Effective Practice in the delivery and coordination of adult learning difficulties and/or disabilities provision

[Background] [Audience] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions] 

Background

What is effective provision for adult learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and how can it be recognised? These are the questions that framed a NIACE project funded by the Skills Funding Agency. The project set out to identify the factors and conditions which facilitate effective practice, and to provide examples and case studies of effective practice. It focused on:

• the delivery of learning and skills
• the co-ordination of learning and skills with other services and local agencies.

The work of the Effective Practice project is being disseminated and taken forward at four regional events for providers in the adult learning and skills sector. The aims of the events are to:

• launch a series of briefing guides that distil the key points of the Effective Practice project findings and the lessons learnt

1. Management and Quality - [PDF]
2. Co-ordination of Services - [PDF]
3. Curriculum - [PDF]
4. Delivery - [PDF]
5. Information Communication Technology - [PDF]
6. Final Report - [PDF]

• disseminate the project findings and provide an overview of the work of the Effective Practice project
• introduce the new Learning and Skills Mental Health e-Support Project
• identify existing networks in the region that could be used for providers to share and discuss the development of effective practice.

The Effective Practice events will:

• provide an opportunity for delegates to hear from practitioners/providers involved in the Effective Practice project about their work and the methods used to capture details of their work
• find out about the e-participation opportunities of the new Mental Health in Further Education project, and to sign up to the project and canvass for sub-groups that could be established to support discussion fora with a focus on other groups of disabled learners
• learn about the work of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service(LSIS) Enhancement of Learning Support programme
• provide an update on latest developments in the Getting a Life programme that is working in 14 sites in England to look at what needs to happen across agencies to ensure that young people age 14–25 years with learning disabilities go into paid employment and lead full lives
• explore a range of ICT tools that can be used to promote accessible and inclusive learning opportunities for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and look at policies to promote e-safety
• highlight other relevant work in the region relating to effective practice for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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Audience

Commissioners of learning and skills provision and managers and practitioners working across the learning and skills sector from:the delivery:

• Adult and Community Education services
• Further Education Colleges
• Independent Specialist Providers for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities
• Work-based learning providers
• Information, Advice and Guidance services
• Local Authority staff with responsibility for supported employment or specialist employment services
• Voluntary sector learning and skills providers
• Partner organisations such as social services learning disability teams and PCT staff
• Local Authority personalisation teams.

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Programme

10:30 Arrival and registration (tea/coffee available)

10:50 Welcome and introduction to the day from the Chair

11:00 Keynote address Effective Practice in the delivery and coordination of adult learning difficulties and/or disabilities provision; an overview of the project and its findings - [PDF]
Viv Berkeley, Programme Development Manager, LSIS

11:20 Keynote address Introducing the ‘Learning and skills mental health e-support project - [PDF]
Catina Barrett, Project Manager, NIACE

11:40 Questions to speakers

11:50 Tea/coffee break and networking activity An opportunity to find out about existing networks in the region and the potential for new networks

12:20 Workshops – morning session (please indicate your choices on the application form)

• Workshop 1 - Using audio in accessible teaching and learning - [PDF]
  Using audio in teaching and learning can be quicker, easier and more fun than traditional approaches and can cost next to nothing. In this workshop JISC TechDis will explore using audio creatively within Word, PowerPoint, mobile devices, Xerte, text to speech etc. We will also look at “bits of kit” that can transform independence.
• Workshop 2 - Enhancing Learning Support in ACL - [PDF]
  This LSIS-commissioned project led by Natspec, the Association of National Specialist Colleges, and AoC has delivered a national programme of activities to improve the quality and management of learning support for learners with additional needs across the learning and skills sector. Many of the emerging messages from learners and practitioners and the resources that have been developed, will apply to those working with adult learners; the workshop will offer the opportunity to consider these messages, adapt them where necessary for an ACL context and inform the final recommendations of the project.
• Workshop 3 - The Mental Health in Further Education e-project
  A more detailed look at the new Mental Health in Further Education e-project. Looking at the e-participation opportunities the project offers (Twitter,YouTube, online forums and webinars), including an activity in which participants will develop, generate and upload content. This workshop might be of particular interest to providers who are interested in developing work around more complex needs e.g. people with both learning difficulties and mental health difficulties.

13:20 Sandwich lunch

14:20 Involvement in the Effective Practice project – a Provider’s story

14:35 Workshops – afternoon session (please indicate your choices on the application form)

• Workshop 4 - The Mental Health in Further Education e-project - [PDF]
  A more detailed look at the new Mental Health in Further Education e-project. Looking at the e-participation opportunities the project offers (Twitter,YouTube, online forums and webinars), including an activity in which participants will develop, generate and upload content.This workshop might be of particular interest to providers who are interested in developing work around more complex needs e.g. people with both learning difficulties and mental health difficulties.
• Workshop 5 – Getting a Life Programme - [PDF]
  The latest news from the Getting a Life (GAL) programme that will introduce the four transition pathways developed by the programme, and look at the ten top messages about what works and what needs to change so that young people with learning disabilities can leave school or college and get jobs and full lives. There will also be an opportunity to hear about how the GAL programme is working at a site in the region.
  Transitions - [PDF]
• Workshop 6 - Communicating your e-safety policies: Creating inclusive and interactive e-safety guidance - [PDF]
  Most organisations have e-safety guidelines for learners but do your learners read them or understand them? This workshop will look at creative ways of making creating inclusive and interactive e-safety guidance and demonstrate good practice examples from Specialist Colleges.

15:35 Plenary Feedback from workshops and questions

16:00 Close of conference (tea/coffee available) 

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Event Information

• Arrival and registration is at 10:30am for a 10:45am start. The event will end at 4:00pm
• Event fee per person (includes sandwich lunch, tea/coffee): £35
  NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on event fees
• Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed application forms.
• Video cameras may be in use at this event. If you do not wish to be photographed or appear on the video outputs please indicate this on the application form and make yourself known at registration
• Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions
• If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact:

  NIACE Events Team
  Tel: 0116 204 2833
  Fax: 0116 285 9670
  E-mail: events@niace.org.uk

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Application Conditions

Event: Monday 28 February 2011, London
Event: Wednesday 2 March 2011, Guildford
Event: Monday 7 March 2011, Birmingham
Event: Thursday 10 March 2011, Manchester
Closing Date: Thursday 17 February 2011

• Cancellations are non-refundable
• The full fee is payable prior to the event
• Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event
• A 10 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille
• Places can be reserved online via: www niace.org.uk/events Alternatively completed and signed application forms can be faxed or posted to NIACE by the closing date. Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted
• Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail. Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be e-mailed out one week before the event
• NIACE reserves the right to reject applicants who are not from the target audience list.

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