Skills for Life Support for World Class Skills

The Skills for Life Support for World Class Skills Programme aims to harness the expertise of the sector in sharing solutions and effective practice for those providers delivering employer centred provision. It extends the support provided under the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and Skills for Life Support Programme  and World Class Skills programmes.

Making it work

A practical guide to effective delivery of Skills for Life in workplace learning

The Making it work guide is the outcome of Effective Practice Projects undertaken by 38 providers on the Skills for Life Support for World Class Skills Programme in 2009. It is

• a practical guide for managers, trainers, teachers and teacher educators

• available on-line in PDF format with links to sample forms, exemplars, good practice case studies, as well as hints and tips and further information

The guide is organised in five sections, which reflect the processes a training organisation has to work through to deliver Skills for Life learning in the workplace:

1. Employer engagement
2. Developing and implementing effective assessment and ILP processes for workplace learning
3. Flexible ways of delivering learning
4. Developing teaching and learning approaches and resources to reflect the employer context
5. Professional development for workplace learning

Click the link to access the Making it work guide.

The project (EPP) has supported us to reflect and develop Skills for Life provision. It was a huge step forward … and so valuable to share and learn from others involved in the project.

Provider on Effective Practice Project

Effective practice projects

The current phase of the programme (October 2009 to March 2010) builds on the successful Effective Practice Projects (EPP) support delivered in the first half of 2009.

Providers applied for funding of up to £5 000 in addition to consultancy support. They are working within their own organisations and in partnership with others to produce a resource that is effective, innovative and of benefit to the wider sector. 

Each provider identifies a particular area for development that will address one of the key challenges in delivering high quality Skills for Life provision based on a particular theme of their choice. These include:

1. Innovative embedding of literacy, language and numeracy (LLN) into apprenticeship programmes in vocational areas
     such as: care, early years, construction, land-based, hospitality and catering. 

2. Engaging small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).

3. Flexible delivery models for workplace provision.
    These would address teaching approaches and resources, including e-learning.

4. Developing staff skills to promote, manage and deliver effective workplace literacy, language and
    numeracy provision. 

The projects will focus on the systems, processes and curriculum developments needed to successfully embed Skills for Life in vocational learning or other employer facing programme. They will be organised around curriculum areas such as care, construction, hospitality, catering, land-based activity and cleaning.

Who is the Support for?

The Skills for Life Support for World Class Skills Programme is aimed at providers who are recognised leaders in their sector, have proven track record of high quality delivery (e.g. Ofsted Grade 1 or 2) and have the capacity, expertise and enthusiasm to participate in these Effective Practice Projects. Priority will be given to:

• Providers named in the Ofsted Thematic report (The impact of Train to Gain on skills in employment, Nov 2008)
• Providers recommended by Learning and Skills Council, Department for Work and Pensions or other key stakeholders
• Providers that have engaged successfully in the earlier Effective Practice Projects aiming to transfer to new areas of development.
• Providers who refer themselves and who have achieved Ofsted Grade 1 or 2 in Leadership and Management and Overall Effectiveness.

End of current phase

The current phase draws to a close at the end of March 2010.  

If you would like to register your interest for support after March, please send an email with “SFLSP Support 2010” in the subject line and full contact details (name, organisation, job title, address, telephone and email address) to SFL2010@cfbt.com.