This page acts as a hub of information for the first cohort of volunteer providers that are submitting new access and participation plans in 2023.
40 volunteer providers will be submitting new access and participation plans in 2023, as part of our staggered approach to the submission of new plans.
Participating providers will receive additional support to prepare their plans, which will include:
- a set of four focused webinars to provide information on areas of access and participation plans that are new, or that providers requested support with through our consultation
- a call with a member of OfS staff where the provider can get advice on elements of their plan.
Timeline
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5 April 2023
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First wave reference group meeting with John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation, OfS
At this meeting, John and colleagues set out the process for submitting plans in 2023, including the support the OfS will offer providers. Providers in the first wave had the opportunity to provide feedback on a new draft version of Regulatory advice 6.
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20 April to 2 May 2023
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Information and support webinars
We ran four webinars to provide information on areas of access and participation plans that are new, or that providers requested support with, including:
- Assessment of performance: access and participation plan data dashboard and Equality of Opportunity Risk Register
- Intervention strategies and theory of change
- Supporting attainment raising in schools
- Strengthening evaluation.
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May 2023
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Telephone surgeries
You can find more information on telephone surgeries below.
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3 July 2023
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Submission start date
From 3 July onwards we will start our assessment process, prioritising providers who recruit to the early UCAS deadline.
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12 weeks after submission of plan
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Communication of assessment outcomes
We will aim to communicate assessment outcomes to providers 12 weeks after the submission of their plan.
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Guidance documents
Providers should engage with Regulatory notice 1 and Regulatory advice 6 when developing their access and participation plans.
Regulatory notice 1
This sets out our regulatory requirements for access and participation plans. Providers should use this document to understand what must be included in all plans and how plans will be assessed by us.
Regulatory advice 6
This offers further guidance to providers on how to write an access and participation plan. Providers should use this document to support them in developing their plan.
How to submit your plan
Further information on submitting 2024-25 access and participation plans will be provided in due course.
Telephone surgeries
Telephone surgeries for the first wave of providers will be held for up to one hour between 1000-1600 on the below dates:
- Tuesday 9 May
- Wednesday 10 May
- Thursday 11 May
- Wednesday 17 May.
These will involve having a call with OfS staff about your access and participation plan and applying our expectations in your context.
How to book
To book a telephone surgery, please email [email protected] with a preferred time and date and a summary of the questions you would like to ask.
We will then send you confirmation and a diary appointment with a Teams link for the call.
Telephone surgeries are only open to the first wave of providers submitting 2024-25 access and participation plans this summer.
