Apprenticeship progress reviews and tripartite meetings
How apprenticeship progress reviews and tripartite meetings work, what they should cover, and how they produce the evidence Ofsted and funding audits look for.
A tripartite progress review is a scheduled meeting between the apprentice, their employer and the training provider to check progress against the training plan and agree next steps. Reviews are usually held at least every twelve weeks and the outcomes should be recorded against the learner's evidence and plan.
Journey's apprenticeship delivery software schedules reviews and links them back to the plan.
29 June 2026 · 2 min read · By Journey
Progress reviews are the regular checkpoints where the apprentice, their employer and the training provider come together to review how the apprenticeship is going. Done well, they keep everyone aligned, catch problems early and produce a clear record of genuine on-programme delivery. Done as a box-ticking exercise, they are a wasted opportunity and a weak point at inspection.
This article explains what a good review covers and why the tripartite format matters.
Why the tripartite format matters
The review involves the apprentice, employer and provider. Under 2026/27 rules, an employer unable to attend must have an opportunity to contribute, and attendance must still occur in the majority of reviews. Share the discussion summary with all parties; the minimum signatures are the provider and apprentice.
Bringing all three together at a regular cadence also keeps the employer engaged in off-the-job training, which is frequently where apprenticeships drift.
What a good review covers
A substantive review goes beyond 'how are you getting on'. It typically covers progress against the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the standard, off-the-job training against the plan, wellbeing and safeguarding, English and maths where relevant, and clear, agreed actions before the next review.
The output should show progress, issues and agreed actions. It supports the provider’s evidence; it does not establish a funding or inspection outcome on its own.
Turning reviews into evidence
Reviews only carry weight if they are scheduled, completed and recorded consistently. A pile of half-completed review forms is worse than none, because it shows a process that is not working.
Journey treats a tripartite meeting as the calendar manifestation of a progress review: reviews and meetings are generated and rescheduled together, reminders chase the ones that are due, and each completed review becomes part of the audited record against the standard.
What is a tripartite review?
A tripartite review is a progress review involving all three parties to the apprenticeship — the apprentice, the employer and the training provider — to review progress against the standard and agree actions.
How often should progress reviews happen?
For 2026/27 starts, reviews normally take place at least every three calendar months. An evidenced delivery reason may justify another frequency agreed with the employer before the programme starts, with reviews no more than six months apart. Separate learning-support reviews remain subject to their own requirements.
What should a progress review record?
Progress against the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the standard, off-the-job against plan, wellbeing and safeguarding, English and maths where relevant, and clear agreed actions for the next period.
Questions providers ask
What is a tripartite review?
A tripartite review is a progress review involving all three parties to the apprenticeship — the apprentice, the employer and the training provider — to review progress against the standard and agree actions.
How often should progress reviews happen?
For 2026/27 starts, reviews normally take place at least every three calendar months. An evidenced delivery reason may justify another frequency agreed with the employer before the programme starts, with reviews no more than six months apart. Separate learning-support reviews remain subject to their own requirements.
What should a progress review record?
Progress against the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the standard, off-the-job against plan, wellbeing and safeguarding, English and maths where relevant, and clear agreed actions for the next period.
Related pages.
See Journey on your own questions.
A guided walkthrough of the connected record and the questions your leadership team actually asks.
See what changes
when it all connects.
Bring your learners’ journey, your team’s questions and your next ambition.