Regional Strategic Planning; Local Delivery

Transcription

1 Regional Strategic Planning; Local Delivery Regional Learning Partnership South West Wales (RLPSW&CW) Regional Delivery Plan for Employment & Skills for South West & Central Wales Expression of Interest Form (EOI) The Regional Delivery Plan for Employment & Skills for South West & Central Wales will identify the region s skills needs, articulate the collective response and then identify the interventions to be supported by the appropriate investment e.g. domestic or structural funds. It is not an ESF funding plan it is wider than Structural Funds. Please note this EOI does not form part of any funding application process. The purpose of the document is to identify proposed activity areas to implement the Regional Delivery Plan for Employment & Skills SW&CW. Please note as a guide that the EOI should be completed in 12 point font and each box should not exceed a maximum of words 1a. Name of Organisation: (responsible for submitting the application and managing the activity): RLP - ACL Sub Group (Partners) 1b. Proposed Activity Title: Shared Professional Development Framework for Adult & Community Development Staff** 1c. Details of the Activity: What is the purpose / aim of the activity? Which priority from the plan does it address? Development of a Shared Professional Development Framework for Adult & Community Development Workers & Tutors** with the aim to professionalise the sector and workforce which in turn will enhance the quality of learning and teaching within the sector. It will raise standards and provide parity of standards of teaching across the Adult Learning sector and region. Currently there is a gap in the professional qualifications for teachers of Adult Learning with only 'basic' tutor training being available through PTLLS. There is no professional framework for tutors and many tutors do not have a teaching background (evidence provided by partner organisations delivering Adult Learning). Developing a professional development framework will also enhance the credibility of adult lerning making it more attractive to people who may be interested in working in this sector. ** Adult & Community Development Staff includes ACL, Work Based Learners Volunteers and Community Development Workers RLP Team

2 Priority activity plan to address: Priority 3 - This activity will improve the parity of esteem between the more vocational ACL pathway and the academic pathways ensuring equality of staus and value Priority 4 - Ensure flexible learning choices regarding how, when and where learning occurs- the framework will be designed to encompass a variety of flexible, blended and mobile learning opportunties at various locations, times and channels of delivery to meet the changing demands / needs of the modern learner. Priority 5 Increase the supply of appropriately qualified workforce - tutors, work-based learning tutors, community development workers Adult Lerning will be able to achieve recognised qualifications by sharing resources between partnersand developing a framework which will result in a demand led supply of a qualified workforce Priority 8 - improve progression routes into higher level skilled jobs - ACL workforce will gain qualifications and learning that is required for higher level professional jobs including higher level managerial jobs. As evidenced in the plan, there is a lack of Leadership and high level Managerial skills in the region. Proposed Progression Framework: Delegates can enter at any level dependent on experience & APEL Level 8 Level 7 Level 6 Level 5 Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Foundation 2. Please explain why the activity is needed, identifying where your evidence of need has come from and how this aligns with the intelligence, priorities and themes contained within the plan. There is an identified need for the development of a shared professional development programme for Adult Learning tutor/workers that raises the standards of teaching in Adult learning.it has been recognised by Estyn that there is a need to for a professional development programme in place for Adult Learning teachers that will enable them to improve their qualifications and training and hence properly position themselves as ACL Professionals. Furthermore the activity idea has developed through partnership and collaborative working across the region - through consultation events, feedback from partners attending the event, Estyn reports and, as evidenced in the Regional Delivery Plan, there is a high level skills deficit across the region in the adult learning sector. Estyn supportive of this proposed activity idea. There is a recognised need to improve the skills level of the workforce to meet future skills requirements. A Shared Staff Development Scheme project in the FE/HE sectors is currently underway in the region. Lessons learned from this project, the sharing of good practice and the synergy gained from the sharing of resources and collaborative programmes across organisations will be used to inform the proposed ACL shared staff development scheme and will able ACL to build on the lessons from this project within the HE/FE sector.

3 3. Please indicate which Thematic Areas of the Framework your activity fits with: Engagement Pre-Employment In Work Support CPD 4. Please indicate the geographical coverage proposed: All Wales Regionally (South West & Central Wales) Swansea Carmarthenshire Neath Port Talbot Powys Ceredigion Pembrokeshire 5. Please detail how you have consulted and collaborated with other stakeholders of similar activities in the region (and outside if relevant). How have you ensured that this does not duplicate existing activity/ provision? Consultation events and Regional ACL meetings Evidence as outlined in the Regional Delivery Plan Making connections with the current Shared Staff Development Scheme for HE/FE EStyn 6. Please give details of the partners involved in the activity, directly or as consultees, and your ongoing working arrangements. Stakeholders throughout the region have been involved directly with discussion on the development of a Shared Staff Development Scheme for ACL - local authorities representatives, colleges, DACE and WEA Cymru. In addition organisations such as Workways, WCVA and Communities 1 st have also been consulted. Estyn representative has indicated that there is a requirement for a more professionalised staff development framework for ACL practtioners. Consulted with Estyn. The ACL Welsh language group is currently developing a web 'tutor Awareness' toolbox which will feed into this proposed staff development activity ensuring both activities are aligned with each other and the delivery plan. RES group is also looking to incorporate an element of upskilling for tutors, particularly Welsh language tutors which will also feed into this proposed staff development activity. 7. What change will the proposed activity seek to achieve and what barriers will be overcome? A more professionalised sector and workforce which will enhance the quality of learning and teaching within the Adult Learning Sector. A recognised minimum standard of teaching will be achieved with a structure allowing staff to progress to high level learning and development. A profesionally accredited workforce with an accredited progression framework. Shared staff development will allow the sharing of resources, good/best practice and will promote continous practice improvement.

4 Barriers that will be overcome are: Time constraints - tutors are often part time and as such require flexible and blending learning. The activity idea will be flexible and delivered in a variety of ways i.e. on-line and at different locations Cost - training tutors is costily to organisations as many tutors have different rates of pay and terms of contracts Enagagement - tutors/workers will need to see the 'value-added' need for gaining learning and teaching accreditation offered within the framework. 8. Please specify the target audience that the activity would seek to support? Tutors, in adult community, WBL, Development workers and Volunteers of adult learning. 9. How does the activity propose to be financed? European funding 10. Organisation Details Address: RLP ACL sub-group/gwyn Thomas Shared staff development scheme coordinator Tel No: gwyn@thomas-huntesolutions.co.uk Contact name for queries On the EOI: Gwyn Thomas Legal status of the Organisation: Name: Date: Please submit your form to: info@rlpsww.org.uk The RLP is facilitating the development of the Regional Delivery Plan for Employment and Skills. For any queries please contact info@rlpsww.org.uk

5 GUIDANCE NOTE Please note as a guide that the proforma should be completed in 12 point font and each box should not exceed a maximum of words. The total length of the proforma should ideally be not more than 4 pages, dependent on the complexity of the project. Please ensure when completing question 1c that you describe what the proposed activity is, stating which Employment and Skills Priority the activity will address. The 14 priorities that have been identified for the region are listed in the plan on page 5. The answer to this question should give the reader a quick overview of what the activity is and will do. Ideally, test your answer on a non-expert. Remember this is an introduction to the activity, not your organisation or field of work! When completing question 3 there is a need to indicate which thematic area of the Regional Employment & Skills Delivery Framework your activity fits into. A copy of the framework can be accessed via this link and is available as an appendix to the plan. Please provide the evidence of need for your activity, the source and reference where it aligns to the contents of the Regional Delivery Plan for Employment & Skills. Please complete all relevant boxes with regard to the geographical coverage of your proposed activity. Consultation You should make it clear what other organisations / sectors you have consulted with in relation to your proposal. How can you demonstrate / ensure that your proposed activity will not duplicate either existing or other proposed activities? Partners & Partner Arrangements You should make clear what role partners have are they consultees or involved in delivery and financing? Have all organisations listed as consultees already been consulted? If not, please make this clear. When completing question 7 you need to outline what change your proposed activity is aiming to achieve and note what barriers the activity will aim to address. Please be specific with respect to what target audience the proposed activity will focus on. Please provide detail on the proposed funding package of the proposed activity including your organisation s own contribution.