GUIDE
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Supporting Learners
Useful extras for union reps
Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
Pre-course checklist
This is a checklist of questions that you and members may want to ask before enrolling on a course, taking up a learning opportunity or arranging workplace provision. Please feel free to copy and adapt this list. The unionlearn learning and careers advice service (08000 90 91 92) will be able to help with locating courses and basic details and the learning provider will have answers to the rest.
Making contact Who do I need to talk to about the course? How do I contact him or her? Is this person a tutor or trainer? Can I speak to a current learner if I wish, and how? Can this course be provided in my workplace or learning centre?
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unionlearn learning and careers advice service
08000 92 91 90
Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
Getting in
Length and times
Do I need prior experience or knowledge to do the course?
How long is the course and when does it start or finish?
If so, what exactly?
What are the hours of attendance?
What are the entry requirements for adults? (They may be different than those for young people).
Can meetings with the tutor or trainer be arranged to suit me?
How many places are there on the course? How and when should I enrol? Will I need to attend an open day or interview?
Getting credit Will I get a certificate or qualification if I complete it, and how will my work be assessed (e.g. through coursework, examination, being observed, online)?
What the course is about Costs
What will I learn on the course? May I have a copy of the full course programme? How is the course taught (e.g. in small/large groups, through self-study packs, online)?
What are the fees and extra costs of the course (e.g. registration fees, materials, examination fees)?
Help with costs Extra work Does the course involve any commitment other than the taught sessions (e.g. pre-course activity, homework, field or practical work, residential weekends or summer schools)?
Are there any concessions, fee remissions, bursaries or grants available and how do I apply? Is there any help with transport or childcare expenses? Can I pay in instalments?
(calls are free from landlines)
www.unionlearn.org.uk/uladvice
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Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
Getting there Where does the course take place? How do I get there? May I have a map and directions? Can I park my car or my bicycle? Can you help me plan a bus route?
Facilities What room should I look for when I arrive? Can I get my wheelchair in? Are there any facilities for learners with disabilities (e.g. hearing loops, learning partner schemes, software and equipment)?
Is there a crèche or playgroup? Are there any student or recreational facilities for adults? How can I meet other learners socially?
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unionlearn learning and careers advice service
08000 92 91 90
Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
How and where to find learning opportunities Adult learning is very complicated in this country. You can learn in many different ways and in different places. As a union rep you may be organising learning in your workplace or in a learning centre and this may be in partnership with different providers. You will have a list of local contacts, who you can trust to work with you in a way that suits your members. More information about learning providers is available from: The unionlearn learning and careers advice service – you can phone on 08000 92 91 90 (calls free from a landline) or use the website www.unionlearn.org.uk/uladvice. They can put you in touch with your local nextstep service or public library who will have local contacts. The learning themes in the union learning Climbing Frame provide simple information and links about learning at different levels www.unionlearn.org.uk and follow links to the Climbing Frame area. The unionlearn directory of TUC Education programmes and centres lists contacts for trade union studies centres, and the unionlearn network of learning centres. You can order it from www.unionlearn.org.uk or on 020 7079 6920. The Government’s public services website “Directgov” has clear and simple sections and links for adult learning. Follow the links from the home page to Education and Learning and then Adult Learning www.directgov.gov.uk
This is a guide to the types of learning providers you and your members may wish to contact.
Workplace learning Many union members would prefer to do their learning in workplace learning centres, through courses organised by their union reps or their unions, or by their employers (possibly through Train to Gain or the learndirect Learning at Work scheme).
Adult and community learning centres A range of daytime and evening courses and learning opportunities for adults is offered through adult and community learning centres in most areas. These courses may be organised by the Local Education Authority (LEA), Further Education (FE) College or by the Worker’s Educational Association (WEA). It depends on where you live. As a union rep, if you are shopping around for providers to offer learning opportunities for members it is worth contacting these local organisations to see how they can work with you.
Community schools Some schools and sixth-form colleges welcome people from the community to join in courses offered to their pupils. They may also offer evening and daytime classes or use of their facilities to the community, or through their sixth-forms.
The unionlearn Quality Award has been designed to help you choose programmes that are suited to union members. Contact unionlearn for details of programmes that have successfully achieved this award. A publication about the Quality Award that is aimed at ULRs is available from the unionlearn website www.unionlearn.org.uk/publications
(calls are free from landlines)
www.unionlearn.org.uk/uladvice
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Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
Voluntary organisations The WEA has a close association with unionlearn and with unions, and provides trade union education opportunities. They have regional offices and local branches which you can contact. Other voluntary organisations provide courses or opportunities for learning through voluntary work.
Further Education (FE) colleges Traditionally, colleges offered work-related courses for young people but many of their students are now adults. Courses may be part-time, full-time, day or evening and are often aimed at adults in particular. Some colleges run taster sessions to give you a sample of what a course is like, or general introductory or “returner� courses that help people to explore what they want to do. Your local college may have a Trade Union Studies Centre. Colleges have regular open days to show you what they do, and information centres. There are also a group of residential colleges that offer courses to adults without traditional qualifications. They have links with the TUC and trade unions and there are bursaries available for selected courses through TUC. Visit www.arca.uk.net for details of the colleges.
Higher Education (HE) colleges and universities Higher education includes advanced courses leading to degrees, diplomas and certificates. Courses are increasingly divided into modules, which means that you can do parts of a course and build up the modules and units into a full qualification over a period of time. Some universities and colleges offer short day and evening courses for adults. Unionlearn has a special arrangement with the Open University, which provides HE courses in a flexible way that suits adult learners. Adults who want to do an advanced course but do not have the required entry qualifications can do an Access course, which is usually flexible and includes help with study skills.
E-learning and distance learning There are many ways of learning and you may prefer to learn online. This can be done at home or in a learning centre with some help from staff. Open or distance learning may be online but also through other methods, using books, specially designed materials, CDs and DVDs. You can work at your own pace and usually have the support of a tutor by telephone, letter or email. The TUC is committed to providing online learning opportunities, and has close links with providers including learndirect, the Open University and the National Extension College who offer multi-media learning. You can also learn through television programmes that may have linked books, CDs and DVDs that you can buy. The main channels also have websites that include online learning tasters, for example in modern languages.
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unionlearn learning and careers advice service
08000 92 91 90
Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
Getting credit for learning You cannot be expected to know about all the different levels and types of qualification or credit. However, it is important to know how to find the information if you or a member need it. Qualifications prove that you have gained knowledge and skills and can help you progress in your job or career or on to new learning opportunities. They can be academic, vocational or work-related, or skills-based. You may not need a qualification to prove that you have been learning, and non-accredited learning can be recognised in different ways. Sometimes it is possible to get credit for your past learning and experience through Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). One of the difficulties is that everything keeps changing. For example, a new framework, the Qualifications and Credit Framework, is being tested to allow credits to be built up at all levels so that people can gain flexible qualifications that meet their needs. Unionlearn is helping to test this framework. It will replace the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Gaining qualifications can be expensive and time consuming. It is important to get expert advice to ensure that you and your members are making the right choice to meet your goals, and that you know about any financial help that is available.
This is a quick guide to help you to find information that will help you to understand the different ways that you and your members to get credit for your learning and skills, and to progress. The unionlearn learning and careers advice service can explain the different types of credit and qualifications available, and what financial help might be possible. You or your members can phone on 08000 92 91 90 or use the website www.unionlearn.org.uk/uladvice If you or a member have experience or qualifications from outside the UK the advisers at unionlearn learning and careers advice service can help you find out how these can be recognised. The telephone service is also available in nine community languages. Some of the learning themes in the union learning Climbing Frame provide simple information and links about learning at different levels and how to get credit. Go to www.unionlearn.org.uk and follow links to the Climbing Frame area. The Government’s public services website ‘Directgov’ has clear and simple sections and links on qualifications. Follow the links from the home page to Education and Learning and then to Qualifications Explained. This has a guide to different sorts of qualifications and an explanation of what the different levels mean www.directgov.gov.uk TUC Education accredits its programme through The National Open College Network (NOCN). Further information about how you can progress with the TUC is available in the unionlearn Directory of TUC Education programmes and centres. You can find out more or order the directory from www.unionlearn.org.uk or on 020 7079 6920.
(calls are free from landlines)
www.unionlearn.org.uk/uladvice
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Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
Websites for supporting learners Apprenticeships
learndirect advice-resources
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
www.advice-resources.co.uk
Basic Skills Agency at NIACE
Learning and Skills Council
www.basic-skills.co.uk
www.lsc.gov.uk
Campaign for Learning www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
City & Guilds (online guide to short learning
www.dius.gov.uk/nvq/
holidays and residential courses)
nextstep
www.timetolearn.org.uk
www.nextstep.org.uk
Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (DIUS) www.dius.gov.uk
Directgov (Government’s public services
NIACE (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) www.niace.org.uk
including adult learning)
Sector Skills Development Agency
www.directgov.gov.uk
www.ssda.org.uk
DfES Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/
SKILL (National Bureau for Students with Disabilities) www.skill.org.uk
ENTO www.ento.co.uk
Trades Union Congress www.tuc.org.uk
learndirect www.learndirect.co.uk
unionlearn www.unionlearn.org.uk
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unionlearn learning and careers advice service
08000 92 91 90
Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
Glossary
Apprenticeships The Apprenticeship programme was re-launched by the government in 2004 and now consists of Apprenticeships (NVQ Level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (NVQ Level 3). The Government is also developing ‘Young Apprenticeships’ for 14–16 year olds, a Pre-Apprenticeship offer based around the ‘Entry to Employment’ programme and apprenticeship opportunities for people aged over 25. Business Link Local agency set up to advise particularly small businesses. CPD Continuing Professional Development. Any process or activity that provides added value to the capability of the professional through the increase in knowledge, skills and personal qualities necessary for professional and technical duties. DIUS Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. The government department responsible for learning and skills policy. e-learning Covers a wide set of applications and processes, such as Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms. It includes the delivery of content via Internet, audio and video tape, satellite broadcast, interactive TV, and CD-ROM. EDS Employee Development Schemes are schemes that provide the workforce with opportunities for personal development. Also known as an Employee Development Programme (EDP). ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages.
(calls are free from landlines)
Foundation degrees New shortened degrees with a vocational bias. IAG Information, advice and guidance. ICT Information, Communication and Technology. IiP Investors in People – the national standard which sets a level of good practice for training and development of people in the workplace. Key Skills There are six key skills that employers and government believe make people more employable by being portable from job to job. They are communication, information technology, application of numbers, problem solving, working with others and improving your own learning and performance. Learning Centre Centre established at a workplace, library or other venue to provide learning facilities LSC Learning and Skills Council. The learning and skills councils are responsible for all post-16 education and training other than higher education. There are 47 local learning and skills councils across England. New Deal for Skills A package of measures designed to enhance the education and training opportunities offered to benefit claimants in order to help them move into sustainable employment and to progress from lower to higher-skilled work. NVQs National Vocational Qualifications are work-based qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. People are assessed on the basis of their competence in defined tasks (visit QCA website).
www.unionlearn.org.uk/uladvice
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Supporting Learners: Useful extras for union reps
nextstep The nextstep information and advice service provides free information on learning and work to anyone aged 20 or over. nextstep can also offer free face-to-face advice to clients who have less than 5 GCSEs or have not yet achieved an NVQ Level 3 qualification. QCA Qualfications and Curriculum Authority – government body responsible for regulating qualifications, including vocational qualifications. RDAs Regional Development Agencies: public bodies that aim to develop and implement regional strategies including skills to meet the needs of regional economies. RSPs Regional Skills Partnerships are forums where businesses and skills organisations work together to meet the skills needs of regional economies. The core members of RSPs are the Regional Development Agencies, the Skills for Business Network, the Learning and Skills Council, the Small Business Service and Jobcentre Plus. Skills for Life Skills for Life is the government’s national strategy for improving literacy and numeracy and includes ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). The Basic Skills Agency definition is “The ability to read, write, and speak in English (or Welsh) and use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general.” SMEs Small and medium sized enterprises.
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Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) Industry-led sector bodies aimed at developing more effective sector strategies. SSDA Sector Skills Development Agency will fund and support the UK-wide network of Sector Skills Councils. SVQs Scottish Vocational Qualifications – work based qualifications in Scotland modelled on NVQs. Train to Gain Train to Gain is a service to employers on whole workforce development and can provide employers with free training for any employee without a first full Level 2 qualification which is defined as 5 GCSE Grades A*-C or an NVQ Level 2. It will also enable progress directly to a Level 3 qualification in some pilot regions. Brokers will also be able to help employers source training they need but that is not directly linked to NVQs. unionlearn Quality Award Is awarded to programmes and courses that meet good practice criteria and will help signpost ULRs to providers that work successfully and flexibly with unions. Workforce Development An approach to learning and training which actively involves the participation of the entire workforce, including those who often are missed out. It involves initial learning that meets learners at their point of need and offers ongoing progression for individuals and groups. It works best when unions and employers work together to agree what is needed by the workforce and the employer and what levels of support are required.
unionlearn learning and careers advice service
08000 92 91 90
Unionlearn’s Supporting Learners series of guides is part of a community programme called Equal – a European Social Fund initiative which tests and promotes new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequality in the labour market. The GB Equal Support Unit is managed by ECOTEC.
Published by unionlearn Congress House London WC1B 3LS Tel 020 7079 6920 Fax 020 7079 6921 www.unionlearn.org.uk Photographs: gettyimages; Mark Thompson. Design: wave.coop Print: Sumfield & Day
All unionlearn publications may be made available for dyslexic or visually impaired readers, on request, in an agreed electronic format or in accessible formats such as Braille, audiotape and large print, at no extra cost.