It is aimed at the post 16 age group predominantly for people who need to develop their skills or lack basic skills such as Numeracy, Literacy or have English as a second language however is not confined to these topics. Life long learning includes any learning that is received post 16. it is available for men and women from 16 to 90 and can be any thing from a certificate in first aid , NVQ or a degree.
PCET has generally been seen as the “poor relation” with funding being concentrated in the traditional learning environments such as schools, colleges and universities for young people. Other valuable activities such as creative and skill development for the work force have been undervalued and underappreciated
Life long learning is funded via the Learning Skills Council with £11.4 billion being put into the sector in 2009/10, In 2010 this was replaced by the YPLA and the Skills Funding Agency which now includes an audit of the standards via OFSTED (Office for standards in Education) and awarding bodies such as: AQA, NONC, City and Guilds, OCR, EDEXCEL, NCFE.
Stakeholders are any organisation or person who has an interest e.g. Skills funding Agency, Department for Education, BIS – Department for Business Innovation and skills, YPLA - Young People’s Learning Agency, in addition to tutors learners and places of learning
The Milestone Reports are considered to be
Prof John Tomlinson 1996 -Inclusive Learning: The report on Learning Difficulties and/or Disability
Helena Kennedy 1997 – Learning Works on Widening Participation – not just about ‘leisure and pleasure’ for the middle classes or ‘day release’ for workers
Sir Claus Moser 1999 – A Fresh Start which reviewed the state of adult literacy and numeracy and how to address the problem. Which also looked at the needs for standards in the teaching of basic skills.
Mike Tomlinson 2004 – 14-19 Curriculum and Qualifications Reform 50 years of A Level and nothing new. Considered the need for more contemporary qualifications more appropriate to the workforce.
Within my role with at Sefton@Work I act as Adviser/Counsellor, Facilitator, Assessor, Motivator, Presenter, Mentor for people looking for employment within Sefton. My specific remit is working with people whose first language is not English though I am not limited to this and also work with people who are British.
I often find that I have to offer individual support as each client has unique needs. However, I do presentations on legal necessities for newcomers to employment or this country to enable them to perform their employment safely and efficiently.
I currently have responsibility to
* carry out initial interviews with the clients to assess their basic requirements for employment. Preparing an action plan for their future development * carry out initial assessment with regards their literacy and numeracy skills referring them to the appropriate learning institution if required. If necessary helping with college registration. * have a duty of care to ensure that my information and support is always up to date and current for my clients e.g. benefits and