Machinery of Government 16-19 Funding Transfer
Newsletter

The Machinery of Government changes, which become fully effective from 1st April 2010, will result in the transfer of duties previously undertaken by the Learning and Skills Council to a range of successor organisations – the Skills Funding Agency, which takes responsibility for adult skills, the Young People’s Learning Agency, which will have a strategic support role across 16-19 learning; and Local Authorities, which will be responsible for commissioning 16-19 learning in their areas of operation. This Newsletter, prepared jointly by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, is part of an ongoing communication exercise through which we will share with you the work we are undertaking to deliver our part of the change agenda.  

Newsletter

Changes for the workforce in the FE sector

You've probably heard about the changes in the further education sector. The changes include the requirement to gain the appropriate professional status for those who teach or train in colleges, training centres, the workplace or in the community.

Get your questions answered

We're contacting you today to let you know that we're here to help you understand these changes, so please don't hesitate to phone or email us with your queries or concerns. We can talk you through exactly what these changes may mean for you in your individual circumstances, and help you with any other questions about your career in the further education sector.

Phone our Information and Advice Service on 020 7936 5798 between 9.00am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday or email advice@lluk.org.

You can see other professionals talking about their experiences of working in the further education sector and get even more information here: www.lluk.org/changes/.  
You can also download a pack which explains the changes in more detail.

Information and Advice Service
Lifelong Learning UK

Foundation Learning Tier (FLT)

Provider Considerations and Preparations.

Significant points you may need to consider in relation to existing E2E provision and future FLT requirements:

1) Initial Assessment

• FLT places much greater emphasis on vocational training. Qualifications and work experience undertaken here at level 1 should tie into the learners current career goals and a future level 2 award. (Progression is a fundamental requirement here).

• Consider purchasing psychometric assessment that evaluates a learners vocational interests i.e Vocational Interest Exploration.

• Learners will have to complete Functional skills awards in ICT, Maths and English. Possibly greater use will need to be made of diagnostic assessment so tutors can devise an appropriate Individual learning Plan (ILP) to enable achievement to be realised according to predetermined time scales.

2) Providers may need to check that their current Awarding Body is offering the appropriate and approved qualifications necessary for FLT. Especially for credits relating to the Personal Social Development (PSD) progression pathway and the level 1 vocational awards that are Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) approved.

• Providers may need to expand the number of Awarding Bodies they are currently working with (OCN, Edexcel have an excellent suite of qualifications available that are linked to QCF).

• Staff CPD Requirements.

• All teachers, tutors, trainers, assessors etc working with learners need to be registered with the Institute for learning (IfL).
  
• Must be complying with the 30 hours CPD requirement (pro-rata for part-time staff) and can evidence this accordingly. This is also an Ofsted requirement.

• Functional Skills:

• Staff should be making themselves aware of the changes taking place here and would benefit from the free training currently on offer from the Functional Skills Support Programme. Contact Howard Parker (Regional Coordinator) on 07866727743 to arrange in-house support.
  
• Teaching staff that are not deemed qualified teachers may have to undertake PTLLS, CTLLS or DTLLS with related subject specialist qualifications.

4) Providers may need to form or establish more effective collaborative links with other providers where their own provision falls short.

5) Providers may need to become conversant with the QCF as the FLT and the QCF are inextricably linked.

6) Pilots for FLT have been running all over the country and feedback has been generated from these. Points for development/change are being considered by QCA, LSC, SSC, etc and will be used to improve the programmes.

Finally, the QCA website is an excellent resource for keeping up to date with FLT.

Useful Websites are:

qfr.lsc.gov.uk/flt/support

 www.qca.org.uk/flt

http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/FLT

Kind regards,

Dr Paul.

YOUNG APPRENTICES GRADUATION

Over 200 guests attended the recent Young Apprenticeship Graduation event at the Council House, where the Lord Mayor, Councillor Jeannie Packer, presented certificates to successful Young Apprentices.  Over 130 Young Apprentices have spent the last 2 years studying Automotive, Health & Social Care, Hairdressing, Construction, Engineering and Sports Leadership & Management.  The Young Apprenticeship programme links academic study with work based skills and requires schools to release learners for at least one day per week.  Learners also enjoy practical work based learning with a local employer incorporating 50 days work experience placement spread over the 2 year course.

NEBA are currently recruiting employers in the following sectors: Construction, Engineering, Automotive, Hospitality and Health and Social Care for Cohort 6 of the Young Apprenticeship Programme commencing in September.  For more information, please contact the Business Engagement Team on 01623 404345 or e-mail: business@neba.org.uk

ALP’s Train to Gain ‘smoothing proposals’ fall on deaf ears

ALP members caught in the Train to Gain funding debacle have shown incredible patience whilst ALP has persevered with constant high level discussions seeking ways of ‘smoothing’ Train to Gain delivery during the next eight months until fresh money is made available for the 2010-11 financial
year. Reluctantly ALP has had to admit that following this lengthy period of talks all of their proposals to develop a sensible set of arrangements to allow delivery levels to be carefully ‘smoothed’ over the period have come to nought.

Read more

Minimum Wage for Apprentices?

The low pay commission has been asked to consider setting a national minimum wage for apprentices. Apprentices are currently exempt from the national minimum wage if they are under 19 years of age or over 19 and in the first year of their apprenticeship. There is, however, a minimum rate of pay for apprentices taken on under learning and skills council contracts of £80 per week ( due to rise to £95 per week from August 2009). The commission will report to the Prime Minister and to the Business Secretary by the end of February 2010.

New National Minimum Wage

From October 2009 the National Minimum wage rates will increase from:

£5.73 to £5.80 an hour for workers aged 22 and over
£4.77 to £4.83 an hour for workers aged 18-21
£3.53 to £3.57 an hour for workers aged 16-17

The government has also indicated that the adult minimum wage rate will be extended to 21 year olds from October 2010.

Pregnancy at work

‘Pregnancy and work: what you need to know as an employer/ employee’ summarises the rights of both pregnant employees and their employers and their responsibilities towards each other. It includes details of what pregnant women must do under the law to benefit from, for example, paid time off for ante-natal appointments, maternity leave and pay and the right not to be treated unfairly because of their pregnancy, child birth or maternity leave. It also sets out support for employers, such as claiming back statutory maternity pay.
The information applies to babies born on or after 5th October 2008 and can be found online at www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51453.pdf

Health and Safety

Health and Safety Guidance Free Online

Guidance on how to protect employees from workplace dangers is to be given away free online by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). From September 2009 around 250 publications covering the full range of guidance on regulations as well as approved codes of practice will be freely available from HSE’s website to download and print. Printed books will be able to be bought from HSE Books.
Visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/

Be Part of the Solution

The Health and Safety Executive has launched a new initiative urging employers to take a common sense approach to health and safety at work. Though deaths and injuries from workplace accidents have shown a steady decline over recent years, the decline has slowed and thousands still die every year from work related accidents and ill health. With pressure on employers to make cuts on spending due to the recession, the HSE believes that the most practices is for senior management to show leadership and to sign the pledge ‘Be Part of the Solution’ as part of their commitment to keeping workplaces safe.
The Pledge can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/strategy/pledge

Positive Outcomes Case Studies - Advanced Apprentices

My name is Amanda Swanwick and I am currently doing an Apprenticeship Course at level 3 in IT with Positive Outcomes.  I have been doing this for a year now and I am 70% of my way through to completion. Read more

My name is Samantha Marlow. I have been working for the Learning and Skills Council for 5 years. With the LSC I have completed my NVQ L2 and L3 Administration and NVQ L3 IT with Positive Outcomes. Read more

The National Apprenticeship Service East Midlands

Attached is the contact details for NAS

Quality Corner.

Hello everyone.

From now on, I will be contributing to the E-bulletin on a regular basis. Consequently I have decided to name my section Quality Corner. This edition is concentrating on the Training Quality Standard.

As you are aware, NTN facilitated an overview of the Training Quality Standard on August 4th.  This proved to be a very informative session which sparked much debate.  The feedback we received on the event identified that attendees found the case studies of the members who were in the process of, and who had just achieved the certification, as particularly beneficial.  The question and answer section with the representatives from the LSC and CFE helped dispel many myths and also clarified concerns around cost, resources required, available support and life after the TQS.

We at NTN have decided to go for the Part A element.  Subsequently, we will be hosting a day’s workshop on Part A of the standard with an external TQS Consultant on October 15th.  As the intention is to customize the workshop content to include guidance on specifics in addition to tackling the basics of the application process, I would gladly welcome any agenda suggestions you may have. Should you wish to attend this event please contact me by September 7th on the details below to reserve your place.  

For those of you who were not able to attend our workshop in August, please find attached the presentation given by the CFE representative.  

If you are interested in buying the TQS Applicant Guide, orders can be placed on the TQS helpline for £20 per book.  The number is 0845 2251310.  Further information, including a TQS readiness check, case studies and additional resources can be found on the TQS website. http://www.trainingqualitystandard.co.uk

Kind regards,

Please find the stats for the end July attached. We’ve introduced a new category for Uniformed Services which used to be included in Other.

As usual for this time of year the number of young people registering with Connexions is increasing. It has risen from 766 at the end of June to 961 at the end of July. This is a 20% rise compared to 22% this time last year.

The first preference work areas that young people are interested in are still Construction, Engineering including Motor Vehicle and Retail, Warehousing and Distribution. Construction  and Retail have seen decreases in the proportion of young people having them as their first preference.

Any questions, please get in touch

Best regards

Sheron Hambly

Business Engagement Adviser
Opportunities Team
Connexions Nottinghamshire
24-32 Carlton St
Hockley
Nottingham
NG1 1NN

Meet The NTN Team - Marketing & IT Coordinator

Hello Everyone
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you all.  My name is Jane Hearne and I joined NTN in October 2007.

My background is education as I gained my NNEB in 1993 and a Certificate in Early Years Curriculum Development and worked in Newstead Primary School as a Teaching Assistant and IT Coordinator. I later joined Yonder Mountain as their IT/Website Consultant. I am also a Qualified FA Football Coach and the Child Welfare Officer for a local Football Club.

My main roles at NTN are:

Marketing - This includes leading on the Awards & Graduation, Events such as the Network meetings, career fairs and promoting NTN members as well as NTN at events.
IT - Responsible for the IT network to ensure the smooth running of NTN as well producing the ebulletin, designing and updating the NTN website.
Membership - Responsible for new memberships as well as looking after existing members.
Health & Safety - Liaising with the LSC on H&S, chairing the H&S network meetings as well as leading on H& S for NTN.
PA for Janet Charlton - this includes taking minutes for the Board meetings.

On a personal note - A quick snapshot etc                   

Should you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me on the following numbers

Tel:     01623 404341 or email janeh@ntn-wbl.org.uk

Kind regards,