Apprenticeship proposal paused

Concerns about the submission of the apprenticeship standards for optometry has meant proposals have been paused after the trailblazer group agreed to further development.

Members of the group agreed there were significant concerns about the submission and that further development and consultation would be required before it could be considered by the Institute for Apprenticeship Training and Education.

There was unanimous support for a hiatus to enable reflection and review, so that sector and group member feedback, provided in response to news of the submission, could be fully considered.

A College of Optometrists statement said pausing the proposal would allow a revised draft to be developed and consulted on with full involvement of all members of the group, as well as other key stakeholders.