Support available

The Support Programme offers holistic model of support to help you achieve a whole organisation approach to embedding literacy, language and numeracy. There is a whole range of support available, including development grants, consultancy support, peer exchange groups, customised training and development and support with professional development planning.  The Programme also has a special focus on developing multi-media resources to share across the learning and skills sector.

The main support packages are summarised below with links to further guidance and the application process.

Consultancy support and bespoke training for providers

Consultancy support and continuing professional development to develop a whole organisation approach to embedding literacy, language and numeracy.

• Consultancy support from a regional team of experts with the specialist skills to support your organisation's development needs
• Customised in-house training (CPD) to support your organisation’s action plan
• Peer exchange activity - working alongside other senior managers and practitioners with a commitment to developing excellent practice in LLN delivery to share knowledge and collaborate to further develop good practice
• Professional development planning (PDP) to support capacity building for literacy, numeracy and ESOL teaching and support staff

Get more information on Consultancy support and bespoke training for providers.

Action research and development projects

Action research and development projects to raise standards in literacy, language and numeracy.

• Consultancy support and guidance for your project team from a skilled Development Adviser
• Whole project event - working alongside senior managers and expert practitioners at the cutting edge of Skills for Life development and delivery to:
  • share knowledge and good practice within your group
  • define the outcomes of your action research and development
  • build peer relationships to support your development work
• Grant to develop high quality products and resources
• Final dissemination event to share good practice and resources
• Ongoing remote support to help you monitor your action plan
• Seminar - specialist input, peer collaboration and support for development projects

Get more information on Action research and development projects.

Support for large employers

Support is available for large employers to improve the personal literacy, language and numeracy skills of their employees. We invite applications from large private companies, Local Authorities, NHS Trusts or Police, Fire and Rescue services and other large employers.

• Support from a consultant with the specialist skills to support your organisation to develop the personal LLN skills of your staff to Level 2 to enable you to:
  • deliver high quality public services
  • engage more staff at work to take up further skills training
• Support from a consultant/expert practitioner to develop your GO (Get On) Award action plan and Skills Pledge action plan
• Professional development planning (PDP) to help identify your employee's literacy, language and numeracy needs and how to support their development
• Customised in-house training to raise awareness of the benefits of basic skills at work as well as for the individual
• Remote support to monitor progress on your GO/Skills Award, Skills Pledge action plan

Get more information on Support for large employers.

Teacher training action research and development projects

Teacher training action research and development projects will enable literacy, numeracy and ESOL teacher trainers to explore and improve their practice, developing resources to share and building a sustainable, mutually supportive professional community.

• Introductory project meeting
• Support from a teacher training consultant (visit and remote)
• Professional e-zone for teacher trainers and educators
• Grant to support a small piece of teacher training action research and the development of a teacher training resource
• Dissemination event to share good practice and resources

Get more information on Teacher training action research and development projects.

Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy

The Family Learning element of the SfLSP builds on the Extending the Reach and Improving the Quality in FLLN (ERIQ) and the work of regional advisors.

The aim of this strand is to develop an effective sustainable approach which is tailored to meet local needs and to provide quality support for FLLN, Wider Family Learning (WFL), Family Learning Impact Funding (FLIF) providers and their partners.

There are two separate but related elements to this strand:

• Support for local authority providers to improve the quality of their family literacy, language and numeracy provision
• Support for providers in receipt of FLIF to help them extend and embed the Early Years Foundation Stage, Family Numeracy, Family Financial Capability and Wider Family Learning (ECM) programmes developed and delivered in Year 1.

Lead learning practitioners at regional level will take a whole family approach and ensure that "learning as a family" across all areas is integrated at both a strategic and an operational level.

There is also a training programme for family learning providers and partners.

Get more information on Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy.

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The New Approach to ESOL: Background

The Government's policy document A New Approach to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) reiterates its intention to target public funding on the most vulnerable learners. The policy sets out its 'new approach' in which Local Authorities will work with a wide range of partners to identify local priorities.

The Skills for Life Support Programme will support providers in implementing the 'New Approach to ESOL' and will do this in a number of ways:

• Run training, networking and information sessions for providers

12 events early in 2010 will update providers on the 'New Approach' (PDF document, 33Kb), give providers an opportunity to consider the implications of the changing policy context for their organisation and prepare for change.

• Support providers through the Whole Organisation Approach to Skills for Life

The Skills for Life Support Programme will offer support on the 'New Approach to ESOL' to providers through the Whole Organisation Approach strand. Ask your consultant for more information.

• Community of Practice on ESOL and the 'New Approach'

BIS have set up a huddle for ESOL providers. This is a web space where ESOL providers will be able to obtain and share information about the implementation of the New Approach in their areas. To register send an email to esol@bis.gsi.gov.uk.

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