The programme is now finished for this academic year and regrettably we are no longer accepting applications.

Through this element of the programme we aim to improve the quality of experience and support improved levels of achievement for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Using the materials developed in previous national projects, the Learning for Living pathfinder project and the Supporting Dyslexic Learners project, providers will be encouraged to embed these materials into everyday practice in order to support learners.

What are the benefits to my organisation of accessing the programme?
The programme offers your organisation:

1. Specialist adviser support for senior managers, curriculum managers, practitioners and key staff across the organisation
2. Access to in-house or local training tailored to your needs
3. Peer support through regional clusters designed to support development and facilitate the sharing of practice and resources

Evidence from participants last year identified that using the materials to involve learners in developing personal learning programmes and using the materials to overcome organisational barriers were key to progression.

In 2007-08 we will operate through regional clusters allowing your organisation to share best practice with other local, like-minded providers. Specialist, practical input from experts in the field will improve practice within your organisation to enable you to develop and support learners to achieve their goals. We will work with the clusters to develop thematic approaches that focus on outcomes for learners whilst at the same time meeting providers’ needs in relation to Continuing Professional Development of staff.

Who should get involved?
We plan to develop a balance of small, medium and larger organisations and will be looking for a demonstrable commitment from management prior to participation. The following types of provider would benefit from getting involved with this programme:

• Work based learning providers
• Jobcentre Plus
• Offender learning providers
• Further Education and Specialist Colleges where improvement is needed
• Voluntary and Community learning providers
• Highly rated providers where support for learning difficulties and/or disabilities provision could be more inclusive
• Adult and Community learning providers
• Providers working with people with mental health difficulties
• Providers working on learner engagement and the foundation learning tier

We aim to respond to needs, which will be linked to the Skills for Life priority groups. Levels of need will be identified through prior involvement in learning difficulty and/or disability clusters, inspection reports, the QIA Improvement Advisers’ feedback and discussion with the providers themselves.

We are looking particularly for providers who are embedding communication, literacy, numeracy and language, including wider key skills into their programmes:

• The Progression Pathway in Foundation Learning
• The Offender Learning Journey
• Entry to Employment
• Workstep

What is involved?
The programme has three main objectives, to:

1. Improve the experiences and achievements of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities
2. Empower learners and support their progression through person-centred approaches
3. Stimulate and initiate reflective practice in teaching and learning

We are looking to form clusters with four to six providers. Each cluster will adopt a themed approach. For example, a cluster may choose to focus on:

• Person-centred planning for Skills for Life and vocational staff
• Family learning
• Use of multimedia (including, for example, creative use of ICT in person-centred planning, or embedding ICT within literacy, language and numeracy teaching and learning)
• Curriculum development in relation to cultural issues
• Skills for Working
• Using Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement (RARPA)
• Pre-entry curriculum framework models of delivery
• The role of learning support
• Making the link with the Foundation Learning Tier

Or a cluster may choose to focus on improving the experience of:

• Learners with mental health difficulties
• Learners with emotional and behavioural difficulties
• Offender learners
• ESOL learners
• Learners on the autistic spectrum

These are just examples. You may have your own suggestions and priorities that will enable us to tailor the programme to best suit your needs.

How do I apply for support?
The programme is now finished for this academic year and regrettably we are no longer accepting applications.