Data Issues

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• Foundation Learning Programmes – Extending (8 posts)

• Tony Braithwaite said 1 year, 8 months ago:

  I know there appears to be a desparate lack of guidance surrounding the recording of Foundation Learning in the ILR, but I understand that all the learning aims that make up the programme have to go under a single programme aim ZPROG001. This aim will have a start and a planned end date, set at the start of a programme. So, if a learner is making good progress towards completion of the initial programme for example they were assessed and given IAG to complete a Certificate qualificiation over 1 year. Half way through that year it becomes obvious that they could achieve a Diploma but would need a further year to complete this. How would the planned end date for the overall programme be amended given that we are not supposed to change planned end dates once the first ILR containing the aim has been submitted?

  As far as I can see there is no effective way to do this, yet the whole purpose of Foundation Learning was to provide a completely flexible and individualised programme whihc could be adapted as the learner progressed. Has any thought really been given to how Foundation Learning is going to be reported?

  Another reason for potentially extending a FL programme is where a learner exhibits a marked change in behaviour which effectivley puts them back a level and their programme has to be dramatically altered to cope with the changed circumstances. I am assured by our Foundation Learning manager that this a a very common occurrence, particularly with learners who have significant learning difficulties.

  Any help and advice from anyone will be greatfully received.

  Will ther be a prize for the most complex Foundation Learning Programme? My current estimate would be that a learner could start off with at least 7 aims. (Programme Aim, Vocational Aim, 3 Functional Skills and at least 2 Personal & Social Development aims at Entry 3 or above).

• steveh said 1 year, 8 months ago:

  Couldn't you just achieve them on the Cert at the end of year 1 then reenrol them for the Dip in year 2 and A51a them?

  Then again, there has been hmming and haring about moving people UP and how that might be alright, but, once again, no firm guidance on what is an issue for vast numbers of providers.

  From the NO EXCUSE NO CHANGES guidance we've had in a number of other cases I'd suggest your second learner would be a fail, regardless of any special pleading…

• Tony Braithwaite said 1 year, 8 months ago:

  If only it were that simple. Foundation Learning is a much more complex beast and is supposed to be about flexible and individualised learning that should lead to encouraging the learner to be successful. I just do not think that the current funding and success rate methodology allows for this flexibility, which is probably why those who have been involved in the set up of Foundation Learning have shied away from the real detail of funding and data recording. The examples in the funding guidance are so basic that they are of no use at all.

  Perhaps this might all go away soon and we'll all wake up to a wonderful new dawn from this terrible nightmare!

• steveh said 1 year, 8 months ago:

  I for one welcome our new Bristol-based overlords

  http://tinyurl.com/3afl64d

• Anita said 1 year, 8 months ago:

  All

  We have now published guidance on recording Foundation Learning in the ILR which is available on our website at http://www.theia.org.uk/downloads/ilrdocuments/201011_guidance.htm.

  We will also be updating the ILR Specification for 2010/11 to include this guidance in Version 3 due to be published soon.

  Regards

  Anita

• Joe Fojut said 1 year, 8 months ago:

  Is this FL ILR document subtly giving us some answers that simply haven't been answered before?
  For example, many have queried if a FL learner has to do all components i.e. 3 Functional Skills – I may have been asleep, but I have seen little official guidance on this. But the following line is in the document:
  "…learning aims for all of the component qualifications being undertaken must be recorded. This is the case even if the learner is not completing all three strands of FL."
  I take this to mean that learners DON'T have to do all 3 Functional Skills if it is not in their best interests.

  Also, the question of whether an aim HAS to be on the Foundation Learning Catalogue to be used in Foundation Learning is around, however……
  "If a learner is doing one or more qualifications that are in the Foundation Learning catalogue, but is not following a Foundation Learning programme put together in accordance with the specification, then they must not record a programme aim."
  Does this imply that aims MUST be on the catalogue? It also suggests all learners DON'T have to do Foundation Learning (if doing Entry/Level 1). This certainly has been the inference from conversations I and colleagues have had with various bodies.

• tjc1 said 1 year, 7 months ago:

  Has anyone actually seen, in writing, any clarification regarding Functional Skills for Foundation Programmes ?

  The guidance states that LLDD learners may do basic skills as an alternative, but I can't find written confirmation if those doing functional skills HAVE to do all three. I always thought they did but I am hoping they don't.

  Thanks

• tjc1 said 1 year, 7 months ago:

  Yes – I know I am replying to myself but I was beginning to think the guidance on 3 functional skills was all a dream. Anyway, I have found this :

  Paragraph 13 of Foundation Learning Tier: 14-19 Delivery Guidance for 2009/10 (QCDA/LSC August 2009)

  "Functional Skills qualifications (in English, maths and ICT) are award
  sized qualifications of 5 credits each. All 14 to 19 year-old learners will
  undertake all three Functional Skills except for a minority of learners with
  special education needs or learning difficulties and/or disabilities working
  at the lower end of entry level 1 for whom alternative provision (see
  paragraph 15) may be more appropriate. The Functional Skills
  component of Foundation Learning is therefore 15 credits (three
  qualifications of five credits each) except in those specific
  circumstances."

  Has the requirements been changed since ?????