ULR Autumn Workshop - Supporting Learners

Organised crime

Sharing ways of Supporting Learners 2012 Ian Borkett and Louisa Smith

Supporting Learners: What does it mean?  Informing and advising  Coaching and mentoring  Signposting  Making learning happen  Helping learners to progress

The programme for this morning  What’s New?  National Careers Service  Sharing union and regional information  Climbing Frame  Understanding progression  Funding for learning

What’s new in Supporting Learners?

Have a look at four websites:  Unionlearn  The union learning Climbing Frame  Higher Learning at Work  The National Careers Service

Unionlearn  Lots of changes to the unionlearn website in the coming few months  New Supporting Learners pages to support the 2011-14 Strategy  Revised and new publications and PDFs  Regular Supporting Learners News

www.unionlearn.org.uk

The union learning Climbing Frame  The free website for Union Learning Reps  Key source of information and advice  ULRs can help learners plan and record their learning  New unionlearn Learning Themes  Health Sector Learning Themes  New features  Climbing Frame Newsletter https://climbingframe.unionlearn.org.uk

Higher Learning at Work  Everything you need to know about studying for a higher level qualification at work  New page on funding for study and part-time loans  A page for part-time learners  Foundation degrees  Open University  Preparing for study  Supported by LSIS

www.higherlearningatwork.org

National Careers Service (NCS)  Replaces Next Step and Connexions  0800 100 900  Online, telephone and face to face  Services for 13-19, and for 20+  Online tools and resources

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

NCS Services  Develop your CV  Search and apply for jobs  Understand job market  Search for courses and training schemes  Find funding to support learning  Identify key strengths and skills  Explore your career options  Choose training routes that fit your lifestyle  Develop an action plan to help you achieve your goals

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

Working together with the NCS  Get advice for yourself  Get advice for your members  Check the information you are giving is up to date  Refer members to the National Careers Service  Invite face-to-face advisers to support ULRs

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

Other Developments  New qualifications  New professional body: the Careers Professional Alliance (CPA)  Revised matrix Standard and support for the National Careers Service subcontractors  FE and HE loans

Unionlearn Supporting Learners Publications Supporting Learners Guides

Progression pathways for all trade union reps

Delivering better learning agreements

Supporting Learners at 50+

E-Notes  What is an E-Note?  E-Notes that are available now  New E-Notes  Register via the website

www.tuclearning.net

Any Questions?

Sharing Information Activity  Introduce yourself and what you do to support union learners to progress in all levels of learning  Share information about any Supporting Learners activity you know of in your region  Share information about the way you currently use the National Careers Service  Write each development or activity on a post it and stick them on the wall  Feed back one exciting development to the whole group

Stages in Action Planning  Setting goals  Finding information  Making decisions  Making a plan  Breaking the plan down into steps  Identifying support  Recording the plan

Action Planning Activity 1. Think of something you would like to do 2. Write your goal in a circle in the middle of the flip chart 3. Use the coloured post-its to add ideas about;   

What information you will need and where you can find it?

What learning you will need to do to achieve your goal?

What support you will need and who from?

Progression for Learners and Reps Qualifications are very complicated: you might want answers to the following:  How do the levels fit together?  What is the value of old and new qualifications?  Can adult learners take short cuts in order to progress?  What about overseas qualifications?  What do employers want?

Progression Activity You will be given a pack of cards for each table.

Take out the cards with levels 1 to 8 and put them in ascending order on your table.

In your group decide what level you think the qualification written on the card is and place it next to the corresponding level.

Progression: Where to find out more  Updated PDF available of the guide, Supporting learners: progression for all union reps  New progression Learning Theme in the Climbing Frame, and TUC Education theme  Unionlearn website – TUC Education courses for reps, and new E-notes  Higher Learning at Work website

Funding for Learning  Changes in funding for Further and Higher Education in 2012  New system of fees, loans and bursaries  Local discounts may still be negotiated  More opportunities for part-time learners

Funding for Learning Activity In your groups, look at the statements and decide which are true and which are false.

Funding Learning: Where to find out more  Directgov and Student Finance websites  www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance  Unionlearn  Higher Learning at Work  National Careers Service  Colleges and universities

Action Planning for Supporting Learners Please write on post-it notes and stick them on the flip chart  One action you will take as a result of this morning’s session  One resource you will use  How you will use or engage with the National Careers Service

Lunch and Networking