Workforce Development: Supporting Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in the FE sector.

• To support the professional values and standards outlined by LLUK in the 'New overarching standards for teachers, tutors and trainers in the lifelong learning sector.'
• To support and enhance existing Intial Teacher Training programmes and enhance Continuous Professional Development opportunities.
• To support and build the capacity of the FE sector workforce to meet the need so learners with mental health difficulties.
• To raise awareness and increase understanding of the wider learning needs of those who experience mental health difficulties.
• To provide information, activities, strategies and resources to support teachers in FE to effectively meet the needs of these learners.

The Regional Project Officer for Yorkshire & Humber (YH) will lead on writing and collation of resource with support from other team members, and in consultation with other key partners such as LSC, HUDCETT, members of the YH regional network etc.

NIACE publications team will support with design and production of final resource.

Resource is primarily aimed at Teacher Educators delivering Initial Teacher Training programmes (ITT) and those offering Continuous Professional Development and staff development opportunities for those teaching in the FE sector.

The work is in progress now. We aim to have the resource published by late February 2010, ready for dissemination throughout March 2010, and beyond.

There is potential for the development of training based on this resource.

Health Matters for FE Teachers Toolkit

The project will impact upon the experience of learners who have mental health difficulties, the provision of positive, supportive and inclusive learning environments for these learners and the professionalisation of the FE workforce by supporting the development of knowledge, understanding and skills of teachers in the sector and by providing a resource to contribute to the initial training of new teachers and the continuous professional development of experienced teachers.

By supporting the FE workforce in this way, the project aims to build the capacity of the FE sector to effectively meet the needs of learners who experience mental health difficulties.

Tricia Clark
Regional Projcet Officer: Mental Health and Learning, Yorkshire and The Humber
tricia.clark@niace.org.uk 
+44 (0) 7825 382272
NIACE
21 De Montfort Street
Leicester
LE1 7GE