Also in the news
To view previous webalerts, please click the dates below
Webalert 4th January 2012
Notice
If you would like to contribute to the weekly webalert, please send information directly to myself every Monday by 4pm, in a format that you would like it to be presented in to joanne@ntn-wbl.org.uk.
What Next Careers Opportunities Fair 2012
A date for your diary! We are pleased to confirm that the Nottinghamshire What Next Opportunities Fair will go ahead in October 2012.
The Harvey Hadden Sports Centre in Nottingham has been booked for the 9th and 10th October and formal invites to exhibitors will be sent out in the next few weeks. As in previous years, the event will be open to the public on both evenings and schools will be invited to attend with their students during the day on the 10th.
For those of you who have exhibited at the event before, you will know that the main focus has been for opportunities to Year 11 students, but this year we are also aiming to have greater provision for Year 12 students. This will include a focus on alternatives to traditional higher education routes, such as post 18 apprenticeships and sponsored full and part time degrees.
Although we had over 3000 parents/carers and students attending in the evenings in 2011, we saw a slight fall in the number of students attending during the day. This was due in part to the withdrawal of funding for transport and this is still the case for 2012. We hope to get higher numbers from schools this year as they have had slightly more notice about the event and the focus is on Year 12 as well as Year 11.
We are grateful to Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Council and the Board of Futures for their support and to you, our exhibitors. Without your support, we would not be able to continue hosting this event at a time when young people are facing increased competition for learning and employment opportunities.
You will be receiving an official invitation to exhibit at the event shortly, including the opportunity to advertise, and we would be grateful if you could let us know if the contact person for your organisation has changed since last year.
Sheron Hambly – Event Organiser
Contact us if you have any queries
Please contact the support team on 0115 960 1571 or email whatnext@futuresnn.co.uk or for more information on the event held in 2011 go to www.futuresnn.co.uk/whatnext
Countdown Issue 554
Dear Member
Please find attached the latest issue of Countdown.
LSIS Funding Opportunity
Hi All
LSIS are again looking for providers to apply to join their Lead Provider Register. Details are here
http://www.lsis.org.uk/WorkingWithLSIS/Opportunities/Tenders/Pages/
LeadProviderRegister.aspx
Well worth making a bid – not just for the funding but for future standing
Regards
Stan Unwin
Home Working/ Remote Working
Hi Again
More and more organisations are now considering home working or remote working arrangements as an environmental/cost saving option. If you have tried this and have found it works or doesn’t work I’d really like to hear of your experience.
Please get in touch
Regards
Stan Unwin
New funding opportunity/ACL meeting 15th March
Hi all
LSIS have announced a new funding project for a minimum of four projects per region, value up to £5000 per project, which promote innovative continuing professional development in teaching and learning. The aim is to overcome barriers and provide additional opportunities for CPD where otherwise it would not take place. RITLF aims to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning through the transfer of effective practice using change agents or their equivalent. Closing date midnight on 13th February. Further information and links to application can be found at
http://www.lsis.org.uk/WorkingWithLSIS/Opportunities/funding-Opportunities/Pages/default.aspx
Note that the change agents could involve subject learning coaches or e-guides – so this may be an opportunity to develop the work of these key people.
Our next ACL network meeting is coming up (15th March). I have a demo lined up of an online delivery system for induction/staff training which I think will be of interest. It has been developed by Derby University and I thought it may help ACL services deliver basic induction and training to their dispersed tutor base.
If anyone has any other issues you would like discussed in the way of common problems or good ideas to share please let me know and I will include them on the agenda.
We’re also looking for a venue for this meeting, so if you have a room free on that date for about 10/12 people we’d love to pay you a visit!
Cheers
Phil Hardcastle
Updates and Events from LSIS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team
Dear colleagues
I hope you are all well. Some interesting updates on equality, diversity and inclusion services, events and support available through LSIS. Please share widely through your networks.
Equality Duties – publishing equality information by 31 January 2012
A quick reminder that this is the last week you have to publish your equality information, see LSIS’s guide for the FE and skills providers or you can check if you have covered all bases by following this link. to check you have all the bases covered. Remember we can provide in-house training and consultancy support to help you meet your responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and to support you in improving equality practices across your organisation.
Advancing sexual orientation and gender identity equality in post school education
The Forum for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality in Post School Education invites you to an event to advance sexual orientation and gender identity equality in the post school sector. These all-day events are free for staff and students from colleges, work based learning (WBL), adult and community learning (ACL) and universities. Each event will include a launch of the Forum’s new trans guidance; a presentation of the Skills Funding Agency’s research on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGB and T) adult learners; and exciting workshops to help you set objectives, engage with LGB and T learners and staff, advance equality in employment and embed in the curriculum. For further information and to register, select appropriate link: 8 February 2012- Manchester 1 March 2012- London 2 March 2012- Coventry
Shaping Race Equality into 2020 – Alumni Event (please note venue change)
The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and the Black Leadership Initiative® (BLI) are calling upon participants who have attended any of our positive action programmes over the last few years to join us on a creative journey which will see us improving Race Equality Practices into 2020. The event will take place on 2 February 2012 at the Prospero House ETC Venue, 241 Borough High Street. London. SE1 1GA From 1.00pm – 4.00pm. The event will give us the opportunity to hear your views on positive action initiatives, on your careers in FE and skills and pave the way for debate, discussion and planning strategies for race equality. The event is also open to senior managers with a commitment to improving race equality practices and to organizations who have supported the CPD needs of their black and minority ethnic staff through positive action and other development initiatives. You can find out more and register HERE
Equality and Diversity Network Meetings
Manchester: 23 February – discussions will be led by Wirral Metropolitan College, Steve Bailey, Equality Champion. Through adapting their offer to a career focused approach, the college has closed the attainment gap between affluent and deprived areas they serve to 1%! We will also have a discussion on how to advance equality and diversity practices through governance. Select the above link to register.
Coventry: 21 February – a focus on communities and health and wellbeing and a discussion on equality and diversity and governance. Select the above link to register.
Equality and Diversity: a new Dimension
A unique, practical and participative one-day programme designed to help delegates understand, manage and resolve tensions in the relationship between equality on the basis of different protected characteristics – in particular, sexual orientation and religion or belief. You will have the opportunity to explore and develop responses to situations which may have arisen in your own organisations, to review the most up to date case law and develop practical strategies. Feauturing a panel of distinguished experts who are lesbian, gay or bisexual and have a religion or belief.
Click appropriate to register: 2 February 2012 in London and 9 February 2012 in Manchester
Bespoke (in-house and tailored to meet your needs) and Consultancy Support
We run tailored EDI sessions for providers on various EDI issues, managing conflict, embedding into the curriculum, safeguarding and equalities, specific duties, SMT and Equalities, Governors and equalities, reviewing and developing your strategies, in-house training for your staff, train the trainer and many more. Contact Sarika.dewitt@lsis.org.uk for further information. We also offer consultancy and bespoke support in leadership development, governance, coaching, change management, organisational development, inspection, safeguarding and support for providers who wish to improve across all functional areas. Contact susan.green@lsis.org.uk for further information.
Equalities in Practice: meeting the needs of learners
Sponsor: Association of Employment and Learning Providers & LSIS
As more and more providers are beginning to work with the unemployed, the diversity of learners that providers are engaging with has broadened. Meeting the needs of Apprentices, NEETS and unemployed adults together with the needs of learners sponsored by their employers can present a range of challenges. This event is designed to help all providers meet those challenges. However it will be particularly relevant to providers working with the unemployed for the first time, especially those dealing with referrals from Jobcentre Plus, developing new skills & employability programmes and placing people in work. Select for further information and details of how to register.
Annual Equality and Diversity Dissemination Events
Our annual EDI dissemination events – practical showcase of EDI projects, learning events, resources and materials developed by the sector for the sector. These events are entirely provider led will give you an opportunity to see and hear about the rich resources, case studies and materials developed by various providers within the FE and skills sector. The projects are generously supported by the Skills Funding Agency. The dates for our showcase and development events are as follows:
· 19th June 2012 in London
· 26th June 2012 in the Midlands
· 3rd July 2012 in the North
We will publish further information about these events in early February 2012.
Other Exciting events
· Safeguarding and Equalities
· Embedding Equality and Diversity in the Curriculum: 22 February in Leeds
· Network meetings: 28 February in London, 21 February in Coventry and 23 February in Manchester
Coming soon
· Fantastic online resource for BSL Teachers – look out for our Launch Event
· Our long awaited trainers notes on Challenging and Managing Inappropriate Behaviours in the Learning Environment – supported by a fantastic online-resource – out in early February 2012.
· Using the Equality Framework to achieve organisational Excellence – learning from the 6 Peer Review and Development Pilots
· Equality and Diversity sessions for Trainers – Using LSIS’s EDI online resources to embed EDI learning and development across the organisation – THIS CAN BE DELIVERED IN HOUSE.
· Update of the following online resources: 7th Strand: Transgender Equality and Visible and Valued – to include assessment modules – live in early February 2012
· New and exciting online resource on Advancing Age Equality, currently under development and out in March 2012.
Contact Margaret Adjaye if you have any queries/questions relating to this email.
Margaret.adjaye@lsis.org.uk
Useful links, resources and materials
· EDI News link
· Resources, Case Studies and Publications
· d/Deaf resources
· Resources and materials for our grant funded projects – developed by the sector for the sector