In May 2025, the UK government announced a significant change to funding rules for Level 7 apprenticeships
After a period of review, we now have confirmation that from January 2026, only learners aged 21 and under will be eligible for funded Level 7 apprenticeships. Additionally, individuals under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) at the start of their apprenticeship in England will be eligible for the funded training.
Key information
- Apprentices who begin their Level 7 programme before 1 January 2026 will receive full government funding through to completion of their programmes.
- In November 2025 we will have one final fully-funded intake for our Advanced SEND Leader programme. We will also have a final fully-funded cohort for our Level 7 Senior Leader apprenticeship with NPQSL starting in September 2025.
- The autumn cohorts will be the final opportunities for individuals ages 22 and over to access these programmes via the funded route
Funding for apprenticeships at levels 2 – 6 will remain unchanged.
Level 7 Programmes
We believe that our Advanced SEND Leader programme delivers substantial value for schools and colleges, evidenced by the outstanding feedback we are receiving from delegates currently studying in our early cohorts. We will, therefore, be reviewing the options to re-work this programme using a different apprenticeship standard and will share an update once this is confirmed.
We strongly encourage anyone considering a Level 7 apprenticeship to submit their application as soon as possible due to anticipated high demand.
This is the final opportunity to study a fully funded apprenticeship at a level 7, so apply early to avoid disappointment.
Talk to us
If you would like to discuss either of our Level 7 programmes, please complete our online contact form, or call us on 01784 222 300.