ESOL for Life and Employment

Meeting the expectations of the Skills Funding Agency and JobCentre Plus (JCP)

A NIACE good practice seminar. 

Date: 16 Oct 2012
Venue: London:
Lambeth College, Brixton Centre, 56 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1QS
Ref: C3126/1012
Fee:

£ 125 - Full Fee
£ 110 - NIACE Members' Fee
(includes tea/coffee and sandwich lunch) 
Contact: NIACE Events Team (events@niace.org.uk) Tel: 0116 204 2833
Apply: Apply Online is now closed for this event

 

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

Background

Job seekers who Jobcentre Plus advisors consider to be in need of English language development are referred to Agency-funded providers for locally-designed periods of employability training. Those referred include recent arrivals into the UK as well as long-term settled claimants.

ESOL providers have to respond to two apparently contradictory messages on how to measure and evaluate the quality of their provision.  The tension is between existing measures of success based on exam outcomes and a more recent emphasis on employability and assisting learners, particularly those referred by JCP, into employment. 

How do we square this circle?  This workshop will explore this tension and hear from ESOL providers who believe they've found a way forward.

NIACE has invited a representative from BIS and DWP to participate in this good practice seminar.

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Aims

Participants will increase their knowledge and understanding of Skills Funding Agency and JCP expectations, explore the tensions that may exist and hear examples of good practice.

The objectives are:

  • to examine the current regulations pertaining to funding, learner eligibility and learner attendance;
  • to critically examine the tension between the expectations of the Skills Funding Agency and JCP;
  • to share insights and learn from good practice. 

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Audience

  • All ESOL providers
  • ESOL curriculum managers
  • ESOL teachers 

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Programme

Provisional Programme

09:30

Arrival, registration and networking (tea/coffee available)

10:00

Welcome and introduction to the day from the Chair
Chris Taylor, NIACE Programme Manager and Lead Officer for ESOL

10:15

Keynote 1
The Skills Funding Agency and JobCentre Plus Regulations:
- A briefing
Dr. Robert Gray, NIACE Senior Project Officer and Lead Officer for Employability
[Rob-Gray]
Followed by Q&A

11:00

The tensions and the impact on ESOL learners, practitioners and providers:
- Discussion groups

12:15

First example from a Provider
Jan Bovill, Head of Faculty, City of Bristol College
[Jan-Bovill.pdf]

12:55

Sandwich lunch

13:35

13:50

Second example from a Provider
Sara McCann, Director of Curriculum, Lambeth College
[Sara-McCann.pdf]

Questions to both ESOL providers and discussion
[Discussion groups and DWP QA]

14:15

The DWP Perspective:
- An overview of issues
Kathy Prior, Head of Skills Partnerships, Department for Work and Pensions

14:35

14:55

Feedback to:
Catherine Paulson-Ellis, Assistant Director, Pre-Employment and Skills Unit, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Kathy Prior, Head of Skills Partnerships, DWP

Closing Comments
Chris Taylor, NIACE Programme Manager and Lead Officer for ESOL

15:00

Close of seminar and networking (tea/coffee available)

15:30

Depart

 

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 Event Information

  • Arrival and registration are at 9:30am for a 10:00am start. The event will end at 3:45pm
  • Event fee per person: £125; NIACE Members' Fee: £110 (includes sandwich lunch, tea/coffee)
  • NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference or course fees
  • Only online application forms with the payments section completed will be processed.
  • NB: If you wish us to invoice your employer we require a copy of the Purchase Order before the form is processed
  • Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed online application forms (one online application form per person)
  • 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: events@niace.org.uk

 

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Application Conditions

  • Event date: Tuesday 16 October 2012
  • Closing date: Thursday 4 October 2012
  • 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 15 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille
  • Places are to be reserved online - scroll up and click on Apply Now
  • 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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