Enhancement of Learning Support

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project SW Regional event – Involving Learners • Phase 2 –September 2010- 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

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

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

11. Enhancement of Learning Support Background to project SW Regional event – Involving Learners • 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 http://www.natspec.org.uk/enhancement-of-learning-support.html

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

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

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