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EAST
MIDLANDS SKILLS FOR LIFE STRATEGY
FORUM BULLETIN |
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Bulletin 22
November 2004
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Newsflash
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The national strategy for improving adult literacy and
numeracy, translated in the East Midlands |
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Events and Conferences
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Sharing
the Skills! Resources Free
Publicity Material for Maths Campaign
Building
on our 'Numbers in Everything/Hands Up if You Hate
Maths' campaign of earlier this year, 'you
do the maths' highlights the importance of estimating and detailed calculation
in helping people to make sense of their everyday lives. FREE
support materials are now available for providers to help them promote their local
activities for the campaign. For more information on the campaign
or to order materials on-line please visit Skills
for Life
Materials for Embedded Learning now launched In
September 2004 the first batch of the Skills for Life Materials for Embedded Learning were
published. The first five teacher reference files are now available to order Teacher
reference files now available to order: * Trowel occupations (order ref: embedded/TR) * Social care (order ref: embedded/SC) * Horticulture (order ref: embedded/HO) * Family health (order ref: embedded/FH) * Effective communication for international nurses (order ref:
embedded/NU) Two
further batches of materials are due for release in May 2005 and June 2006. The second
batch will include retail, warehousing, catering and hospitality, entry to Employment
(E2E) and sports leadership. DfES
Publications on 0845 60 222 60, dfes@prolog.uk.com quoting
the codes above. For more
information please visit the Embedded Learning Portal www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/
embeddedlearning.
The Portal contains electronic versions of all the paper-based Materials for Embedded
Learning, and additional Interactive practice materials Success
factors in informal learning: Young adults' experience of basic skills A
6 page interim report from the YALP project can now be downloaded from www.nrdc.org.uk/uploads/ If
you are working with young adults aged 16 to 25, delivering literacy, language and
numeracy and wish to get involved with the YALP research, or would like more information,
contact a member of the team: Bethia
McNeil Project Officer, YALP 0116 204 7057 Bethia.mcneil@niace.org.uk Linda
Smith Research Assistant, YALP 0116 204 4258 You
can also visit the project website at http://www.niace.org.uk/
Summary
of all Nationally accredited, fundable ESOL qualifications To
get a summary of all nationally accredited, fundable ESOL qualifications (plus
associated presentations) go to the QCA website: www.qca.org.uk. Type
in 'ESOL Qualifications' in search section, to take you to ESOL section To download
'Update 2004' etc follow the instructions on the screen NRDC
Research Report; English
for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) - case studies of provision, learners' needs and
resources The
recently published Public Health White
Paper
("Choosing Health") recognises the importance of health literacy in helping
people make informed choices about their health and highlights the role of the Skilled for
Health projects along with a commitment to expand this programme. The
new Paul Hamlyn Foundation project 'Building Bridges: Making Connections' is now operating
in Nottingham with the broad aim of improving the use of library services by refugees and
asylum seekers. The Project Officer Sena Zvvonic has now obtained the agreement for
the some libraries in the city to offer
free space for all Basic Skills groups, including Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL. For
more information please contact Sena: sena.zvonic@ Useful Links Adult
Basic Skills Strategy Unit Lisa
Capper ABSSU Regional
Coordinator lisa.capper@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
Basic
Skills Agency www.basic-skills.co.uk DfES Lifelong Learning
www.lifelonglearning.co.uk Get
On Campaign www.dfes.gov.uk/geton LearnDirect
Learning
and Skills Council www.lsc.gov.uk Learning and Skills Development Agency National
Literacy Trust
National
Research Development Centre for adult literacy, language and numeracy www.nrdc.org.uk NIACE (National Institute for Adult and Continuing
Education) www.niace.org.uk Nottinghamshire
Skills for Life Partnership now has a website www.ns4lp.org.uk/homepage Qualifications
and Curriculum Authority Skills
for Life Quality Initiative Ufi www.lancs.ac.uk/wbsnet
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Regional
News
Skills
for Life progress on the 2004 targets Nationally
the target of raising the basic skills of 750,000 adults by 2004 has been met. This
reflects the hard work and commitment of all those involved including Learning and Skills
Council funded providers, Job Centre Plus and the Prison and Probation Services. In the
East Midlands there is still some way to go to be in a position to meet the new
challenging targets for 2007. This will mean that all involved need to be even more
innovative in engaging and delivering learning opportunities.
Skills for Life Quality Initiative
2004-05
Details of
the SfLQI, can be found on the SfLQI website www.sflqi.org.uk or contact Chris Donkin
(Tel: 07791-698947 email : chris@donkinitex.co.uk)
directly. Of particular interest to readers might be:- The
'Professional Development' Strand This
includes a menu of both leadership and management and professional development
opportunities, for staff working at all levels within each organisation, including those
delivering key skills.The current list of free SfLQI
programmes available in the East Midlands includes Leadership and Management training, Key
Skills training for Skills for Life teachers, short courses for practitioners and
'training the trainers' courses. A full list of what is available can be found on the Skills for Life web site (www.lsc.gov.uk/sflqi).
Further programmes will be added to the list as soon as they are arranged. Contact
Elaine Scott the SfLQI Regional Training Organiser 07876-687797 email elaine.scott@edu-co.co.uk
to book a place on any of the free courses. Facilitator
Support in the East Midlands Over 200
Providers across the East Midlands have been offered the support of a locally
based facilitator to assist them in addressing the two key aims of the Quality
Initiative;(i) continuing
support for the development of a professional Skills
for Life workforce at all levels; (ii) to promote and embed a 'whole
organisation' approach to Skills for Life. Early
feedback from the 2004-05 facilitation support process has been positive. Many providers
have reported that the facilitator has helped them to see the bigger picture. The 'whole
organisation approach' is helping to ensure that improving the quality of SfL provision is
high on the agenda and incorporated into strategic developments. Literacy and Numeracy 'on the busses'
in Northampton
Northamptonshire LSC have been working with Northampton College and the First Bus Company and the Union Learning reps for First Bus; Peter Mehrtens and Dave Wilkins in Northampton from March 2004. Since then 34% of the 150 staff have already been engaged in learning and this number is set to increase as the tutors are now involved in the induction process for new recruits. The LSC initially allocated £5000 for the development of an in depot Learning Centre. This has been very well received by staff at the depot and in the New Year it is planned to make the centre available to the families of the staff each weekend. For
more information contact Gordon Sergent gordon.sergent@lsc.gov.uk Grantham
College yes are winners
As part of the National Training
Awards, yes recently won the Regional Training Award for their outstanding achievements in
the East Midlands. It was one particular scheme involving literacy training for 10 young
mothers on the Earlsfield Esatt6e, which earned yes a place in the NTA finals. The women
were originally given cash incentives to attend 10 sessions of literacy training, but they
have all progressed onto further qualifications or jobs. New Executive Director for
Nottinghamshire Learning and Skills Council
Mick Brown, former Principal of South
East Derbyshire College, is the new Executive Director of the Learning and Skills Council
(LSC) Nottinghamshire. He took up his post in August 2004. Opportunities to
bid under Nottinghamshire Objective 3 ESF Co-financing Tendering Round 2004 - 2006 but
time is running out Nottinghamshire
Learning and Skills Council are currently seeking tenders from organisations interested in
delivering Co-financed provision in Nottinghamshire. The Prospectus is available and
provides information on the priorities for
funding, the target groups, the outputs and the arrangements for making applications and
selecting tenders for funding. Information can be found at www.lsc.gov.uk/notts.
Applications must be received by the
LSC by 17th December 2004, 12 NOON
Late
applications will not be accepted. Ufi
Sure Start pilot in the East Midlands Ufi
are currently exploring how to work more effectively with Sure Start to support
parents and carers to get involved in learning. Nationally
three pilot projects,
planned
to run for 8 months, have
been developed to assess the advantages and disadvantages of three
distinct delivery model for the UK online offer/ learndirect courses. In the East
Midlands Let's Learn Loughborough will be working with their local
SureStart Centre in situated in Queens Road, to work with families to
raise standards and motivate learners of all ages through a series of family fun and
learning events . The following
regional agencies are leading on national DfES pilots: · Voluntary and community Sector project Derwent Living
Loughborough College, Portland College
and HMP Ashwell
Leicester College
National
News
Look out in future editions for more information Whole organisation approaches
Pathfinders
This new
three-year project will explore how best to introduce literacy, language and numeracy
across whole organisations at all levels, ranging from strategic leadership and management
to delivery practice. It will develop embedded teaching and learning across a range of
different programmes and help more learners to secure both Skills for Life
and vocational/other qualifications. 25 pathfinder organisations are being selected,
ranging from FE colleges to community-based providers. Regular dissemination events will
be held and case studies produced to highlight the critical success factors required to
achieve a whole organisation approach to Skills for Life provision. Contact
Rob Pheasant 07795290684. Embedding
Skills for Life
into vocational qualifications Through
this new three year project the QCA is working with a number of awarding bodies to develop
a range of models of literacy, language and numeracy qualifications embedded into
vocational qualifications at different levels. These embedded qualifications will be
trialed in centres from autumn 2005. Findings will be evaluated and disseminated through
case studies, conferences and a web site. Contact
Caroline Hughes 07881 502 269. Convergence of basic and key skills project Contact Terry Smith
07818681932. Skills for Families Phase 2
In
September phase two of Skills for Families was launched, with an event in Coventry for all
the new pilot projects. Some
of the models of delivery piloted in Phase 1 have been mainstreamed through the LSC in the
2004/5 academic year. Guidance
on extending and embedding FLLN has
been published in three handbooks produced by the Basic Skills Agency. Phase 2
is based on 19 Local Authority and Local Learning and Skills Council partnerships and will
consist of three strands:Developing
local infrastructures for planning and managing FLLN,Developing and testing a range of
delivery models Disseminating
effective practice to all LAs and LLSCs,The new
models of delivery will extend FLLN in new settings, such as Children's Centres and with
new groups, such as fathers and teenage parents. Guidance will also be produced on FLLN
for Extended Schools and Children's Centres. Contact
Sue.Evans@lsc.gov.uk or visit www.skillsforfamilies.org.uk. Learning
for Living; Developing
access to Skills for Life for adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities NIACE is
leading a major, new DfES-funded development programme, Learning for Living - through six
Skills for Life Pathfinder projects across England. Heading a
consortium of key national bodies specialising in different aspects of disability - and
working in the community, colleges, prisons and the workplace - The two
and a half year programme - funded by the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit at DfES - will
run to March 2006. A
website will soon be available. Contact can be made with the project through the Project
Manager joyce.black@niace.org.uk Embedding Step in to Learning
Between
2004-2006 the Step in to learning approach will be embedded into the professional practice
of a range of early year's workers such as staff working in children's centres,
childminders, playgroup staff and after school care staff. Trials
will be conducted in
nine regional consortia which include Derbyshire & Northamptonshire. Contact Lisa Capper 07879432224 ICT - as a Skill for Life
New ICT Skills for Life
Standards have been developed from the ICT user skills National Occupational Standards and
can be viewed on the QCA website: www.qca.org.uk/qualifications/types/2791.html.
The ICT Skills for
Life Standards address Entry 1, 2 & 3 and Levels 1 and 2 with the letter
mapping to the existing national Key Skills Standards at Levels 1 and 2. They have been
designed to provide for direct progression to the ICT Key Skills qualifications. The plan for the future is that a new innovative
test will support both ICT Key Skills and ICT Skills for Life qualifications at Levels 1 and 2. These qualifications also contribute towards the
achievement of the ITQ - the new Level 2 NVQ. The plan
is to have basic ICT skills established within the Skills for Life programme and rolled out, with an
appropriate supporting curriculum and qualifications, from September 2005. If
you would like more information about what is planned, or feel you would like to
contribute to the developing strategy, please contact DfES at info.ictsfl@dfes.gsi.gov.uk The Move On Website
The
Move On web site - www.move-on.org.uk
- provides practice Skills for Life tests, a mini-test, screensavers, learner quizzes,
case studies and a wealth of other information which can be downloaded. Four sets of brand
new practice tests and new learner quizzes have just been added to the site. Financial
Literacy Appointment. NIACE, in
partnership with Prudential, have appointed Howard Gannaway to the post of Prudential
Research Fellow in Financial Education. Howard
will be working in partnership with many other organisations - basic skills providers,
CABs and statutory bodies -marshalling good practice to ensure a better case is made for
all adult learners. For more information www.niace.org.uk. |
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Please add me to your distribution list Events
Postponed
please note new date East
Midlands Skills for Life Forum meeting Skills
for Work- ensuring a responsive supply for the delivery of Skills for Life in the
Workplace. This
event which was due to take place on December 1st has now been postponed until
April 5th 2005 For details or to book a place contact Mark Cockayne MCOCKAYNE.GOEM@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk. Workplace
Basic Skills Network - 7th Annual Conference 3rd
& 4th February 2005, Chelsea Village, London The focus of the conference will be on 'Embedding Skills for Life in the Workplace' and
will examine how innovative strategies and partnerships have all contributed to create a
diverse range of training solutions to meet the needs of different employers. Prices for
Network members are £299 for a residential place or £220 non-residential. Non-members
can attend at a cost of £350 for a residential place and £245 non-residential. NRDC Practitioner-led Research Initiative Dissemination Event Institute
of Education - London 7th December 2004. This
event will review the NRDC's practitioner involvement strategy as it has progressed, and
to shape the development of second and third rounds of the Practitioner Led Research
Initiative beginning January 2005 and 2006. The number of places at the event is limited
to only 120. For
details contact Kathryn James at kathryn.james@lancaster.ac.uk or www.literacy.lancs.ac.uk. Embedding
and Integrating Literacy, Language and Numeracy Wednesday
9 February 2005, Leeds This
conference will consider the following questions how should embedded learning be
organised? Do learners prefer such approaches? Is learning effective and how do we
convince and attract new learners? NIACE is partnering Northern College and South
Yorkshire Skills for Life Professional & Development Network (PDNet) in this
participative event which aims to offer opportunities to share experiences and practices,
explore issues and identify key messages, including further research and development. For
further information contact Gurjit Kaur on 0116 204 2833 or gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk or Building
learning communities and workplaces: Supporting the potential of learning champions Monday 13
December 2004 Lakeside
Conference Centre, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET. This
conference will bring together practice and issues around peer learning champions from the
workplace and communities. It will publicise the valuable work done by peer
intermediaries and champions, share models and approaches used in different contexts and
address some of the issues frequently associated with learning champions schemes and
propose practical ways forward. For
further information www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/ Opportunities
Nominate someone
for a National Learning Award This is your chance to nominate
someone who you think deserves to be recognised nationally during Adult Learners' week
2005. There are awards for Individuals,
Families and Groups of learners. It's also a great opportunity to enter your project or
programme for an 'Opening Doors to Adult Learning' award. Niace are currently looking for
creative schemes of learning that have a track record of success for their adult clients.
All award winners will receive a framed certificate of achievement and be invited to a
national award ceremony in London during Adult Learners' Week, 21-27 May 2005 For
more information www.niace.org.uk/ALW. ESOL
Screening Tools consultation: your views are needed! The consultation period for
the ESOL Screening Tools package will close at the end of November. If you would like
to take part in the consultation but do not yet have a copy of the ESOL Screening Tool,
please call the DfES Publications Unit on 0845
60 222 60, quoting reference number STESOL. If you
have any further queries relating to the ESOL Screening Tool consultation process
please contact Sonya McAnulla on sonyam@btl.com. CPD opportunities The
University of Derby are currently offering 9485
Level 4 Course for Adult Literacy Subject Specialists -New course starting early in New
Year - dates and time tbc 9486
Level 4 Course for Adult Numeracy Subject Specialists-New Course starting early in New
Year - dates and time tbc 9484
Level 4 Course for ESOL Subject Specialists-Currently being developed. Level
Three courses Level
Two courses - stand alone unit 1 for awareness - raising or whole qualification if
appropriate. Can be tailored for individual
organisations or run for a group of organisations. Please
contact Dawn Fisher on 01332 594429 or d.fisher@derby.ac.uk. LSC
Local contacts Eryl
Prentice Eryl.Prentice@lsc.gov.uk
0845
019 4183 Leicestershire
Gill King 0116
228 1870 Lincolnshire
and Rutland Di Pudney diana.pudney@lsc.gov.ukk 01522
508547 Northamptonshire Gordon
Sergent gordon.sergent@lsc.gov.uk 01604 533031 Nottinghamshire
Elaine
Beckford elaine.beckford@lsc.gov.uk 0115
8720036 |
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For
further information about the East Midlands Skills for Life Strategy Forum, or to contact
steering group members approach Mark Cockayne on 0115 971 2702. To receive copies of this
monthly bulletin, you can join the email distribution list by clicking here. This
bulletin does not represent the views of the DfES or other organisations in the Skills for
Life East Midlands Regional Strategy Forum. |
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