1. Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

2. Barking and Dagenham: Who are our customers ?  8th most deprived borough in London and ranks 9th among 354 authorities in England  Among those of working age who are unemployed 44.5% lack any qualifications  4th lowest in England for literacy and 2nd lowest for numeracy Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

3. The national challenge: “ Companies are struggling to find skilled staff as thousands leave school with a poor grasp of the 3Rs. Low standards of literacy and numeracy among the young have left the economy exposed to competition from India and China”- Sir T. Leahy Paton G (2007): ‘Sir Terry Leahy criticises workers’ basic skills: The Telegraph, 13 th September Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

4. Our challenge -  Too many learners with inadequate LLN skills for life or work  Lack of interest/ poor attendance to programmes designed to help them improve or develop these skills  Low level engagement in lessons  Retention and achievement ( even in vocational areas) affected by low level LLN  Frustrated tutors trying to do a job Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

5. Act 1 scene 1 … Before the research -what we did:  1 st year - vocational tutors taught, supported by the FS team  2 nd year - FS specialists taught Result 1st year - achievement low; most tutors struggled 2 nd year - poor attendance & behaviour; low achievement Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

6. The research…. The people we went to for answers:  260 learners filled questionnaires  50 learners interviewed – formal and informal (including those in the clip)  10 vocational and LLN tutor  3 workshops involving 3 vocational and 4 LLN specialists Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

7. Problems at point of entry Lessons.. boring, boring Timetabling issues Resources/ Qualification.. irrelevant not useful Developing skills or just more exams? Team work- what’s that? What the people said ….. Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

8. Our recommendations: Review :  methods of ‘selling’ LLN to customers  Timetabling system  Work ethics among/ between staff - Explore collaborative practices  systems of support for learners Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

9. THE STORY SO FAR… Supporting Learners Timetabling issues Presenting a united front Selling LLN Open days, initial interviews, course handbooks and induction Training; recruiting ambassadors- & VT enrolling for L2 quals ; collaboration Reviewing SoW, teaching, learning & support strategies Cross-college centralised timetable Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

10. Next steps:  Advertise LLN on college website as part of main courses  Encourage more tutors to buy into collaboration- look for ambassadors  Promote LLN as part of main course during induction  Monitor how recommendations are being carried out in the different curriculum areas  Monitor effect of recommendations on teaching and learning experiences; attendance and retention Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo

11. We would love your great ideas and suggestions Thank YOU!! Tinyan Akin-Omoyajowo