SUNDERLAND CITY COUNCIL is helping adult learning tutors to develop and increase their skills through a council supported training programme.
Sunderland City Council’s Family Adult and Learning Community Learning Team (FACL) provides a range of adult education and training at community venues and workplace settings across the city.
This includes helping existing tutors to develop their classroom skills and gain new qualifications, which allow them to teach and provide specialist vocational training for adults learning in the community, working towards both accredited and non-accredited courses, including NVQs and functional skills qualifications.
In one of his last official functions the outgoing Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Barry Curran, presented a Certificate in Education and Training (Level Four) to sixteen graduates of the course at Bunny Hill Customer Service Centre.
Sunderland City Council provided half the funding for the course, which was delivered by ‘Training in Care’ on FACL’s behalf with individual training programmes designed to fit around each learner’s domestic and employment circumstances.
The course was delivered over six months and included observations of teaching practice, written assignments and gathering a portfolio of classroom/vocational training and experience to help demonstrate personal and professional development throughout the course.
Commenting on the high standards achieved by each of learners receiving their certificates, awarding body NOCN (previously the National Open College Network) said: “The learners have been on a journey that has been difficult but rewarding.
“This well respected, professional qualification means they are now fully equipped to teach adult learners in their specialist vocational areas which include care, retail, IT and digital technology, craft based courses and employability.”
Presenting the certificates as Mayor, Cllr Barry Curran said: “The Council is proud to invest in the continuous professional development of people in our own and our partner’s workforce, and we are delighted at this latest successful investment in their skills. These tutors are an asset to FACL and we hope they will continue to deliver for us in years to come.
“Our Family Adult and Learning Community Learning Team were rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted last year and this continued investment in tutor training will help improve the service still further. Success rates for courses delivered by FACL’s tutors currently stand at 96% which reflects the excellent standards being enjoyed by learners.”
Adult learning provider, Mark Burns-Cassell of MBC Ceramics said: “I found the level four training to be an invaluable experience in enabling me to get the very most from my teaching practice. The course was informative, useful and relevant – tailored to our specific needs as adult and family education tutors.
“I feel much more confident in my abilities to teach and to inspire as a result of this training – and the financial support of the city council made this possible.”
LIFE co-ordinator and Training Manager at Washington MIND, Katy McKenna added: “Meeting with other like-minded tutors was both supportive and encouraging, as we all aimed to achieve this qualification in such a short time.
” This qualification has proved to be beneficial, not only for myself but also for the organisation in which I work.”
The partnership between Sunderland City Council’s Family Adult and Learning Community Learning Team (FACL) and ‘Training in Care’ is being strengthened later this year with the introduction of a new course.
‘Volunteering Pathways to Employment’ is a Level One qualification which includes the opportunity for adult learners to carry out some volunteering work as part of their studies and be given interview experience to help boost their employment prospects.
For further information please contact FACL on 561 2620.