QCF Readiness Provider Support Programme

QCF Readiness Provider Support Programme – Are you ready for the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)?

What is the QCF?

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is a new way of recognising skills and qualifications by awarding credit for whole qualifications and for units or small steps of learning.

The process of bringing all vocational qualifications into the QCF has already begun. By December 2010, all qualifications will need to be accredited in the new framework and the QCF will have replaced the National Qualifications Framework.

• To find out more about the QCF, visit the QCA website.
• To find out more about how the LSC is aligning planning, funding and performance to the QCF, visit the LSC website.

What is the QCF readiness programme?

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has tasked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), Ofqual and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to implement the QCF.

QCA is responsible for getting the education sector ready for implementing the QCF through a readiness programme and has commissioned key delivery partners to reach the main stakeholder groups:

• LSIS, ALP and AOC to work with learning providers
• FAB and JCQ to work with awarding organisations
• ASSC/UKES to work with SSCs and SSBs.

Readiness indicators

The QCF readiness programme has identified a set of readiness indicators for each of these strands.

The readiness indicators for providers are:

• By December 2010, providers will have the necessary expertise and systems in place to enable them to:
  
  
  1. provide flexible curriculum delivery models which enable the achievement of credit and qualifications from the QCF
  2. develop personalised learning programmes which enable the achievement of credit and qualifications from the QCF and support progression
  3. provide information, advice and guidance to learners and employers on achieving credit and qualifications from the QCF
  4. process the achievement and accumulation of credit and qualifications from the QCF (MIS, funding)
  5. provide ongoing CPD for staff on flexible curriculum delivery models, personalised learning programmes and assessment in the context of the QCF
  6. embed the achievement of credit and qualifications from the QCF within their self assessment, quality assurance and quality improvement processes
• By December 2010, governance and senior management within the provider sector will fully understand and engage at a strategic level with the QCF.

To find out more about how the support provided by LSIS can help you to work towards these indicators and be ready for the QCF, visit QCF Readiness Provider Support Programme.

To see how other providers are preparing for the implementation of the QCF, look at the case studies.

The QCF readiness provider support programme is the successor programme to the Qualification Reform Support Programme.

• QCF Readiness Provider Support Programme – Case Studies