Improving quality The National Training Organisation for FE (FENTO) and the BSA have begun developing a new initial training framework and qualification for new entrants to basic skills teaching. This new framework will be closely aligned to the new training framework being developed for FE teachers in general. A tool-kit for teachers will be produced. This will include details of the new standards and curriculum as well as guides to effective pedagogy and approaches to basic skills education. Every basic skills teacher will have ready access to a copy of the tool-kit. An intensive training programme will be introduced for all existing basic skills teachers. The programme will use the same successful cascade model as the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies. Over the next few months, training materials and programmes will be developed and piloted. Teacher trainers should each receive 5 days intensive training by the end of 2000. All basic skills teachers should receive 3 days training by summer 2001. The tool-kit and training programme will be informed by four Quality Workshops for basic skills practitioners being held this autumn. The workshops will help to identify and consider ways of improving and spreading effective basic skills provision. The Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) have introduced several significant initiatives focused on basic skills as part of their quality and widening participation agenda. Financial incentives include automatic funding uplift and 100% fee remission for all basic skills students. FEFC have also funded basic skills Easter and summer schools in 1998 and 1999. FEFC is also supporting a major Basic Skills Quality Initiative which will address the need to develop staff skills in initial assessment and ongoing support at basic skills level. Basic skills provision will be inspected against a common inspection framework. Subject to Parliamentary approval, a new system of independent external inspection will be established from April 2001, which will rationalise existing inspection arrangements. "The Moser Report has succeeded in highlighting the Basic Skills crisis. Unions are uniquely placed to give unbiased advice to our members and to encourage them to get involved in learning. We have already shown that working in Partnership with employers, we can successfully encourage members to return to learn, whether they work in factories, offices or shops. If we are ever going to get to grips with the Basic Skills crisis, Trade Unions have a key role to play." James Rees Education Officer – USDAW

Back

Home

Next