Literacy Strategy – 2012

Issues identified during self-assessment:

Staff training needed to: raise awareness of scope of essential skills deficit introduce key documents such as Essential Skills Standards guide staff towards resources and diagnostic testing for self-improvement introduce a cross-curricular literacy strategy.

Action taken: 40 members of teaching staff have either already attended or booked to attend

training QCF unit ‘Essential Skills Awareness’ sourced to accredit training at Level 2 Enthusiastic participation of staff during training has led to improved practice and

increased awareness of learner need Future training on embedding essential skills planned for further staff development

Courses of more than five hours need screening to: identify students with particular essential skills needs target study skills in relation to course content target writing according to purpose and audience increase awareness of skills in proof-reading, spelling, punctuation and grammar support tutors in developing supportive strategies

Action taken: all candidates on Introduction to Childcare, Level 2 QCF, Level 3 QCF have been

screened new QCF units in Study Skills for Level 2 award sourced and SOW in development follow up skills workshops planned as pre-teaching for each new unit to encompass

skills outlined above individual learners signposted to RTL courses tutors will observe/shadow teach workshops to develop practitioner skills

Cross-curricular approach to developing essential skills required to: standardise marking of learner portfolios support all learners to improve essential skills reduce barriers to learning provide opportunities for non-subject specialists to sign-post learners towards

appropriate provision

Action taken:

marking code introduced for standardised marking procedure new strategies introduced to staff including language modelling; use of subject specific

glossaries for spelling and definitions; spelling tips and strategies and Dolch word list for high frequency word errors

staff training has raised awareness of barriers to learning and strategies for differentiation to support essential skills weaknesses

new documentation introduced for referral system via ACL Learner Support or Essential Skills Coordinator for class visit or 1:1 consultations

Improved support for learners with Additional Learning Needs, Physical Disabilities and Mental Illness to:

target classroom support appropriately identify learners in need of additional support provide information about legislation with regard to the issues outlined above signpost learners to specialised testing for Additional Learning Difficulties

Action taken: recruitment of staff in process to provide classroom support referral system explained to staff and action already taken by several members of staff

to signpost learners and request additional support google docs used to share ‘Access For All’ documents and a learner friendly resource

entitled ‘Equality Act 2010’ which explains the protected characteristics pre-assessment tool identified for screening for dyslexia prior to specialised

assessment via the College

Improved networking between curriculum areas; learning teams; outside agencies and the college to:

share procedures for standardised assessment develop an embedded approach share resources, strategies and ideas and ensure progression support learners who are difficult to reach

Action taken: links fostered with Learn Direct and research underway to implement online testing via

‘My Skills’ workshops planned with childcare team to share teaching resources and strategies as

well as joint writing of SOW for 2013 to embed essential skills google docs used to share resources and information between Childcare Team,

Essential Skills Team, Better Reading Team and Family Learning Team links fostered with Coastal, Genesis, MIND and Hafal Cymru to signpost learners to

appropriate provision as well as delivering classes within outreach centres to support disadvantaged learners

Need to utilise technology to full advantage to:

share good practice share teaching strategies share resources for learning create more efficient working practices, particularly in light of the number of staff

working across a wide geographical area: capitalise on investments made in technology such as iPads

Action taken: various documents relating to good practice in embedding learning; differentiation and

utilising technology shared via goggle docs tutors sharing strategies independently resources independently and granting

permission for colleagues to view their SOW and lesson plans all tutors now have a gmail account to enable them to communicate, share and edit

documents collaboratively regardless of geographical location– specific training has been provided with regard to this

research in hand to source and appraise iPad apps for supporting essential skills development, utilise cross-curricular approach and improve teaching and learning across the curriculum, tutors providing feedback on tried and tested apps

Need to contribute to the development of essential skills by: networking with other members of the Essential Skills sector promoting and sharing good practice amongst colleagues within the sector facilitating efficient dissemination of information concerning essential skills at all levels

of the organisation advising on government initiatives that relate to the sector

Action taken: vice chair of the Basic Skills Panel Wales to provide a voice for the organisation, our

learners and the sector as a whole good practice embraced during development of cross-curricular Literacy Strategy as

well as input into a recent consultation on screening and assessment tolls used within the Health Care Sector

minutes of BSPW meetings shared at management level and with colleagues teaching Essential Skills, relevant information disseminated to all tutors

feedback given on plans for All Wales Initial Assessment Tool as well as review of Essential Skills Qualifications currently under consultation