Promoting Equality and Diversity

[Background]  [Benefits of Attending] [About the Workshops] [Who Should Attend] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions] [Workshop Facilitators] [Booking Information] [Application Form]

Background

All deliverers of learning and skills support and guidance, including adult, community and workbased learning providers, must promote equality and diversity and the wider community cohesion agenda among learners and staff.

The Government has announced a new Equality Bill, which will introduce a Single Equality Duty for the public sector and organisations in receipt of public monies in 2010. This new Duty will replace the current race, disability and gender duties, and also cover gender reassignment, age, sexual orientation and religion and belief. The new legislation is more prescriptive in terms of applying to a wider scope of learning and skills providers. It also places emphasis on deprivation, class and the promotion of cohesive communities.

Since September 2009 Ofsted's Common Inspection Framework (CIF) have made equality and diversity a limiting grade; in fact, in its audit guidance they assess ‘How effectively does the provider actively promote equality and diversity, tackle discrimination and narrow the achievement gap?' An area or question of concern for some WBL and ACL providers and for which they may need further information, support and guidance. Through the workshop and networking with other peers, we will offer providers an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the CIF requirements and expectations.

Top of Page

_______________________________

Benefits of Attending

• Improved understanding of legal requirements on equality and diversity for learning and skills providers
• Managed financial, legal and reputational risks
• Improved understanding of the relevance of equality and diversity for Ofsted inspection grades
• Exchange of best practice and networking for learning and skills providers
• Contribute to enriching the provision you make for all your learners
• Improving support provided to staff and learners
• Discussing how support from LSIS can be used to improve learning and skill provision in your organisation.

Top of Page

_______________________________

About the Workshop

The Learning and Skills Improvement Services (LSIS), working in partnership with Leicester Adult Education College, is hosting a half day workshop on ‘Promoting Equality, Diversity and Community Cohesion' in Adult Community Learning (ACL) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) provisions on 25th of March 2010, at the Leicester Adult Education College.

The workshop features a mix of interactive plenary and break-out sessions to identify and assess the equality and diversity needs of adult, community and work-based learning providers. It will highlight some of the main issues providers need to take into account in ensuring compliance and promoting this agenda. It will also review and share achievements and bring together a variety of experts for a peer-to-peer exchange covering:

• Equality and diversity in learning and skills delivery
• Working with the community and wider stakeholders.

Top of Page

_______________________________

Who should attend?

• Managers and Senior managers from ACL and WBL provisions
• Teaching staff and tutors
• Equality and Diversity leads
• Appropriate staff who lead on inspection activities
• Student/ learner representatives.

Top of Page

_______________________________

Programme

09:45 Arrival and registration (tea/coffee available)

10:00 Welcome and introductions

10:15 Tools and Strategies to support E&D

10:45 New Equality Bill Update

11:00 Tea/coffee break

Equality and diversity in practice - break-out groups
- sharing current approaches and issues

12:30 Lunch and networking

13:30 Break-out groups

14:30 Feedback from break-out sessions

15:00 Next steps and Close

Top of Page

_______________________________

Workshop Facilitators

The workshop will be led by LSIS Leads: Dr Kemal Ahson and Dr Carlis Douglas, with additional input from Leicester City Council staff.

Top of Page

_______________________________

Booking Information

The workshop is free to attend for ACL and WBL providers in the East Midlands region. We welcome as many people as possible from organisations, but places are limited so we may have to restrict numbers to one representative per organisation if the event is popular.

Top of Page

_______________________________

Event Information

Arrival and registration is at 9:45am for a 10:00am start. The event will end at 3:00pm

• Attendance is free to ACL and WBL delegates from the East Midlands region and is restricted to the target audience (includes tea and coffee)
• Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed application forms (one form per person) and one representative per organisation if the event is popular
• 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:

Gurjit Kaur
Tel: 0116 204 2833
Fax: 0116 254 8368
Minicom: 0116 255 6049
E-mail: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk

Top of Page

_______________________________

Application Conditions

Event: Thursday 25 March 2010
Closing Date: Thursday 11 March 2010

• 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
• Completed and signed application forms must 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.

Top of Page

_______________________________

Application Form

(For people not using the online reservation system above)