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Natspec – The Association of National Specialist CollegesTransforming the curriculum:meeting the needs of learners in ISCs12 November 2008
Foundation Learning Tier:A guide to the Progression Pathways
Andrew LambeSenior Policy ManagerLSC National Office
The FoundationLearning Tier is…a programme of work to develop a more focussed and strategic approach to entry level and level 1 for learners aged 14 and over within the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in order to raise participation, achievement and progression amongst learners at these levels.
Within the Foundation Learning Tier, Progression Pathways will be the main organising structures. Progression Pathways set down the parameters for designing personalised learning programmes to support individual progression through the achievement of an appropriate combination of qualifications from entry level and level 1 of the QCF.
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Our Ambitions
To ensure Progression Pathways are the principal learning offer at entry level and level 1 for both young people and adults.
We expect that, over time, all learners working at entry level and level 1 will do so within the context of a Progression Pathway. This is part of the Government’s aspiration to move towards a more comprehensive but also more coherent qualification offer for both young people and adults.
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• Inclusive and coherent programmes which will engage learners
• Access to accreditation at every stage, at every step which will motivate and reward learners
• Clear stepping stone progression routes which will ‘propel’ learners
Our Objectives
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• Balancing scale, reach, manageability and affordability
• Balancing engagement with achievement and progression
• Balancing the needs and aspirations of young people and adults
• Recognising what is and is not appropriate for who, and where and what the public purse pays for
Our Reality
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Priority ProgressionPathways are…
those Progression Pathways identified for developmental delivery in 2008/09; providing progression to:
• a first full level 2• skilled work or an apprenticeship• supported employment or independent living• a Foundation (level 1) Diploma or GCSEs
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ProgressionPathways will also…incorporate three curriculum areas:
• Vocational knowledge skills and understanding• Functional skills• Personal and Social Development learning
be supported by a wrap-around of information, advice and guidance, effective initial assessment, comprehensive ongoing review, and provider collaboration.
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Progression Pathwayto full level 2…
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Requirements:
• A level 1 vocational award or certificate (vocational qualifications will include the potential for learners to achieve some level 2 units within their rules of combination)
• Four credits of personal and social development skills
• Functional Skills in ICT at least at entry level 2• Functional Skills in Maths at least at entry level 2• Functional Skills in English at least at entry level 3
Progression Pathwayto skilled work…
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Requirements:
• A single vocational certificate, or a combination of vocational awards which together amount to at least 13 credits (level 1 qualifications will include the potential for learners to achieve some level 2 units within their rules of combination)
• Four credits of personal and social development learning
• Functional Skills in ICT (5 credits)• Functional Skills in Maths (5 credits)• Functional Skills in English (5 credits)
to supported employmentor independent living…
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To supported employment, requirements:• One award-sized qualification of at least six credits• Four credits of personal and social development Functional
Skills in English • Functional Skills in Maths• Functional Skills in ICT
To independent living, requirements:• One award-sized qualification of at least six credits where the
focus is on personal and social development• Where relevant and appropriate, either Functional Skills
qualifications or the appropriate common entry level 1 units relating to reading, writing, numeracy or ICT
Progression Pathwayto Diploma or GCSEs…
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Requirements:
• one certificate-sized qualification at entry level 1, 2 or 3 (vocational and/or subject)
• four credits of personal and social development learning
• Functional Skills in English (5 credits)• Functional Skills in Maths (5 credits)• Functional Skills in ICT (5 credits)
The Prospectus forProgression Pathways…
The Prospectus supports the design, planning and delivery of Progression Pathways; it sets out eligibility requirements for qualifications that form part of Progression Pathways and explains expectations of delivery, achievement and progression of learners.
Alongside the Prospectus – as part of the suite of documents to support the development of the FLT and the implementation of Progression Pathways – the LSC and QCA have also published the LSC Provider Requirements; the QCA effective practice principles; and, the Progression Pathways Qualifications Catalogue.
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Direction of Travel
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Skills Funding Agency
Progression Pathway to:· a first full level 2· skilled work or an
Apprenticeship· supported employment
or independent living· appropriate provision
for learner aged 14-19, including a Foundation (level 1) Diploma or GCSEs
Young Peoples Learning Agency
Impl
emen
tatio
n an
d T
rans
ition
P
lan
ning
an
d C
omm
issi
onin
gF
und
ing
and
P
erfo
rman
ce
2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 and onwards
Developmental and small-scale delivery of Progression Pathways
Autumn 09 – Publication of Statement of
Priorities for 2010/11
Autumn 08 - Publication
Statement of Priorities for
2009/10
Funding is aligned with the flexible patterns of achievement
Increase scale and volume of delivery of Progression Pathways
Spring 09 – publication of Prospectus for
Progression Pathways for 2009/10 delivery
2010/11 Implementation of Progression Pathways complete
(dependent on range and sufficiency of QCF provision)Spring 10 – publication
of Prospectus for Progression Pathways
for 2010/11 delivery
Performance recognises incremental achievement and is aligned to Framework for
Excellence
Unit funding trials of QCF provision
Work undertaken to align performance to Progression Pathways
– Credit Success Rate pilots
Commissioning replaces existing
arrangements with Progression PathwaysCommissioning begins
reducing existing arrangements and
increases commissioning of
Progression Pathways
Implementation of a coherent
offer for young people (YP)
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Implementation of a coherent
offer for adults
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Implementation of a Coherent Offer for Adults
Entry
Lev
el an
d Le
vel 1
Pro
vision
De
liver
y Mec
hanis
ms
Progression Pathways (made up of Entry Level and Level 1 qualifications in the QCF)
Skills for Life
Adult Safeguarded Learning
Foundation Learning in
FE
Other Entry Level
Provision
First Steps in FE
Relevant non-
accredited provision
Skills AccountsIntegrated
Employment and Skills
Train to Gain
Current arrangements replaced by
Adult Advancement and Careers Service
Sector Skills Compacts
For further information please see the:
• The Foundation Learning Tier Section of the LSC’s Qualifications and Framework Reform site – http://qfr.lsc.gov.uk/flt/
• The Foundation Learning Tier pages on the QCA website – http://www.qca.org.uk/flt
• The QIA Excellence Gateway – http://excellence.qia.org.uk/flt
Further Information
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