Learning Coaches
Monmouthshire develops a pyramid strategy for meeting individual coaching needs
15th Oct 2008
Learning Coach plays an important role for young people with special needs
14th Oct 2008
The challenges faced by young people with special needs differ substantially from those in mainstream schools. A Learning Coach in this setting is unlikely to be dealing with problems such as absenteeism or young people dropping out of education. Instead, issues such as housing, health, benefits, socialisation and work all need to be carefully considered, planned for and supported.
Learning Coaches play an important role in Skill Build programme
2nd Aug 2008
Access to a Learning Coach is an essential part of the Skill Build programme run by North Wales Training across North Wales. All learners entering the programme are allocated a Learning Coach who they can turn to for confidential support on matters that may be affecting their learning.
R/APEL to be phased out in 2008
16th Jun 2008
R/APEL (Recognition and Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning) through the preparation of folders of evidence will no longer be supported for accreditation after the deadlines for the 2007-08 academic year.
Final deadlines for Coaching for Learning and Study Strategies 2007/08
6th Jun 2008
The University of Glamorgan is now able to confirm a final hand in date for all students who attended Modules 2 (Coaching for Learning) or 3 (Study Strategies) before 31 March 2008.
Training devolves to the 14-19 networks
3rd Apr 2008
Following the success of the pilot learning coach training, there are now more than 500 learning coaches in Wales who have completed between two and five of the five core modules. From 1 May 2008 there will be 40 trainers, based mainly with the 14-19 networks, who will be able to deliver all five core modules.
Accreditation
2nd Apr 2008
If you have attended the Learning Coaches accredited programme and wish to have your work assessed, please note the following deadlines:
Train the trainer
2nd Apr 2008
First Campus was successful in winning the tender to deliver training to a maximum of 44 putative trainers across Wales. The 14-19 networks submitted a range of applicants to First Campus, and following rigorous selection procedures, all applicants were successful in securing their place on the training.
Learning coach training January–March 2008
31st Jan 2008
Kevern Kerswell, Learning Coaches National Training Coordinator
Following the success of last year’s Learning Coaches training pilot, the Welsh Assembly Government has asked us to commence training for a new cohort of learning coaches.
The programme will be delivered between now and 31 March, with over 280 coaches set to benefit, from networks throughout Wales.
Course handbook now available
25th Jan 2008
Editorial: January 2008
25th Jan 2008
Dear colleagues
I am pleased to report that Welsh Assembly Government has released funds to the 22 14-19 networks across Wales to train additional learning coaches. During the period January to the end of March, networks will be able to contract with First Campus to train up to 10 learning coaches per network. Because of the very tight timescales, only two modules will be offered. We at First Campus are currently making arrangements with the networks to ascertain the preferred modules and method of delivery. Please watch the website for further details, and contact Kevern Kerswell in the first instance if you have any queries.
Alyson Acreman, Learning Coaches Manager
Train the trainer
25th Jan 2008
Welsh Assembly Government have just closed their books to submissions to tender for a three month contract to train the trainer. This contract is due to start later this month and complete towards the end of April 2008.
Farewell to Jacquie Turnbull
24th Jan 2008
It is with great sadness that we say farewell to Jacquie Turnbull from the Learning Coaches pilot. Jacquie was involved in the Learning Coaches pilot from the outset and has provided invaluable advice and guidance to many members of the team.
Awards event is a great success
29th Nov 2007
Alyson Acreman, Learning Coaches Manager
The Learning Coaches Awards event held on 21 November was a huge success, with learning coaches and their guests attending from all areas of Wales. Learning coaches were presented with their certificates of accreditation and recognition and star guest Sally Gunnell gave a truly inspirational speech.
Celebrate your success at the Awards and Evaluation event
4th Oct 2007
The Awards and Evaluation event is on 21 November at the Pavilion in Llandrindod Wells. You will be able to receive your certificates and transcripts, engage with other learning coaches from different regions, participate in evaluation activities and hear from our guest speaker, Sally Gunnell.
Come and join us in the café!
4th Oct 2007
If you want to keep in touch with the learning coach community, whether you’re still on the course or you’ve finished it, the forums in the Members part of the site are a great place to do it.
We’ve just introduced a new forum: the café.
Editorial: December 2007
1st Oct 2007
Dear colleagues,
As this pilot phase of the Learning Coaches Accredited Programme draws to a close, I would like to thank all of you who have taken part, as well as our First Campus partners and our colleagues who have helped to deliver all 132 courses across Wales.
I personally have had a fantastic secondment to the University of Glamorgan from Careers Wales Mid Glam and Powys, and I sincerely hope that we all have the opportunity to work together again in the future.
With the conclusion of the pilot phase on 31 December 2007, the Welsh Assembly Government is currently working on plans for a comprehensive roll-out of the programme next year. We hope to bring you more information about this on our website – watch this space.
In the meantime, all of the team wishes you a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.
How has learning coaching helped the young people you work with?
28th Sep 2007
Do you have evidence of how learning coaching has helped the young people you work with? As part of the evaluation of the course we’re looking for examples of improvement such as improvement in GCSE/A level results or vocational qualifications. If you have any examples like this we’d really like to hear of them.
Form tutors needed
28th Sep 2007
We’re looking for form tutors who would interested in participating in a short workshop to look at the similarities and differences between form tutors and learning coaches.
Autumn 2007 ‘catch-up’ courses: dates and venues
10th Sep 2007
A limited number of training days are being run during the autumn term for those who have not yet attended all the modules. The venues have been chosen to reflect the number of continuing students in each area.
Important date for your diary
10th Sep 2007
Keep Wednesday 21 November free – that’s the date of the celebratory event for all those who have completed the course. It will take place during the day at the Pavilion in Llandrindod Wells. Details will follow soon.
Summer School 2007 is a success
10th Sep 2007
Learning coaches from all areas of Wales attended Summer School at the University of Glamorgan in July and August.
Keep in touch with other learning coaches
10th Sep 2007
Whether you’ve finished the course or you still have modules to complete, if would like to keep in touch with fellow learning coaches across Wales, why not register to access the Members section of the website? Find it by clicking on ‘Login’ at the top right of the screen.
Editorial from September 2007 newsletter
1st Sep 2007
I hope you have all had an enjoyable summer break despite the weather!
This term we will be running some additional courses and are continuing with our evaluation of the programme. Kevern will be contacting the 14–19 network representatives in North Wales to ask their opinions and I will be getting in touch with those in the south. We are also interested in hearing from anyone else who has any comments about the course.
Alyson Acreman, Learning Coaches Manager
Discussion forums and module readers now online
11th Jul 2007
The Members part of the Learning Coaches website is now live. It contains the five module readers in PDF format and the Learning Coaches forums, where you can chat to other learning coaches across Wales.
The Mentoring Process accreditation
11th Jul 2007
A total of 90 learning coaches successfully passed through Cardiff University’s Exam Board last month, 51 from North and Mid Wales and 39 from South and West Wales. Well done the first 90! We’ll keep you informed of future successes.
Welcome to Natalie!
11th Jul 2007
Natalie Hughes has taken up the post of Learning Coaches Administrator.
Editorial from July 2007 newsletter
10th Jul 2007
All five modules in South-East, West, Mid and North Wales were completed on schedule on 29 June 2007. I am now looking forward to Summer School, which commences on 23 July. Places are available for anyone who needs to pick up missed days. Full details are available on the website on June’s news page.
Have a really enjoyable summer, and see you in September, although all the team members will be available throughout the holiday period.
Catch up on missed modules or training days at Summer School
12th Jun 2007
Summer School 2007 has now finished.
Meet learning coaches from other areas online
12th Jun 2007
The new forums on the Learning Coaches website (available later this month) are the ideal place to network with learning coaches from all over Wales.
Editorial from June 2007 newsletter
1st Jun 2007
The members-only part of the website will go live later this month. If you would like to download any of the module readers in PDF format or access the forums, return the form you were sent requesting your personal email address as soon as possible.
We are also still on the lookout for ideas for one or more celebratory events to mark your success - if you have any suggestions, let us know!
Alyson Acreman, Learning Coaches Manager
Course handbook available
9th May 2007
The 2006-2007 course handbook is available to download from http://www.learningcoaches.net.
Booking form now online
9th May 2007
You can now reserve a place on a training day or workshop by completing the booking form. All the module training days and workshops can be seen on the Events pages. These also contain the venues’ contact details.
Goodbye and good luck to Nesta!
9th May 2007
We’re very sad to be losing Nesta Darch as Learning Coaches Administrator on 18 May. Nesta has been a wonderful asset to the team and we’ll miss her very much.
Learning Coaches conference to be held in June
9th May 2007
The Welsh Assembly Government, supported by First Campus, is organising a conference entitled Learning Pathways 14–19: Taking the Learning Coach Agenda Forward.
Your chance to celebrate
9th May 2007
During the autumn term the Learning Coaches team, supported by Welsh Assembly Government, is looking to organise an awards and celebratory event for current learning coaches.
Newsletter to become web-based
9th May 2007
In future the newsletter will only be available in paper format at Learning Coaches events (including training days and workshops) or if you specifically request for it to be posted to you.
Editorial from May 2007
2nd May 2007
As you know our last training days are due in June, and courses have been completed in South East Wales. However, I am aware that a number of colleagues have to ‘pick up’ missed days or modules. I have not forgotten you, and we plan to arrange a series of additional courses from September onwards.
Also please remember if you are interested in R/APEL we have the workshops in May and our R/APEL mentors are awaiting your call. Please contact the office if you would like to have an mentor allocated to you.
Recognition/Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning (R/APEL)
4th Apr 2007
‘The Mentoring Process’ assessments will be returned in June
4th Apr 2007
Cardiff University informs us that work submitted for assessment for The Mentoring Process will be returned in June. Assessments have to go through the examinations board of LEARN at Cardiff University, which meets at the end of May.
Look out for the following Welsh Assembly Government publications
4th Apr 2007
Learning Pathways 14–19: Learning coach support information pack for 14–19 networks and partners in schools, colleges and work-based training
Electronic newsletters to be online only
4th Apr 2007
Over the next couple of months we will be moving away from sending out the electronic version of Learning Coaches Network News by email to making the it available to download as a PDF from the Learning Coaches website, www.learningcoaches.net. Paper copies will still be available on training days, and by post on request.
Editorial from April 2007 newsletter
4th Apr 2007
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to inform you that the funding for this phase of the Learning Coaches accredited programme has been officially extended to 31 December 2007. This means that the team will be in place to continue to offer support and encouragement right through to next Christmas.
In the meantime, enjoy your Easter break, and don’t eat too much chocolate!
Alyson Acreman
Learning Coaches Manager
Learning Coaches website goes live at www.learningcoaches.net
1st Mar 2007
The first stage of the Learning Coaches website is now up and running at www.learningcoaches.net. Currently you can see the content of all previous issues of Learning Coaches Network News, plus a frequently-asked questions page, a calendar of forthcoming training dates (through which you will soon be able to book a place directly) and links to useful websites. There is also a ‘stop press’ section, which we will use as an additional means of alerting you to any last-minute information such as the cancellation of a course due to bad weather.
Call for contracts
1st Mar 2007
You may recall some time ago receiving a Learning Coach Contract.
Editorial from March 2007 newsletter
1st Mar 2007
As the days become lighter and sunnier, I am reminded that the first cohort of learning coaches began the programme in the mini heat wave of last summer. The initial groups of brave souls from South East Wales are now looking to complete the programme at the end of April. Colleagues from North, Mid and West Wales will not be far behind. In order to acknowledge achievement, I am looking to organise some regional celebratory events, to which you will all be invited. I welcome any suggestions from yourselves to make these celebratory events something really special.
Alyson Acreman
Learning Coaches Manager
The Mentoring Process: Assignment workshop (attendance optional)
2nd Feb 2007
Date
9 March
Venue
Glamorgan Business Centre, University of Glamorgan (free parking will be available at the university).
Coaching for Learning: Guidelines for assessment
2nd Feb 2007
We are including this information in February’s newsletter for clarification, as there may be some mixed messages regarding what is expected – especially regarding word count.
There are two parts to the assessment for this module:
- Written review 70%
- Presentation 30%
Accreditation options
2nd Feb 2007
Levels of accreditation
Recognised Learning Coach
Full attendance at all five modules of the Learning Coaches training programme is the basic level of recognition. Participants who have engaged fully throughout the programme will have benefited from significant reflective experience alongside a range of practitioners with different experiences.
Participants who have attended the full number of sessions will receive an official letter from the Welsh Assembly Government and the First Campus partnership recognising their completion of the Learning Coaches training programme.
Learning Coaches accredited programme: The big picture
2nd Feb 2007
Planning
- Module development and validation at the four universities took place in 2006.
- The programme manager was appointed in April 2006 with the rest of the team joining from April to September 2006.
Editorial from February 2007 newsletter
1st Feb 2007
Welcome to the Bleak Midwinter – or February as it is called! Blue Monday – 22 January – has passed. Blue Monday is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year; we challenged this by running the first day of Module 4 in Cardiff. We did experience some attendance issues on this day, but despite this the day went off splendidly, with very positive formal and informal feedback being received.
So with Module 4 well underway in South-East Wales and Module 3 due to commence in North, West and Mid-Wales, we look forward to blue skies and happy, sunshine-filled days.
Alyson Acreman
Learning Coaches Manager
Evaluation of the Learning Coaches programme
1st Jan 2007
The Learning Coaches programme has appointed an external evaluator.
Duncan Holtom from the People and Work Unit will be conducting the majority of the evaluation. He will be keen to talk to a number of learning coaches, as well as the Welsh Assembly Government, 14–19 network convenors, and possibly some young people who may be benefiting from the Learning Coaches initiative.
Editorial from January 2007 newsletter
1st Jan 2007
Best wishes and Happy New Year to all our colleagues, from the Learning Coaches team in Pontypridd and Wrexham.
I hope everyone had a relaxing and jolly holiday season, and has returned to their workplace refreshed and ready for any challenge presented in 2007.
Alyson Acreman
Learning Coaches Manager
Recognition of prior learning: statement from the Welsh Assembly Government
2nd Dec 2006
A statement from the Welsh Assembly Government and a letter from Alyson clarifying some of the points it made about RPL were sent out to learning coaches in the week commencing 27 November.
If you have not received these, please contact Nesta.
News from the 14–19 networks
2nd Dec 2006
We are taking up a suggestion made by Julia Hopkins of the Vale of Glamorgan network. From now on the networks will be informed of learning coaches’ attendance at each module for their records.
Learning coach job description
2nd Dec 2006
For anyone who still isn’t quite sure what’s expected of a learning coach, there is a sample job description in Section 4.4 of the WAG publication Learning Pathways 14–19: Guidance II, which you should have received early in the course.
Learning Coaches advisory group to be set up
2nd Dec 2006
We are looking for learning coaches to form an advisory group that will meet approximately once every two months, starting in January 2007.
Editorial from December 2006 newsletter
2nd Dec 2006
This month we thought you might like to see what the Learning Coaches team looks like, so here’s the rogues’ gallery!
Do you have an idea or article for the newsletter?
1st Dec 2006
If you have a suggestion or article for the newsletter, please contact Marian by post or email. We reserve the right to edit anything we use.
What to do if you can’t attend one of the training days
2nd Nov 2006
Please inform Nesta as soon as possible, and by 10 am on the day before the course at the latest. This will help us to avoid incurring extra costs and we may be able to offer your place to someone else. If you cannot attend because of an emergency we would still appreciate a phone call on the day if possible; if Nesta is unavailable, leave a message with another member of the team.
Recognition of Prior Learning
2nd Nov 2006
The Welsh Assembly Government has now made a statement regarding Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) which we will be sending to you shortly.
Have you returned your Learning Contract?
2nd Nov 2006
We need all signed Learning Contracts back as soon as possible. If you have not yet returned yours please post it to Nesta at the usual address. Contact Nesta if you need a replacement copy.
Editorial from November 2006 newsletter
2nd Nov 2006
Welcome to the third edition of Learning Coaches Network News. I am pleased to announce that with the arrival of two new members the team is now fully up to strength.
Recognition of Prior Learning
2nd Sep 2006
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is probably the most hotly debated topic of the project. After much consultation we have agreed that RPL will be included in the pilot as quickly as possible in all areas of Wales.
Module 1 gets off to a good start
2nd Sep 2006
Both days of Module 1 The Mentoring Process have now taken place at three venues in South-East Wales and the course evaluations have been very positive. The overall satisfaction rates for content and delivery at the three venues were 81% at the Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran, 80% at the Village Hotel, Cardiff and 88% the University of Glamorgan.
Editorial from September 2006 newsletter
2nd Sep 2006
Welcome to the second edition of the newsletter for learning coaches.
I am happy to announce that Nesta Darch has joined the Learning Coaches team as Project Administrator.
Learning Coaches pilot and structure
2nd Jun 2006
Five modules will be delivered in the pilot phase. Our operational plan involves initial delivery to South-East Wales, followed by a roll out to North and West Wales.
Editorial from June 2006 newsletter
2nd Jun 2006
May I welcome you to this first edition of the Learning Coaches newsletter.
I have taken up the post of Learning Coaches manager, from April 2006, and am based at the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Glamorgan.
Learning Contract
2nd Jun 2006
Before commencing the Learning Coaches training, all learning coaches, 14 to 19 networks, local managers and First Campus will be asked to sign a Learning Contract. This document will clearly outline all parties’ responsibilities and expectations. The contract will help to clarify such issues as time allocations, timescales and available learning coach support.
First Campus - A collaboration
2nd Jun 2006
The Learning Coaches pilot is being delivered via First Campus, SE Wales Reaching Wider Partnership. First Campus is a unique collaboration between five higher education institutions and seven further education institutions in South-East Wales.
Learning Coaches
Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Glamorgan
Pontypridd, Wales UK. CF37 1DL