Leadership & Management Coaching & Mentoring Information Pack

01202 262300 www.skillsandlearningbdp.co.uk

2015/16 Application Information for Level 3 Certificates in Leadership & Management and Coaching & Mentoring in the Workplace. The purpose of this pack is to provide you with all of the information you need to make an informed choice about whether a course is suitable for you and if you will be able to commit to the work involved.

In this pack you will find: 1) General information about qualification courses with Skills&Learning, Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole. 2) Specific information about the type of course you are interested in to supplement the overview provided in the Course Information Sheet (CIS) which you should review on our website http://www.skillsandlearningbdp.co.uk 3) Financial Information to help you work out how to fund your learning 4) A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet 5) Links to further information to help you explore your options 6) Information about Additional Learning Support (ALS) that may be available

You will need to:   

Carefully read all of the information in this pack Review the Course Information Sheet (CIS) and the awarding body/qualification website referred to in the CIS. Be able to provide copies of English, maths or any other qualifications at the appropriate level described in the CIS if requested.

Please consider:      

your literacy and or numeracy ability as necessary for the course previous learning & qualifications. your commitment and enthusiasm for the subject any possible barriers to learning and additional support requirements you may have that you would like to advise us about the time involvement and level of study required the requirement for regular attendance at class and completion of all necessary assignments, course work, portfolios, assessments or exams.

If you feel, after reading this pack and the course information sheet, that the particular course is not suitable for you, we may be able to signpost you to other more suitable vocational skills, functional skills or non-accredited courses.

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About Us Skills&Learning Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole is the adult and community learning service offering accredited and non-accredited courses at various locations across the county of Dorset. Skills&Learning is subsidised by Government funding and by enrolling on the course, you are accepting that you must complete the course and submit all required work for the accreditation – if you do not complete all of the necessary assessments

you may be charged the full non-subsidised fee for the course and may not be able to enrol for the same course again in the future. General Introduction to the Subject: Please read the Course Information Sheet (CIS) for the qualification(s) you are interested in. You should also visit the awarding body website detailed in this CIS.

Learning at Level 3; Qualifications at Level 3 are pitched at a similar level to a “A” levels. Qualifications can be offered as Awards, Certificates or Diplomas at each available level – this describes the size of the qualification. All qualifications within a level will require the same depth of knowledge, understanding and skill development but the breadth of subject content will differ. An Award is the smallest size of qualification and therefore fewer learning hours. A Diploma is a large qualification and will require many hours of study to complete. Level 3 Certificates include broader content than an Award but are not as large as Diplomas. They can be achieved within half of an academic year and will require fortnightly attendance at a class and significant hours of home study. This is a big commitment for a part-time course and you must consider your lifestyle and how you will ensure you can dedicate the time required. Level 3 qualifications can sometimes be studied by those with no prior qualifications in the subject although you should have experience developed through work or volunteering and have previously studied at Level 2 or 3. These are not beginner qualifications. Some Level 3 Certificate and Diploma qualifications will allow you to be deemed as competent for a particular job role whereas others may the starting point for further study to eventually become a professional in the sector. The Level 3 courses offered by Skills&Learning are all vocational and are offered for learners who wish to develop skills for employment. They are not leisure or hobby courses and you must consider your suitability for formal study.

How Qualifications are Assessed: By enrolling on a course you are agreeing to take the necessary assessments to achieve the full qualification. Courses are assessed in a variety of ways and the Course Information Sheet will tell you how your preferred course is assessed. Some types of assessment are given below and will be explained further during a course induction. If you have a particular learning need which means you may require additional support when being assessed e.g. extra time in an exam, communication support for hearing or visual impairments, this will be arranged in advance of the assessment.

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Exams

Some courses have a final exam taken under exam conditions. The CIS will indicate if this applies to your chosen course. You will be notified of the dates and format of the exam once you have started on the course. Some practical courses have both theory exams and practical exams. Exam dates sit outside of the scheduled class dates, days & times so please do not book holidays until all this has been confirmed! Formal exams may be held at a centre that is in a different location to your regular classes and you will need to be prepared to make your own travel arrangements.

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Assignments

Some courses require you to complete assignments either in home study time or under controlled conditions in the classroom. These are often marked by your tutor according to a set of outcomes laid out by the awarding body. Some assignments may be sent off and marked externally.

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Portfolio of Work

Some courses, in particular art and craft based courses, require you to put together a portfolio that includes examples of your work throughout the course. This may include worksheets, projects, photographs, video footage, examples of ideas and experimentation as well as final pieces developed to a required specification. Your tutor will mark the work in your portfolios as you go through the course, an internal verifier will review the marking and a representative from the awarding body will visit the centre to sample a selection of portfolios before awarding the qualification. During your induction, the tutor will guide you on what is required to put together a portfolio and may be able to show you an example of a completed folio.

Additional Costs Involved and Where/how to Source Materials The CIS will give you an idea of the additional costs involved in the course. Please do not purchase any materials for courses prior to your induction as the tutor will guide you on what you may need. For some subjects, it is often possible to obtain some of the necessary materials without great expense – your tutor may be able to advise about good sources of cheap or free resources.

Home Study Requirements With all qualification courses there is a requirement to plan quality time outside of class time for home study and completion of assignments, case studies or projects. It is not possible to achieve qualification requirements without home study. Home study is a valuable way of learning to support your qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) There may be units of a qualification that you believe you have already studied as part of another qualification. If so, we may be able to request that the awarding body recognises your prior learning so that you do not study the same content again. You will need to provide original copies of your certificates for us to process an RPL request if you think this applies.

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Key Dates The CIS available on the website at www.skillsandlearningbdp.co.uk will show the planned dates of your chosen course. You should make sure that you are available to attend all of the sessions. If we need to make any alterations to the course dates, we will advise you. We traditionally break for the main school holidays although some courses may require attendance and you will be advised if this is the case. Some courses may require attendance twice a week and this will be shown on your CIS. Your tutor will advise you of the dates you need to submit work for assessment and extensions may be considered on an individual basis. We require all forms of assessment to be completed and submitted by the end of July (of the current academic year) at the very latest.

Attendance Requirements It is expected that you attend every scheduled session. We recognise that occasionally ill health or another emergency may prevent you attending a class and ask you to contact us to advise if you are unable to attend.

Your Role in your Learning Experience You will be expected to take an active role in your own learning by engaging in sessions and participating in class activities, completing homework, researching between classes and submitting any required assignment/portfolio work.

Career and Progression Opportunities Our qualification courses are designed to help you develop the skills you require in a particular subject for employment purposes or to allow you to progress to further study. If you are pursuing a particular career route, you should check that the qualification you are applying for is suitable to help you progress. We recommend that you check The National Careers Service website for further advice or book an appointment with one of their advisors. You can do this by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/nationalcareersservice or by phoning 0800 100 900. You can also book an appointment in our centre by phoning 01202 262300.

Additional Learning Support (ALS) You may have particular learning needs that require supporting during your course. Our Learner Access Officer will be able to advise on the type of support that is available and how it can be accessed. If you have a particular support need that we should be aware of in order for you to access your preferred course, please advise us on the application form.

English, Maths and ICT Skills The Course Information Sheet states the required English, maths and/or ICT skill level required for successful completion of the course. It is important that you meet the required standards before being accepted for enrolment on a course as we want to give all of our learners the very best opportunity to succeed. Even practical courses require English

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speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, and some non-maths courses require numerical ability in order to meet the necessary learning outcomes. Without those skills, you would find it more difficult to complete the required assignments, assessments and examinations. On the application form please indicate the highest level of English & maths qualification you hold. If you do not have maths and English qualifications at the required level, cannot find certificates or are uncertain about your current literacy and numeracy skills you may be able to come to one of our main centres to undertake a Skills Check or take a web based assessment at home. The Skills Check is an online tool that takes you through a series of questions and assesses your answers to give a general indication of your ability. If English is not your first language, we may need to see evidence of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) qualifications or equivalent. If you do not have the appropriate qualifications we will ask you to come in for a Skills Check to be sure that you have the necessary command of English to study at the level required for successful achievement. Your success on all of our courses will be better supported by using Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Digital Literacy skills are also important to employers. Our tutors will encourage you to develop your ICT skills throughout the course and may use PCs or mobile technology in their classes. If you do not have access to a PC, laptop or tablet with internet connection at home, you can access facilities at your local library.

Course Fees and Financial Support Please see the finance section for details about any financial assistance that may be available. Any queries regarding the cost of courses, eligibility for concessionary fees, financial support towards other costs e.g. materials, travelling and childcare or additional learning support will need to be referred to the Customer Service team on 01202 262300.

Refund Policy for 15/16 Please see details below of our refund policy. You really do need to be sure that the course is right for you and that you can commit to the time and work involved. CONDITIONS OF REFUNDS Under the distance selling regulations learners have the right to cancel their enrolment within seven working days for all enrolments made by phone, post, online or in person. To cancel the enrolment and receive a full refund you can email us at [email protected] or write to Skills&Learning, FREEPOST (SWB21126) Poole BH15 3BF within seven working days of receipt of payment confirmation. No refunds will be given if an enrolment is cancelled after the seven working day cooling off period. An appropriate proportion of fees may be refunded in the following circumstances: • •

A class is closed due to low attendance and/or where the number of learners does not justify continuation of the course. A learner is unable to continue for medical reasons. A medical certificate or letter from a doctor must be supplied within three weeks of the last class attended to support the request for a refund. A £15 administration fee will be charged.

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•

A full refund of fees, with no administration charge, will be made if a course is cancelled due to a service failure.

Please note: Examination fees are non-refundable. Learners should not turn up for the first session without enrolling. Please retain this information for reference purposes. Please be aware that by enrolling on a course, learners are accepting all of the Terms & Conditions. Please note: Places on some of our courses will be in high demand and if you have been offered a place but no longer require it, please advise us immediately as you may be preventing another learner from taking the place. Where learners do not attend the first session, without having given prior notice, Skills & Learning reserve the right to offer the place on the course to another learner and you will not be eligible to a refund if it is outside of the 7 day cooling off period (see ‘Conditions of Refunds’). All information is correct at time of printing June 2015.

Following Completion of your Application Pack

We will review your application pack and aim to give you a response within 10 days. You may be invited to complete an online skills check to be sure that you have the English, maths and ICT skills required for the course. Applications will be considered in order of receipt and places offered if all course requirements are met. If your chosen course is full at the time we receive your enrolment form you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted if a place becomes available. Where places on courses are low, it may not be possible to offer places immediately to everyone who applies and you may be placed on a priority queue. If this is the case, you will be advised and contacted again in the future if a place becomes available before the course starts or if we are able to set up an additional course to meet demand. If we need to verify information about previous qualification or literacy/numeracy skills, we may place you on a priority queue for the course.

ILM Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and  Management  The course aims to give aspiring and junior managers the foundation for their formal development in this role. The qualification does this by exploring some of the key topics identified as being pertinent to a junior management role and beginning to identify the skills needed in such a role. It also starts to prepare learners for the more rigorous demands of study at higher levels. This course leads to a 13 credit qualification and the following units are studied: 8600 300 8600 301 8600 323 8600 341

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Solving Problems and Making Decisions Understanding Innovation and Change in an Organisation Understanding Performance Management Leading & Motivating a Team Effectively

The skills and knowledge required for these core units will be developed through classroom based, tutor taught sessions and completion of assignments. There are then optional units to choose from which you will discuss with your line manager and tutor. Completion of the optional units will be primarily through tutor guided, self directed study with planned tutorials. Optional units include a range of topics which you allow you to develop the required knowledge and skills for your particular job role or organisation. Successful completion of the course and submission and passing of the required assignment leads to a Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management awarded by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) www.i-l-m.com Learners enrolling for this course will also gain 6 months free student membership of the ILM. All of the required units are assessed by a work based assignment. The assignments each have a guide of 1000-1200 words and must be submitted by the given deadline when it will be marked by tutor and then internally verified. There is also a visit by the ILM external verifier to approve before certification is generated. Assignment work is expected to be word processed. Learners must be prepared to take part in group activities, actively use the virtual learning environment, undertake significant amounts of home study, be prepared to talk about their experiences in a structured and appropriate way, present findings and pieces of work to other class members and get involved in group discussions and scenario based activities. Ground rules – learners will be expected to develop a set of group ground rules which all will adhere to which will ensure that taught sessions run well and everyone feels they are achieving what they want in a safe and secure environment e.g confidentiality, courtesy and respect for others, expectations of group activities and paired work, peer critique, agreement of deadlines and regular attendance. Taught sessions will include a variety of activities including tutor lecture and guidance, individual, pair and group activities, internet research, case studies and scenarios, projects, question & answer sessions, group discussions, analysis of data, presentation of key findings. As this is management course you will be expected to manage your own expectations and learning opportunities. Learners will need to have good literacy and maths skills (a minimum of Level 2) in order to be able to meet the demands of the course and will need to have sufficient communication skills to participate fully in the sessions. Learners will also benefit from having good ICT skills and should be able to: • Word Process assignments • Confidently use the internet to search for material • Use basic presentation software to produce reports • Use basic Excel or other spreadsheet tools to produce graphs and charts Learners are likely to come from a variety of backgrounds, in that they will have had different training and work experiences, differing ambitions and opportunities. The tutor therefore will encourage learners to select topics for assessment in their own organisation and/or area of work. The tutor will ensure learners are able to present their work as simply and clearly as possible. An approximate word count is given for each assessment. This should only be seen as a guide to help achieve a balanced piece of work.

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The pass mark for assignments is usually 50%. Elements of the assignments are weighted so learners must ensure they provide sufficient detail and analysis of each element of the assignment according to this weighting. For example, a section worth 4 marks should have 4 times more content as a section worth 1 mark (as a rough guide). At Level 3, learners are expected to produce work to the standard of an A level programme. As a guide, this means you should be able to describe, explain, analyse and apply concepts and data in a contextualised way and apply given tools/methods accurately and carefully to a well defined problem and begin to appreciate the complexity of the issues in the discipline. You will be expected to evaluate yourself, your work and your findings and be prepared to make the necessary changes or justify your rationale. It is expected that you can use your increasing knowledge to effectively action plan and find new ways of working. At this level you will be expected to be autonomous and carry out significant self directed study using a wide range of learning resources. You will be required to communicate effectively in a format appropriate to the discipline and report practical procedures in a clear and concise manner. You will be expected to maintain a journal or learning log throughout the course. In this you will record what you have learned, how you use that new knowledge (or how you would expect to use it), details of other reading and research e.g newspaper articles about management, journals, internet research, watching The Apprentice! This journal will demonstrate your ability to apply new concepts and tools to your everyday working life. It is expected that you have 100% attendance on the course. If you are unwell and unable to attend a session, you will need to ensure that you advise the tutor as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about this attendance requirement please discuss with us. You should also make sure that your line manager is fully aware of the attendance commitment and the schedule of classes so that you are not called away for other work activities. The support of your line manager and colleagues will be important and we encourage you to book time with your manager to review your progress on the course and identify any particular aspects of your work that would good to use as examples for your assignments. You should also make your manager aware of new skills you have developed and new awareness of subjects that can support your job role.

ILM Level 3 Certificate in Coaching &  Mentoring in the Workplace  This qualification is designed for junior managers seeking to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to coach and mentor people as part of their normal role. It’s also the ideal starting point for a career in coaching and mentoring. There are two mandatory units in this qualification which focus on understanding good practice in workplace coaching and mentoring. They introduce what coaches and mentors do, the processes they follow and the qualities and abilities individuals need to be effective in these roles. You will complete the qualification with two additional units. The

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first deals with reflecting on your own skills as a coach or mentor in the workplace. In second you will plan and carry out 36 hours of either coaching or mentoring, with supervision and support. You will need to arrange to have a staff member to coach or mentor to be able to achieve this qualification. You will:  Learn about coaching and mentoring as powerful development tools  Understand the role and responsibilities of an effective coach and mentor  Explore different coaching and/or mentoring models  Develop practical skills, tools and techniques to support these models  Put your new skills into practice – carry out supervised coaching and/or mentoring sessions  Analyse, assess and plan to improve your own coaching and/or mentoring ability. Successful completion of the course and submission and passing of the required assignment leads to a Level 3 Certificate in Coaching & Mentoring in the Workplace awarded by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) www.i-l-m.com Learners enrolling for this course will also gain 6 months free student membership of the ILM. All of the required units are assessed by a work based assignment. The assignments each have a guide of 1000-1200 words and must be submitted by the given deadline when it will be marked by tutor and then internally verified. There is also a visit by the ILM external verifier to approve before certification is generated. Assignment work is expected to be word processed. Learners must be prepared to take part in group activities, actively use the virtual learning environment, undertake significant amounts of home study, be prepared to talk about their experiences in a structured and appropriate way, present findings and pieces of work to other class members and get involved in group discussions and scenario based activities. Ground rules – learners will be expected to develop a set of group ground rules which all will adhere to which will ensure that taught sessions run well and everyone feels they are achieving what they want in a safe and secure environment e.g confidentiality, courtesy and respect for others, expectations of group activities and paired work, peer critique, agreement of deadlines and regular attendance. Taught sessions will include a variety of activities including tutor lecture and guidance, individual, pair and group activities, internet research, case studies and scenarios, projects, question & answer sessions, group discussions, analysis of data, presentation of key findings. As this is management course you will be expected to manage your own expectations and learning opportunities. Learners will need to have good literacy and maths skills (a minimum of Level 2) in order to be able to meet the demands of the course and will need to have sufficient communication skills to participate fully in the sessions. Learners will also benefit from having good ICT skills and should be able to: • Word Process assignments • Confidently use the internet to search for material • Use basic presentation software to produce reports • Use basic Excel or other spreadsheet tools to produce graphs and charts Learners are likely to come from a variety of backgrounds, in that they will have had different training and work experiences, differing ambitions and opportunities. The tutor therefore will encourage learners to select topics for assessment in their own organisation and/or area of

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work. The tutor will ensure learners are able to present their work as simply and clearly as possible. An approximate word count is given for each assessment. This should only be seen as a guide to help achieve a balanced piece of work. The pass mark for assignments is usually 50%. Elements of the assignments are weighted so learners must ensure they provide sufficient detail and analysis of each element of the assignment according to this weighting. For example, a section worth 4 marks should have 4 times more content as a section worth 1 mark (as a rough guide). At Level 3, learners are expected to produce work to the standard of an A level programme. As a guide, this means you should be able to describe, explain, analyse and apply concepts and data in a contextualised way and apply given tools/methods accurately and carefully to a well defined problem and begin to appreciate the complexity of the issues in the discipline. You will be expected to evaluate yourself, your work and your findings and be prepared to make the necessary changes or justify your rationale. It is expected that you can use your increasing knowledge to effectively action plan and find new ways of working. At this level you will be expected to be autonomous and carry out significant self directed study using a wide range of learning resources. You will be required to communicate effectively in a format appropriate to the discipline and report practical procedures in a clear and concise manner. You will be expected to maintain a journal or learning log throughout the course. In this you will record what you have learned, how you use that new knowledge (or how you would expect to use it), details of other reading and research e.g. newspaper articles about coaching, journals, internet research and work shadowing. This journal will demonstrate your ability to apply new concepts and tools to your everyday working life. It is expected that you have 100% attendance on the course. If you are unwell and unable to attend a session, you will need to ensure that you advise the tutor as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about this attendance requirement please discuss with us. You should also make sure that your line manager is fully aware of the attendance commitment and the schedule of classes so that you are not called away for other work activities. The support of your line manager and colleagues will be important and we encourage you to book time with your manager to review your progress on the course and identify any particular aspects of your work that would good to use as examples for your assignments. You should also make your manager aware of new skills you have developed and new awareness of subjects that can support your job role.

Will I be eligible for any financial assistance? Level 3 and 4 courses for those aged 19-23 at start of course Financial assistance towards course fees may be available depending on your personal circumstances. If you are receiving JSA, ESA (WRAG) or Universal Credit (mandated to undertake skills training), you will be eligible for a free course and *will be provided with any essential items necessary to complete your qualification whilst you are on the course. Please note – anything provided is on loan to you and must be returned at the end of the course. If it is not returned you will be invoiced for the full cost of a replacement. If you are unemployed, looking for work and are in receipt of any other state benefit, you may be eligible for a concession. Please refer to the Financial

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Information Pack at www.skillsandlearningbdp.co.uk or phone 01202 262300 for further information. Level 3 and 4 Certificates and Diplomas for those aged 24+ at start of course There are no subsidies or concessions available for this course. You will need to:  pay the course fee in full or by instalments: Please refer to the Financial Information Pack at www.skillsandlearningbdp.co.uk or phone 01202 262300 for further information OR apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan – visit www.slc.co.uk or phone 0845 3005090 for further information on loans and how to apply for them

Payment by instalments If you course fee is over £100, you may apply to pay by instalments. 50% of the total course fee must be paid before the agreement is valid. You will then pay 2 consecutive monthly instalments of 25% each. If you have any further queries, please phone 01202 262300.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: Why is there so much information and why do I have to complete an application form? I want to take this course and would just like to enrol. A:

Skills&Learning is publically funded by The Skills Funding Agency. Public money must be spent carefully and we are required to provide good value for money. One of the ways our service is judged for quality is by our learners achieving good success rates. This means that we expect every learner who starts on a course will complete the course and achieve the qualification – this is success! The information we have provided and our careful application process is designed to ensure that all learners know exactly what they are going to be required to do when they sign up for a course so they are more likely to stick with it and achieve the qualification. Q: I like the look of a course but don’t want to take a qualification in it- why can’t I just come along to classes to enjoy the subject? A: Although the Government recognises that it is good for adults to learn new skills for enjoyment, socialisation and to keep themselves active, in this current economic climate, they cannot fund places on qualifications taken for hobby or leisure pursuits. The course you are applying for leads to a qualification as it is important that we improve the skills of the nation to help people gain employment and improve skills in the workplace which will help grow the economy. The qualifications we offer are subsidised by Government funding because they have been developed to provide learning to address some of the skills gaps identified in particular sectors.

There are other non-accredited courses that are offered by Skills&Learning or other providers which do not lead to qualifications – please see our website or talk to one of our customer service advisers if you would like to study a particular subject without taking a qualification.

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Q: I’m an adult with a very busy life and have work and family commitments so I can’t always come to classes every week. Can I just come along when I’ve got time? A: It is vital that you have good attendance on your course as you will miss valuable information, tuition and skills development by not attending. The awarding bodies expect that you have received all of the required teaching to enable you to become qualified. You and your fellow learners will benefit from everyone attending regularly as it helps with group-work and activities and means the tutor can get on with the subject without having to spend time with individual learners getting them up to speed following absence. Our tutors are well qualified in their field and can offer a wealth of valuable knowledge and guidance and if you miss sessions, you may find you have important gaps in your knowledge which prevent you from succeeding. Q: I haven’t studied for a long time and am worried I’ll find it really difficult. What help will I get to develop my study skills? A:

Although there is not time within your course to offer dedicated sessions on individual study skills, your tutor will support you throughout your qualification and will provide you with guidance on the best way to structure your time and complete any necessary assignments. You will benefit from doing some internet research into effective study skills before you start your course. If you have particular learning needs e.g. dyslexia, you may be able to require additional support throughout your course. The types of support available can be found in more detail on our website and in the Learner Handbook. Q: The course I’d like to apply for is a Level 2 course but I see there’s also a Level 3 in the same subject– what do these levels mean? A:

Qualifications are given a level that indicates the depth of knowledge,

understanding and skills required in regard to the subject, including; 

theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding,

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cognitive skill such as critical thinking and analysis,

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IT, numeracy and communication skills

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autonomy and the ability to work with others

Qualifications range from Entry Levels through to Level 8. An Entry Level 3 or Level 1 qualification is usually at an introductory level and helps you develop basic knowledge and skills required for the subject. A Level 2 qualification as a guide is equivalent to a GCSE Level course and some vocational Level 2 qualifications are considered to be “Full Level 2” equivalent to having achieved 5 x GCSEs Grades A*-C. Level 3 vocational qualifications are pitched at a similar level to ‘A’ levels and Level 4 and above apply to Higher Education courses. For more information please see; https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean

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Q: A friend of mine previously studied on a Level 3 course and I’m sure they didn’t pay any courses fees. Why do I have to pay for course fees this year? A:

As you will see from the regular reporting in the media, the Government is having to ensure that any public money is spent wisely and offers to best longer term outcomes for the country and financial recovery. As a result, the funds available to support adult learning are now being focussed on helping adults achieve new skills up to Level 2, including functional skills in English & maths, to improve their employment opportunities. For higher level Further Education learning at Level 3 and above, Advanced Learning Loans have been introduced to help learners aged 24 and over pay for course fees. For more information on Advanced Learning Loans please visit: https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learning-loans Q: Lots of the qualification courses I’m looking at require English and maths qualifications and I don’t think I have any. What can I do? A:

If you think that your functional English and maths skills are strong enough to support you on your chosen qualification but don’t have any certificates to show you’ve studied these before, we may invite you to take a Skills Check which is an online assessment of your current skills level and the result of this assessment will help determine if you are able to go ahead and apply for your chosen course. If you do not feel confident in your current skills, we would still invite you to take a Skills Check and our adviser will help find a suitable course for you to help develop your English and/or maths skills to a level where you can achieve an up to date qualification that means you could consider enrolling on your chosen vocational course in the future. For most learners, these English & maths courses are FREE and are a great addition to your CV.

Q: I’d like to get qualified in my chosen subject in order to get a new job but how do I know if this is the right route for me? A:

The National Careers Service is a free service for all young people and adults

to help you identify your next career steps. There is loads of information on their website and you may qualify for a free appointment with one of their advisers. Visit the website https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx or phone on 0800 100 900. You can also book an appointment in our centre by phoning 01202 262300. Skills & Learning offer a range of courses available to help the development of skills for work. Our free drop-in Job Club and ICT Club sessions will help you to find and apply for local jobs. There are a variety of e-learning courses that can be started at any time of the year. See the website for more details. Up to date English and maths Functional Skills qualifications can help you progress at work or into further or higher education.

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Skills & Learning work with local employers to offer Traineeships and Apprenticeships to young people. Your tutor may also be able to discuss the possible next step options with you. You may like to talk with our Learning Adviser about other Skills & Learning courses. Alternatively, general careers advice and guidance can be provided by Ansbury. For further information please contact us on 01202 262300.

Having read all of the information in this pack, if you  would like to apply to be considered for a place on  your chosen course, please now complete the  Application Form and submit. 

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