Significant changes to apprenticeship funding are coming from April 2026. At the same time, some leadership and management apprenticeship routes are under review at a national level. While not all details are finalised, levy funding rules are tightening and aspects of leadership provision may evolve.
For schools and trusts using the Apprenticeship Levy to develop senior staff, this is the strategic time to review your plans.
What is changing from April 2026
From April 2026, several confirmed funding changes will come into effect:
- Levy funds will expire after 12 months, reduced from the current 24 month window
- Employer co investment will rise to 25 percent once levy funds are exhausted, up from 5 percent
- The 10 percent Government top up will be removed, meaning employers will only access the value of their own contributions
- The Apprenticeship Levy will be rebranded as the Growth and Skills Levy, with greater emphasis on flexibility and shorter training options
Shorter expiry periods and increased employer contributions mean workforce planning will need to be more proactive. Unused levy funds will be lost more quickly, and the overall funding landscape will become more constrained.
Review of leadership and management apprenticeships
Alongside the funding reforms, leadership and management apprenticeships are being reviewed. There has been public discussion about whether some management standards will continue to receive levy funding, particularly for older learners and senior leadership routes. No formal withdrawals have been confirmed, but employers are being encouraged to plan ahead.
What this could mean for Thrive Apprenticeships
Thrive Apprenticeships provide levy funded pathways for professionals leading whole school approaches to wellbeing, behaviour and social and emotional development.The programmes that could potentially be affected by changes to leadership routes include:
These apprenticeships are suitable for teachers, SENDCos, DSLs, members of SLT, pastoral leads, support staff, HLTAs, behaviour leads, attendance mentors, mental health leads and other roles where individuals work directly with children and young people and are empowered to lead the implementation of Thrive, such as in care homes or secure facilities.
For Licensed Practitioners, the Advanced Practitioner Leadership Apprenticeship is currently the funded progression route at that level.
If certain leadership and management apprenticeship routes are removed from levy funding in future, it is likely to be linked to cost pressures and a greater focus on directing public funding towards priority skills areas. In that scenario, organisations wishing to progress senior leaders through this level of development may need to fund training directly rather than through their levy. For schools and trusts considering enrolling colleagues, securing a place while current funding arrangements remain in place provides certainty and protects access to levy funded leadership development.
The strategic advantage of a Thrive Apprenticeship
A levy funded Thrive Apprenticeship is not simply a training course. It is a strategic route to embedding Thrive across your whole setting.Through the apprenticeship, colleagues train as a fully qualified Thrive Licensed Practitioner. During the programme, your setting also receives access to:
- Thrive-Online
- My Thrive Scan
These award-winning tools support assessment, action planning and whole school wellbeing measurement, strengthening implementation and evidencing impact.
Independent ImpactEd evaluation shows that Thrive supports improvements in behaviour, attendance, staff confidence and pupil wellbeing, while contributing positively to inspection evidence and school improvement priorities.
For many schools, the apprenticeship route brings these benefits together in a structured, funded leadership pathway. It builds internal expertise, embeds relational practice and creates sustainable change, rather than relying on one off training.
What employers should consider now
From April 2026, levy funds will expire more quickly and employer contributions will increase once levy balances are used. At the same time, some leadership routes remain under review.
Schools considering a Thrive Apprenticeship should review levy balances, check expiry dates and plan enrolment timelines carefully. With funding rules confirmed and eligibility criteria potentially evolving, proactive planning ensures you make full use of the support currently available.
Apprenticeships remain a structured and funded route to developing leadership capacity while embedding Thrive across your setting. The funding landscape is shifting, but with clear planning, schools can continue to use apprenticeships strategically to strengthen wellbeing and outcomes.
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