SW Region – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Involving learners in shaping their own support

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project 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 researched  Views of LSAs and learners particularly lacking in the literature

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project  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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project Phase 2 –September March 2011  Programme 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project Other project related activity include  A 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 learning-support.html learning-support.html

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to 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

SW Regional event – Involving Learners Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project Programme for the day 10.00amWelcome and programme overview 10.30amAims of the day – Video of learner voice 11.00amUsing activities to promote learner voice 11.30am Tea/Coffee 11.45amWorkshop #1 - Swap Shop 12.45pmUsing technology to engage learners 1.00pm Lunch 1.45pmWorkshop # 2 – Modelling resources 2.45pmTrial and revelation! - What next pmEvaluations