Ofsted Annual Report

Of the colleges inspected in 2008/09, 63% are good or outstanding.* The level of employer engagement, rates of student progression to higher education or employment and provision for students aged 14 to 16 are strengths of the sector.

In nearly half of the colleges judged to be satisfactory, performance has not improved since the last inspection and their capacity to improve is no better than satisfactory.

Where teaching in colleges is no better than satisfactory, it is sometimes judged too generously by managers, and findings from lesson observations are not used sufficiently well to improve practice.

In satisfactory and inadequate colleges, there are particular subject weaknesses in: construction; leisure, travel and tourism; preparation for life and work; and information and communication technology.

Only 5% of the work-based learning providers inspected this year are outstanding in their overall effectiveness and just 37% are good.

Leisure, travel and tourism provision is a weaker subject area in the work-based learning inspected, as is business administration.

The vast majority of good or outstanding work-based learning providers this year are specialist providers or employers with provision in one or sometimes two sector subject areas.

Employers are generally very supportive of the Train to Gain programme, highlighting improvements in work practice and staff retention.

Adult and community learning providers are continuing to have difficulty recruiting suitably qualified tutors for adults who need to develop basic skills.

Despite a greater degree of volatility in the labour market, participants’ progression into employment has improved in the providers of contracted employment provision funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and inspected this year.

Of the prisons inspected in 2008/09, the proportion in which education and training are at least satisfactory is higher than in 2007/08, including for the first time one prison in which education and training are now outstanding.

Relatively few offenders under supervision in the community are being required to undertake basic skills education but where they are participating, much of the provision is good.

Most initial teacher education providers inspected in 2008/09 are good or outstanding in their overall effectiveness. By the end of their training, most trainees meet the professional standards at a level which is at least good.

Trainees’ use of assessment is the least well developed of their competencies and this is critical for achieving good progress for pupils.

Analysis of Cnx Notts live registers as at 31st January 2010.
Please get in touch if any queries.

Regards

John Temple
Opportunities Team Manager
Connexions Nottinghamshire
24-32 Carlton Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 1NN.

T: 0115 992 6064

Collaborative Provision Quality Assurance

This is a pilot programme run by City to monitor and assess alternative provision accessed by schools and academies etc.  Stage one focuses on the basic Health and Safety/Safeguarding practices at providers.  The second stage will review the quality of the teaching.  The website launch for this initiative took place on February 10th. 

Please see attached link for more information and the presentation shared at the launch event.

Training Providers - Help needed

The Elizabethan High School and Retford Oaks High School in Retford are looking for providers in the following areas for Year 10 Level 1 students starting in September 2010.

Horticulture, Agriculture, Land Based Studies
Childcare, Health and Social Care
Catering and Hospitality
Administration

If you are interested please contact either Amanda Lund at The Elizabethan High school on 01777 713700 lunda@elizabethan.notts.sch.uk or Andy Tomkins at Retford Oaks High School 01777 861618 atomkins@retfordoaks.notts.sch.uk

Please note if you are interested in providing courses to students in schools in the Bassetlaw area you must first complete an Offer Document and send to Lynn D’Arcy at North Notts College (email at top of offer form) as part of the Bassetlaw Quality Assurance Process.

Skills Funding Agency: Guidance Note 2

FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR THE 2010/11 ACADEMIC YEAR

This Guidance Note is the second in a series of Skills Funding Agency communications to the sector.

It builds on Guidance Note 1, issued in Dece mber 2009, and provides further information on the Skills Funding Agency’s process for funding allocations for the 2010/11 academic year. This will inform ongoing discussions between colleges and
training organisations and shadow Skills Funding Agency account management teams.

The Note covers:
Adult Learner Responsive provision
Employer Responsive provision - Train to Gain Employer Responsive provision - Apprenticeships Programmes for the Unemployed
Joint assessment of impact of allocations on colleges and training organisations Summary of key dates

For more details please click here

An East Midlands Networking Events: Speed Date with the Experts
EMCETT are happy to host this FREE event offering a unique networking opportunity, bringing together the key support programmes in our region. This is your chance to ask us questions, share your concerns and get information about resources to support your learners or your own CPD.

This event will be repeated three times across the East Midlands:
Friday 5th March - Tapton House Conference Centre, Chesterfield
Friday 12th March - Newark Beacon, Beacon Hill Office Park
Friday 19th March - Holiday Inn, Corby, Northamptonshire.

Each event will run from: 9.30am to 1.00pm followed by a networking lunch until 2.00pm

Places are still available - please circulate to your colleagues and around your networks.  We are particularly keen to fill up places at our Newark and Corby events.

 Come and talk to us about:
- what is happening with regard to Functional Skills and Skills for Life.
- what your local IfL Connections Advisor can do for you.
- why you should join the Subject Learning Coach programme.
- what the Qualification & Credit Framework will mean to you.

- how to access or deliver initial teacher training (including SfL) as blended learning.

Representatives from the following organisations will be present at one or all of the events:
* Skills for Life Support Programme
* Functional Skills Support Programme
* EMCETT
* Subject Learning Coach Programme
* Foundation Learning Support Programme
* QCF Readiness Support Programme
* JISC
* NIACE
* LLUK
* BKSB

This event will be of interest to anyone engaged in teaching and learning across the adult learning sector including the Voluntary Sector, Adult Community Learning, Workbased Learning , FE and Offender Learning.
Further information and a Booking Form are attached.

After the LSC (Learner Health, Safety and Welfare for Network Forums)

Skills Funding Agency
From April 2010 SFA will be responsible for all publicly funded adult skills training in England outside of higher education. It will direct public funding quickly and efficiently to FE colleges and other learning providers
There will be a single account manager for each college and provider.
The H&S team will work with the managers to keep them informed of the standards for health, safety and welfare of learners. Each advisor has been allocated a number of providers and the manager has a small portfolio. 
There will be a lighter touch approach for quality management for those who are above minimum levels of performance but where MLP and F4E or Ofsted indicate that this is not the case then interventions will take place.
National Apprenticeship Services and National Employer Services are both agencies within SFA.  It is thought that SFA will retain the H&S assurance responsibilities for both through the providers (employers in the case of NES).
The operational activities of the Learner H&S teams have not yet been agreed, but it is felt that visits will be made where intervention is necessary. This can arise following an Ofsted visit, a self assessment report which is insufficient in health and safety information or as a result of an accident or incident to a learner.
A visit may also be required after the OCT process to clarify any issues. A provider may request a visit when recognition needs to be made of improvements or raised standards for categorisation purposes.
An account manager may request a visit or clarification from the team where a competent person’s judgment is needed. 

The Young People’s Learning Agency will be an enabling body, designed to support local authorities in fulfilling their new 16-19 learner duties.  It will also fund and performance manage Academies and provide support for learners, in particular the Education Maintenance Allowance for 16-19 year olds. 
The YPLA will formally begin to operate in April 2010.  It will be a non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by DCSF.   YPLA staff will work from offices around England. 

If the YPLA has any queries with regard to H&S this is likely to be part of a general Service level agreement between them and SFA.

Local Authorities

Local authorities will have the responsibility for commissioning and funding through the YPLA, all 14-19 provision from April 2010.

They are currently doing this for Work Experience and Young Apprenticeships in most areas (EM has 2 exceptions, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire where the LSC continues these duties including learner H&S). EBP WE providers will be funded through LAs and therefore the authorities will have the monitoring responsibilities for these programmes.
Sixth Form Colleges will come under the LA umbrella from April 2010.
Some authorities will be combining the monitoring of these programmes with diploma delivery.

It is thought that any 14-19 provision in FE colleges will be monitored by the SFA on behalf of LAs but there will be agreed protocols for information sharing between all of the agencies.
LAs will have their own monitoring systems in place but will expect standards of health, safety and welfare to be maintained as a minimum at present levels but Ofsted require capacity to improve in all areas.

The East Midlands LSC Learner health safety and welfare team will be progressing through the following routes:

• Diane Rickard Regional Health and Safety Manager to SFA as Account Manager (H&S)
• Anthony Caldwell H&S Advisor to SFA as Account Advisor (H&S)
• Margaret Sharman H&S to SFA as Account Advisor (H&S)
• Alice Smith H&S Advisor to SFA as Account Advisor (H&S)
• Chris Cooper H&S Advisor to LA i.e. Leicester City / Leics. County Council’s sub regional group
• Phil Spalding H&S Advisor to LA i.e. Derbyshire County/ Derby City Council’s sub regional group.

SPS Uk Ltd are currently offering IOSH courses.

IOSH Managing Safely
This practical programme is designed to provide managers and those with leadership responsibilities with the knowledge and skills to integrate effective health and safety management and loss control practices into their leadership role.

The course covers:

• Legal responsibilities
• Health and safety management principles
• Risk assessment and control
• Reactive monitoring
• Communication and consultation
• Safety management systems
• Consultation arrangements
• Common workplace hazards

Who should attend?
Managers & Supervisors with the responsibility for safety

For more details please call 0115 9681157or email: info@spsukltd.com

OPEN EVENING

WEDS. 24TH MARCH
4.00 P.M. – 8.00 PM

All welcome, come along and enjoy our hospitality, have a look around the different workshops, Painting and Decorating, Carpentry and Joinery, Plastering and Brickwork.

We offer full Apprenticeships at Level 2 & 3, incorporating NVQ& Diploma, E2E at Level 1, B-Tec First Diploma to Schools 14-16, CSCS Courses, Abrasive Wheels. Free courses at Level 1 for unemployed aged 19+.
Other courses designed & delivered to your requirements.
Rooms for Hire.  
Come and view the excellent and exciting opportunity for developing a career in the Construction Industry.

We look forward to welcoming you all on the day

Linkmel Close
Longwall Avenue
Queens Drive Industrial Estate
Nottingham
NG2 1NA

Tel: 0115 9861746

ACCESS TRAINING SUCCESS STORIES

AWARD SUCCESS FOR ACCESS TRAINING LEARNERS

It was a night to remember on Thursday 28th January when Access Training scooped
2 of the 10 awards at the Nottinghamshire Training Network Annual Awards Event held at the East Midlands Conference Centre.

A captivated audience listened to Jo Salter (“One of the 50 most inspiring women in the world” according to Harpers & Queen magazine) tell of her amazing experiences as the first female RAF Tornado fighter pilot.

Jo’s speech offered encouragement to the audience to overcome obstacles and strive for their personal goals and we hope that this will inspire our 2 winners to do just that.

Aisha Miller won the E2E Award in recognition of all the obstacles she overcame whilst with us.  Living in care meant that Aisha needed extra support from our E2E team and no one was more delighted than tutor, Anne Whitfield, (seen below with Aisha) when the award was announced.  Aisha is now studying Hospitality & Catering at New College Nottingham and dreams of opening her own restaurant.

Ann Mason was the winner in the Train 2 Gain Award.  Ann had been motivated to start her qualification in Health & Social Care whilst she was caring for her daughter.
Her Trainer Assessor, Sacha Lee, was proud to be there on the night to see Ann’s motivation recognised, especially as she knew that Ann’s daughter had tragically died before her Mum had completed the NVQ.  Ann felt that she owed it to her daughter to carry on and to continue the work she does with the Metropolitan Support Trust.

Having been named Runner Up last year as Training Provider of the Year, we were very pleased to have our hard work and quality of support recognised again in being awarded “Highly Commended” in this category.

ACCESS TRAINING ACHIEVES THE MATRIX AGAIN

Access Training was awarded the Matrix Standard for the second time after a visitthat took place just before Christmas.

The Matrix Standard is the national quality standard for any organisation that deliversInformation, advice and/or guidance on learning and work.

During the 3 day assessment in December, approximately 13 members of staff, 15 learners and 6 employers were interviewed so that a comprehensive picture could be established of the service offered.

The Assessor praised Access Training in particular for its communication with learners and employers.  Duncan Hembury, Quality and Retention Manager, who co-ordinated the visit, commented “as a company we have been keen to develop a variety of means of communication (web-based, newsletters, inter-active seminars and assignments, Twitter and a Facebook page) and we are proud that this has been recognised as a strength”

Access Training Staff Trainer joins the STARS!

Lorraine Nicholson, Staff Training Co-ordinator at Access Training had a night with the stars in late November when she attended the annual Learning & Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) STAR Awards ceremony in Old Billingsgate in London.  The awards are the Oscars of the learning and skills sector and are to recognise and reward the unsung heroes of FE.  There are 10 separate categories and Access Training had 6 nominations in total.
The 500 guests at the ceremony were addressed by Kevin Brennan, Minister for Further Education, who said that they had all made “a huge difference” and that they were all “helping to build a strong UK economy and a cohesive society”.  Praise indeed!
Lorraine had a fantastic evening and said “I was made to feel like a star from the moment I arrived at the venue to be welcomed by walkers on stilts! It was a glitzy affair and wonderful to be called up on stage and presented with a magnificent glass star to commemorate my achievement”.
Lorraine reached the final in the Workforce Development category and was nominated by her colleague, Amanda Wain, Care Manager who decided that Lorraine’s commitment was “above and beyond”.
Already fully stretched by her usual work load, Lorraine had to increase her hours in order to ensure that the company met its commitment to having all teaching staff professionally qualified within 3 years. She planned a programme of after work sessions, persuaded staff of the benefits of attending and started with a class of 18 in June 2008. So successful was she that by March 2009, 12 members of staff were fully qualified and were able to collect their certificates at the Access Training Celebration Event in May of last year.

Quality Corner.

Greetings from Quality Corner!!!!! 

Compliments and complaints
In December NTN received 3 and made one complaint. 1 compliment was received .
In January 2010 9 compliments were received.  All compliments relating to Awards and Grads have been logged in February and will be included within the next e-bulletin Attached is a brief summary of the compliments NTN received from August to December 2009.
            compliment summary.doc

 Peer Review
Unfortunately the Peer Review activity scheduled to take place in January did not come to fruition due to staff changes at the host organisation. NTN however plan to hold two Peer Reviews per year within our membership and also one in Leicestershire through Lantern. Please see attached Peer Review schedule Peer Review schedule.xls

  I will be inviting offers from members to register their interest as either hosts or to make staff available as team participants. The registration form will also ask what objectives individual staff or the host is looking to meet.  This will enable NTN to measure the impact of the peer review activity  in a more robust way.

NTN have submitted a tender for additional Peer Review funding.  I will provide an update on receipt.

I will be attending a Collaborative Peer Review Workshop in Birmingham on February 24th 2010 focussing on the issue of sustaining Peer Review initiatives long-term.  I will provide feedback in the next e-bulletin.

 NTN have registered their interest in attending the launch conference of the Peer Review Qualification awarded by City College Norwich.  We are waiting on date confirmation.  I will provide feedback in the next e-bulletin.

Quality Group
The Quality Group meeting was due to take place on February 18th however this was cancelled as the time and date conflicted with key training events in the area.  A new date and time is TBC.

Feedback
Capturing and utilising feedback is a key activity at NTN. Please see attached report for 2009.  feedback analysis.doc  To tackle the poor response rate of members to requests for feedback, we planned to hold a small focus group for 15 minutes after the Network Meeting on February 17th to discuss what services members want NTN to continue, stop and start and whether NTN provides value for money.  Unfortunately only one member was able to stay behind after the meeting.  Consequently the focus group will be the first agenda item at the next Network Meeting on April 14th.

Hot Topic- Equality and Diversity
  As you are aware, Equality and Diversity is now a limiting grade under the  Revised Common  Inspection Framework.  There is more emphasis on utilising  E and D data to address achievement gaps and promote inclusivity. 
Consequently I have been busy on the internet downloading useful information on to a CD  including leaflets for learners and advisors, toolkits, white papers, hints and tips on how to incorporate E and D within the classroom and training etc.  Please click on the link below to see the CD contents.  If you would like a copy please do not hesitate to contact  and I will pop one in the post for you.
         CD E and D content.doc

Kind regards

Caroline@ntn-wbl.org.uk

The Practitioner Associate Learner Support Service. (PALSS).

Terms of Reference for PALSS:
“Providing a focus/support group that would directly represent the interests, needs and professional development requirements of those whose main function it is to deliver training and assessment to learners within a work-based, vocational context i.e.managers, teachers, tutors, assessors, internal verifiers, trainers, mentors, coaches etc. “

Setting the Scene.
PALSS will be incorporate many things but at its core it will be about supporting each other as we carry out our daily tasks, routines and functions that will enable our learners to go on and achieve their learning goals. Within this process, quite often the needs of the practitioner can sometimes be hidden or indeed forgotten. You may well be aware of the support mechanisms Nottinghamshire Training Network (NTN) and other agents in the sector have in place to support learners who need a helping hand in order to progress, develop and ultimately achieve their individual training programmes. PALSS will add to this by assisting you and your learners to achieve their objectives through working collaboratively in order to benefit the sector (and your organisation), as a whole.
It is hoped that PALSS will, in the future, grow and be a sustainable, practical resource where practitioners can feel comfortable with one another in a supportive environment that will lead to continued development enabling all its members to fully realize their overall potential and personal development.

It is up to us to make PALSS a success!
For more information contact:
Dr Paul Guy
Learning Development Advisor
Email:                        paul@ntn-wbl.org
Mobile:         07977553128.

4 weeks to go!

As you may be aware, the deadline to enter most WorldSkills UK competitions is the 19th March 2010.

We really need your help to spread the word and increase the number of regional and national competitors we have in the lead up to when we host the biggest international skills competition; WorldSkills London 2011.

Last year, around 4,000 people registered their interest in a WorldSkills UK competition. This is the last chance to enter (for most competitions) in order to be in with a chance of competing at WorldSkills London 2011. Enter by 19 March 2010

For more information or to sign up please visit their website.

Cancellation Policy

Unfortunately as a result of recent poor attendance and lack of prior notification of absence at arranged events hosted and/or delivered by NTN, the decision has been
taken to introduce a cancellation charge. 

Details pertaining to fee and terms and conditions will be distributed shortly.

Meet The NTN Team - Train To Gain Coordinator

Hi all,

If you have any queries regarding Train to Gain, give me a call on 01623 404341 or email me jamie@ntn-wbl.org.uk

Kind regards,

ALP have introduced a new ‘In Brief’ section within Sector Connect highlighting breaking news which we feel will keep members better informed.

1. Adult Learners Week – 15/21 May 2010
   Adult Learners Week UK's largest and longest running learning campaign. Held each May, it encourages thousands of adults, whatever their age and background, to give learning a go. There are a range of opportunities available for sponsorship of National Awards and other Adult Learners' Week activities.

2. Skills for Care annual conference – 25 February 2010 Birmingham
   Skills for Care estimates that the sector will need a minimum of half a million extra workers by 2025 - up to an extra million if we use a personalisation model - so the conference will also look at how the sector can attract and retain those extra workers. The conference will examine the vision, context and key drivers for recruitment and retention in social care to develop a clear understanding of how to make the transition to a workforce that is equipped to deliver a wide range of services and meet the sector challenges.

3. A new home for Investors in People framework
   Strategic ownership of the Investors in People framework is being transferred to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), with effect from 1 April 2010. UKCES will become the champion and guardian of the Investors in People brand and range of products and services, strengthening Investors in People’s position at the heart of the UK’s business and skills agenda.

4. Constructions Skills launches Matching Service
   Constructions Skills confirmed this month that the Apprenticeship Matching Service (AMS) delivered by the SSC , will now be able to extend the funding available to employers for taking on a displaced apprentice from within the Construction Footprint. The news means that more employers will now be eligible to receive £1,000 for taking on an apprentice who has lost their previous position due to the recession. In a swift response to high numbers of young apprentices being made unemployed as a direct result of the tough economic conditions felt by the construction industry, the SSC for the construction industry launched the AMS service early in 2009. The scheme was initiated to help employers retain their apprentices or, when this was not possible, match displaced apprentices with new employers in the area.

5. Creative & Cultural Skills SSC CEO steps down
   Tom Bewick, Creative & Cultural Skills SSC Chief Executive, is to step down from April. 2010 to join Enterprise UK that was founded in 2004 by the four UK business membership organisations – British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors and the Federation of Small Businesses – to increase enterprise and entrepreneurship in the UK. Enterprise UK whose Chairman is Peter Jones OBE and Dragons Den judge is primarily funded by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

6. Consultation events for the Advanced Level Diploma in Science
   Improve Ltd, SSC for food and drink manufacturing has announced a number of regional consultation events on the new 14-19 Diploma in Science qualification which will give young people a foundation in scientific theory, and the practical skills necessary to meet the global challenges of tomorrow. The regional consultation events will run between Tuesday 9 February and Tuesday 4 May 2010, and participants can attend a focus group or complete an online survey. For more information on venues and to register for an event please visit www.sciencediploma.co.uk

7. World Class Skills offers free training
   WCS is offering providers free training and development opportunities in an wide range of topical areas including 16-18 apprenticeship expansion, the changing role of assessors and Knowledge transfer to name but a few from February to March 2010. ALP understands there is capacity to run in-house events where deliver takes place at the provider location. To express an interest in selecting and hosting an in house training event please contact Adam.caldwell@kpmg.co.uk

8. Impartial Advice for Providers on ITT and CPD
   For providers looking for impartial advice on Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for new and existing teachers try contacting Talent  who are part of the NRDC - National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy on Telephone 020 7911 5372 or email: advice@talent.ac.uk
   Talent can offer information on available courses across the nine English regions and work in a wide range of teaching and learning contexts within the lifelong learning sector.

9. £70 million boost for UK manufacturing
   The first three state of the art manufacturing research centres funded under a new £70M Government investment will be based at Southampton, Loughborough and Brunel universities, to help UK businesses develop the technology products of the future and underpin manufacturing growth, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced this month.