sw region – involving learners enhancement of learning support involving learners in shaping their...

SW Region – Involving LearnersEnhancement of Learning Support

Involving learners in shaping their own support

SW Regional event – Involving Learners

Enhancement of Learning SupportBackground to project

Enhancement of Learning Support Project

Phase 1 : January – April 2010

Natspec commissioned by LSIS to explore the training and development needs of LSAs and those who manage them

Talked to learners, LSAs, LSA managers and Tutors

Undertook a literature review

Desk based research

Survey



Terminology and Role

Project focussed on “Learning Support” as opposed to “Learner Support”

Changed project terminology from Learning Support Practitioner (NOS) to Learning Support Assistant (LSA) but in practice many titles used

Hugely important role but......

Shockingly under researchedViews of LSAs and learners particularly lacking in the literature



Key Findings

•A hugely diverse workforce

•Formal role most developed in FE sector

•Key role in supporting and promoting independence, but..

•Often a lack of clarity, at individual, organisational and system level about how to combine activity which is enables learning with that which is necessary for personal support



Key Findings (learners):

Learners have very clear views about what constitutes effective support, and how they want to be supported

They want a focus on enabling and more independence

The personal qualities of support staff are key – being listened to, included and treated with respect

Above all they want the right to be involved in defining their own support



Key Findings (CPD):

A lot of induction and training is compliance related

Often there is insufficient focus in training on the core competencies of the role in supporting learning

A wide variation in what is offered

Significant barriers to participation

Unlike schools the sector has no recognised career structure within which LSAs work and progress



There are lots of training resources available, but…..

No central point which stores and disseminates information effectively across the sector

There is a need for more joint training and specific training for teachers in relation to working effectively with LSAs

Training for Managers of LSAs is underdeveloped

An organisational culture whose values and ethos promotes inclusion at all levels is vital for effective

development of learning support



Phase 2 –September 2010- March 2011Programme of development activities based on the recommendations from the initial research

Natspec and AoC joint delivery partners

Nine regional partnerships, involving eighteen lead colleges – SW Weston College and National Star College

Additional partnerships with JISC Techdis, NAPTA and Lifelong Learning UK to support the project.

Key aim –to draw on practitioner expertise and experience to develop resources and materials that will have practical relevance and add value



Regional Activity

South West and North West – resources and approaches to enable learners to be involved in managing and directing their own support

London – A self assessment tool

Yorkshire and Humberside – Using technology to support greater independence for learners

South East – Developing an online tool to profile the CPD needs of Learning Support staff



Regional Activity

West Midlands – Resources to support alternative approaches to CPD

North East – The role of systems and structures in promoting or hindering learner independence

East Midlands – Organisational improvement tool



Other project related activity includeA web portal to host all information of relevance and interest to LSAs

A professional development network across the Doncaster and South Yorkshire region

A report on the effective management of learning support – West of England College

To find out more or contribute go to http://www.natspec.org.uk/enhancement-of-learning-support.html

http://www.natspec.org.uk/enhancement-of-learning-support.html

http://www.natspec.org.uk/enhancement-of-learning-support.html



South West Region:

Weston College and National Star College working with learner advisory panel

Aiming to establish a sustained community of practice to continuously enhance learning support across the region and to be leaders in effective practice in involving learners to identify and direct their own support

15 November - Regional event 1 – share effective practice and identify a range of resources and approaches to be trialled

November to February – trial range of resources and approaches

17 February - Regional event 2 – share findings and determine most effective resources and approaches to put forward for outcomes of project

Ongoing – network to develop a sustained community of practice taking forward outcomes from full project



How does what you are doing fit?

Our aims is to develop a range of resources and approaches that enable learners to be involved in identifying, planning, managing and directing their own learning support



Programme for the day

10.00am Welcome and programme overview

10.30am Aims of the day – Video of learner voice

11.00am Using activities to promote learner voice

11.30am Tea/Coffee

11.45am Workshop #1 - Swap Shop

12.45pm Using technology to engage learners

1.00pm Lunch

1.45pm Workshop # 2 – Modelling resources

2.45pm Trial and revelation! - What next...

3.45pm Evaluations

sw region – involving learners enhancement of learning support involving learners in shaping their...

Documents

learning support staff

effective support

learner support

support london

personal support slide

sw regional event

project key findings

role project