quiet horse whilst leading another quiet horse.

Racing Exercise Groom (option)

• Handling thoroughbreds in and out of full work.
• Fitting a variety of specialist racing equipment and tack.
• Providing various ridden exercise regimes under instruction.
• Maintaining industry weight and fitness requirements.
• Carrying out yard routines.

Racing Yard Groom (option)

• Handling thoroughbreds in and out of full training.
• Assist racing exercise grooms and provide non-ridden exercise regimes to thoroughbred horses.
• Fitting a variety of specialist racing equipment and tack.

Non-riding Groom (option)

• Carrying out maintenance, stock rotation and day to day organisation of the establishment.
• Performing office duties.
• Preparing and lungeing a horse in an enclosed area.
• Carrying out day to day customer service within the establishment.

Breeding Groom (option)

• Handling and leading a mare and foal or young stock from grass or stables.
• Catching a mare and foal from grass or stable (including restraint).
• Preparing equines for commercial, private sale or grading.
• Showing a horse for commercial, private sale or grading, including standing a horse up for inspection.

Driving Groom (option)

• Harnessing up and putting to (with an assistant) a single turnout in both a 2 and 4 wheeled vehicle, including dismantling and cleaning of all parts.
• Operating as a groom or back-stepper in either exercising, show or trials.
• Exercising horses including long reining and lungeing within an enclosed area.
• Demonstrating safe use of the mandatory driving aid.
• Driving a quiet pleasure single turnout including safe mounting, handling of reins, turns, walking, trotting, halting and dismounting.
• Cleaning a wooden or metal vehicle including safe storage.

Where a task indicates that an apprentice must follow instruction or require an assistant, this should be carried out by someone independent of the assessment, for example, someone from the school or stable. The independent assessor must be satisfied however, that instruction or assistance does not become a prompt, or feedback on performance that may jeopardise the integrity of the assessment.

Although the assessment method used to measure competence against these tasks is a practical observation with questions, it is accepted that due to the nature of the sector it may be necessary for the EPAO and (or) independent assessor to simulate elements of the practical on the day of the end-point assessment in order to allow the apprentice to demonstrate their procedural knowledge and skills of ‘how to do something’. This can be complemented by questioning from the independent assessor during or after the assessment.

EPAOs may develop ways to simulate the permitted KSBs ahead of the practical and (or) provide training to the independent assessor on how permitted KSBs may be simulated on the day of the assessment.

The following KSBs are permitted to be assessed as simulation under the remit of this plan:

Core – K12, S13, S20.

Flat Riding Groom (option) – K23, S25, S27, S29.

Jump Riding Groom (option) – K33, S32, S33, S35.

Racing Exercise Groom (option) – S46.

Racing Yard Groom (option) – S49.

Non-riding Groom (option) – K47, S54, S55.

Breeding Groom (option) – K56, S60, S61, S62, S63.

Driving Groom (option) – K57, K58, K60, K61, S68, S70.

Independent assessors should always default to using the practical observation first and apply simulation to elements of the practical only as a matter of last resort.

When elements of the practical are simulated, EPAOs must ensure that detailed records are kept explaining which KSBs from the practical have been simulated, including the reason(s) why. These activities provide the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.

Throughout the observation (whether this includes simulated parts or not), the independent assessor must ask questions that can occur both during and after the observation.

These activities provide the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.

The independent assessor must ask questions. Questioning can occur both during and after the observation.

The purpose of the questions is to assess the level of competence against the grading descriptors.

The time for questioning is included in the overall assessment time. The independent assessor must ask at least 10 questions. To remain as unobtrusive as possible, the independent assessor should ask questions during natural stops between tasks and after completion of work rather than disrupting the apprentice’s flow. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in line with the EPAO’s training. Follow-up questions are allowed where clarification is required.

The independent assessor must ask questions about KSBs that were not observed to gather assessment evidence. These questions are in addition to the above set number of questions for the observation with questions and should be kept to a minimum.

The apprentice may choose to end the assessment method early. The apprentice must be confident they have demonstrated competence against the assessment requirements for the assessment method. The independent assessor or EPAO must ensure the apprentice is fully aware of all assessment requirements. The independent assessor or EPAO cannot suggest or choose to end the assessment methods early, unless in an emergency. The EPAO is responsible for ensuring the apprentice understands the implications of ending an assessment early if they choose to do so. The independent assessor may suggest the assessment continues. The independent assessor must document the apprentice’s request to end the assessment early.

The independent assessor must make the grading decision. The independent assessor must assess the observation and responses to questions holistically when deciding the grade.

The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:

• the KSBs observed
• the apprentice’s answers to questions
• the KSBs demonstrated in answers to questions
• the grade achieved

Assessment location

The practical observation with questions and answers must take place in the apprentice’s normal place of work for example, their employer’s premises, customer’s premises or in a simulated environment selected by the EPAO for example, the training provider’s premises, the EPAO's premises, a test centre or a similar simulated environment. This simulated environment must relate to the apprentice’s natural work environment. Equipment and resources needed for the observation must be available and be in good and safe working condition. The EPAO, has responsibility for ensuring that the equipment and resources are suitable and are available and may liaise with the employer/ provider to supply these.

Questioning that occurs after the observation should take place in a suitable environment, for example a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.

Overview

In the professional discussion, an independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because it allows those elements unlikely to be observed to be assessed and allows the candidate to provide context and clarity of understanding.

reduces the assessment burden on the apprentice

Delivery

The professional discussion must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.

An independent assessor must conduct and assess the professional discussion and ask questions to assess the apprentice’s competence against the following themes:

Core

• Safe Working Practices
• Yard and Field Routine Duties
• Horse Anatomy, Physiology and Welfare
• Travelling With Horses
• Confidentiality

Flat Riding Groom

• Riding to Instruction
• Customer Service
• Public Spaces

Jump Riding Groom

• Riding To Instruction
• Public Spaces

Racing Exercise Groom

• Handle Thoroughbreds
• Regulatory requirements
• Thoroughbreds at the Racecourse

Racing Yard-Based Groom

• Regulatory Requirements
• Racing Industry
• Exercise Regimes

Non-Riding Groom

• Maintaining The Establishment
• School Rules and Regulations

Breeding Groom

• Equine Disease During Breeding Process
• Equine Breeding Procedures
• Assist With Foaling
• Equipment and Technology

Driving Groom

• Driving And The Highway Code
• Long Reining and Safe Use of the Regulatory Communication Tool

The EPAO must give an apprentice 14 days' notice of the professional discussion.

The independent assessor must have at least 2 weeks to review the supporting documentation.

The apprentice must have access to their portfolio of evidence during the professional discussion.

The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence however, the portfolio of evidence is not directly assessed.

The professional discussion must last for 60 minutes. The independent assessor can increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to respond to a question if necessary.

The independent assessor must ask at least 10 questions. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in line with the EPAO’s training. Follow-up questions are allowed where clarification is required.

The apprentice may choose to end the assessment method early. The apprentice must be confident they have demonstrated competence against the assessment requirements for the assessment method. The independent assessor or EPAO must ensure the apprentice is fully aware of all assessment requirements. The independent assessor or EPAO cannot suggest or choose to end the assessment methods early, unless in an emergency. The EPAO is responsible for ensuring the apprentice understands the implications of ending an assessment early if they choose to do so. The independent assessor may suggest the assessment continues. The independent assessor must document the apprentice’s request to end the assessment early.

The independent assessor must make the grading decision.

The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:

• the apprentice’s answers to questions
• the KSBs demonstrated in answers to questions
• the grade achieved

Assessment location

The professional discussion must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO for example, the EPAO’s or employer’s premises.

The professional discussion should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.

Question and resource development

The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification and question bank. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO must maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification and question bank must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.

The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this.

The EPAO must ensure that the apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.

The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio:

• independent assessor assessment materials which include:
  • training materials
  • administration materials
  • moderation and standardisation materials
  • guidance materials
  • grading guidance
  • question bank
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and the employer

The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.

Performance in the EPA determines the overall grade of:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

An independent assessor must individually grade the practical observation with questions and answers and professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio in line with this EPA plan.

The EPAO must combine the individual assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade.

If the apprentice fails one assessment method or more, they will be awarded an overall fail.

To achieve an overall pass, the apprentice must achieve at least a pass in all the assessment methods. A distinction will be achieved by obtaining a distinction in both methods.

Grades from individual assessment methods must be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.

If the apprentice fails one assessment method or more, they can take a re-sit or a re-take at their employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer needs to agree that a re-sit or re-take is appropriate. A re-sit does not need further learning, whereas a re-take does. The apprentice should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.

The employer and the EPAO should agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 2 months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a re-take is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 3 months of the EPA outcome notification.

Failed assessment methods must be re-sat or re-taken within a 6-month period from the EPA outcome notification, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be re-sat or re-taken in full.

Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to an apprentice wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.

The apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of pass for a re-sit or re-take, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.

The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.

This should include:

• how an apprentice qualifies for reasonable adjustment
• what reasonable adjustments may be made

Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.

Internal quality assurance refers to the strategies, policies and procedures that an EPAO must have in place to ensure valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions.

EPAOs for this EPA must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities table.

They must also appoint independent assessors who:

• have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 3 gained in the last 3 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector

Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:

• assessing multiple apprentices simultaneously where the assessment method permits this

• using the employer’s premises

This apprenticeship is not aligned to professional recognition.