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Natspec – The Association of National Specialist CollegesTransforming the curriculum:meeting the needs of learners in ISCs12 November 2008

Foundation Learning Tier:A guide to the Progression Pathways

Andrew LambeSenior Policy ManagerLSC National Office

The FoundationLearning Tier is…a programme of work to develop a more focussed and strategic approach to entry level and level 1 for learners aged 14 and over within the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in order to raise participation, achievement and progression amongst learners at these levels.

Within the Foundation Learning Tier, Progression Pathways will be the main organising structures. Progression Pathways set down the parameters for designing personalised learning programmes to support individual progression through the achievement of an appropriate combination of qualifications from entry level and level 1 of the QCF.

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Our Ambitions

To ensure Progression Pathways are the principal learning offer at entry level and level 1 for both young people and adults.

We expect that, over time, all learners working at entry level and level 1 will do so within the context of a Progression Pathway. This is part of the Government’s aspiration to move towards a more comprehensive but also more coherent qualification offer for both young people and adults.

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• Inclusive and coherent programmes which will engage learners

• Access to accreditation at every stage, at every step which will motivate and reward learners

• Clear stepping stone progression routes which will ‘propel’ learners

Our Objectives

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• Balancing scale, reach, manageability and affordability

• Balancing engagement with achievement and progression

• Balancing the needs and aspirations of young people and adults

• Recognising what is and is not appropriate for who, and where and what the public purse pays for

Our Reality

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Priority ProgressionPathways are…

those Progression Pathways identified for developmental delivery in 2008/09; providing progression to:

• a first full level 2• skilled work or an apprenticeship• supported employment or independent living• a Foundation (level 1) Diploma or GCSEs

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ProgressionPathways will also…incorporate three curriculum areas:

• Vocational knowledge skills and understanding• Functional skills• Personal and Social Development learning

be supported by a wrap-around of information, advice and guidance, effective initial assessment, comprehensive ongoing review, and provider collaboration.

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Progression Pathwayto full level 2…

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Requirements:

• A level 1 vocational award or certificate (vocational qualifications will include the potential for learners to achieve some level 2 units within their rules of combination)

• Four credits of personal and social development skills

• Functional Skills in ICT at least at entry level 2• Functional Skills in Maths at least at entry level 2• Functional Skills in English at least at entry level 3

Progression Pathwayto skilled work…

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Requirements:

• A single vocational certificate, or a combination of vocational awards which together amount to at least 13 credits (level 1 qualifications will include the potential for learners to achieve some level 2 units within their rules of combination)

• Four credits of personal and social development learning

• Functional Skills in ICT (5 credits)• Functional Skills in Maths (5 credits)• Functional Skills in English (5 credits)

to supported employmentor independent living…

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To supported employment, requirements:• One award-sized qualification of at least six credits• Four credits of personal and social development Functional

Skills in English • Functional Skills in Maths• Functional Skills in ICT

To independent living, requirements:• One award-sized qualification of at least six credits where the

focus is on personal and social development• Where relevant and appropriate, either Functional Skills

qualifications or the appropriate common entry level 1 units relating to reading, writing, numeracy or ICT

Progression Pathwayto Diploma or GCSEs…

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Requirements:

• one certificate-sized qualification at entry level 1, 2 or 3 (vocational and/or subject)

• four credits of personal and social development learning

• Functional Skills in English (5 credits)• Functional Skills in Maths (5 credits)• Functional Skills in ICT (5 credits)

The Prospectus forProgression Pathways…

The Prospectus supports the design, planning and delivery of Progression Pathways; it sets out eligibility requirements for qualifications that form part of Progression Pathways and explains expectations of delivery, achievement and progression of learners.

Alongside the Prospectus – as part of the suite of documents to support the development of the FLT and the implementation of Progression Pathways – the LSC and QCA have also published the LSC Provider Requirements; the QCA effective practice principles; and, the Progression Pathways Qualifications Catalogue.

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Direction of Travel

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Skills Funding Agency

Progression Pathway to:· a first full level 2· skilled work or an

Apprenticeship· supported employment

or independent living· appropriate provision

for learner aged 14-19, including a Foundation (level 1) Diploma or GCSEs

Young Peoples Learning Agency

Impl

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d T

rans

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P

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2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 and onwards

Developmental and small-scale delivery of Progression Pathways

Autumn 09 – Publication of Statement of

Priorities for 2010/11

Autumn 08 - Publication

Statement of Priorities for

2009/10

Funding is aligned with the flexible patterns of achievement

Increase scale and volume of delivery of Progression Pathways

Spring 09 – publication of Prospectus for

Progression Pathways for 2009/10 delivery

2010/11 Implementation of Progression Pathways complete

(dependent on range and sufficiency of QCF provision)Spring 10 – publication

of Prospectus for Progression Pathways

for 2010/11 delivery

Performance recognises incremental achievement and is aligned to Framework for

Excellence

Unit funding trials of QCF provision

Work undertaken to align performance to Progression Pathways

– Credit Success Rate pilots

Commissioning replaces existing

arrangements with Progression PathwaysCommissioning begins

reducing existing arrangements and

increases commissioning of

Progression Pathways

Implementation of a coherent

offer for young people (YP)

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Implementation of a coherent

offer for adults

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Implementation of a Coherent Offer for Adults

Entry

Lev

el an

d Le

vel 1

Pro

vision

De

liver

y Mec

hanis

ms

Progression Pathways (made up of Entry Level and Level 1 qualifications in the QCF)

Skills for Life

Adult Safeguarded Learning

Foundation Learning in

FE

Other Entry Level

Provision

First Steps in FE

Relevant non-

accredited provision

Skills AccountsIntegrated

Employment and Skills

Train to Gain

Current arrangements replaced by

Adult Advancement and Careers Service

Sector Skills Compacts

For further information please see the:

• The Foundation Learning Tier Section of the LSC’s Qualifications and Framework Reform site – http://qfr.lsc.gov.uk/flt/

• The Foundation Learning Tier pages on the QCA website – http://www.qca.org.uk/flt

• The QIA Excellence Gateway – http://excellence.qia.org.uk/flt

Further Information

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