Horticulture

Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship in Horticulture (Framework)

Level 2 Horticulture/Landscape Operative (Standard)

Horticulture is a major UK industry. This apprenticeship covers a range of occupations and suits anyone wanting to work outdoors in gardens and park settings.

Horticulture and Landscape Operatives can be employed to work in public parks and gardens, green spaces and historic gardens, private gardens and estates or in production nurseries and retail outlets. Many businesses will be specialised in their activities, such as grounds maintenance (soft-landscape) or landscape construction (hard-landscape).

Soft- landscaping includes the establishment and maintenance of plants and cultivated areas. Hard-landscaping includes establishment of hard surfaces and structures in addition to the establishment of plants in cultivated areas.

The following qualifications are embedded within the Standard and must be achieved prior to gateway and End Point Assessment (EPA):

Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work

Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides Guidance OR Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides.

The apprentice will be assessed through a variety of assessment methods as agreed with their assessor to ensure that the knowledge and skills they learn are applied consistently in their role.

The apprentice will demonstrate their evidence by building an online portfolio mapped towards the learning outcomes of the agreed units. Types of evidence will include written assignments, observation, and may also include questions and answers, professional discussion, witness testimonies and the examination of work products.

The assessor is looking to confirm the integration of theory into practice in line with the qualification assessment criteria. This will be quality assured to ensure is authentic, sufficient and valid before quality assurance from the external awarding organisation.

End Point Assessment (EPA) - Demonstrating Learning

The final EPA consists of 3 components in the sequence as follows:

• Online Knowledge Assessment: The online knowledge assessment is a multiple choice test consisting of 40 questions each with 4 response options. The assessment must be completed within 1 hour under controlled conditions.
• Synoptic Practical Assessments: The synoptic practical assessment consists of 3 practical tasks to be completed in controlled conditions with responses to verbal knowledge questions posed by an assessor. These activities will be time bound and take no more than 6 hours.
• Professional Discussion: The professional discussion is based on seasonal elements and portfolio evidence selected from the final year of the apprenticeship. The discussion is between the apprentice and the assessor for 1 hour under controlled conditions.