Building a Foundation Learning Curriculum

Patricia Coates-Walker Curriculum and Validity Manager - AIM Awards

Patricia.coates-walker@aimawards.org.ukMobile:07970892418

with

Sheila Hughes Head of Curriculum s.hughes@blc.ac.uk Alison Monet Programme Coordinator a.monet@blc.ac.uk

Pete Johnson Tutor p.johnson@blc.ac.uk Buxton and Leek College

(University of Derby)

Objectives

• Information on the AIM Awards foundation level offer• Suggestions for inclusion in curriculum plans - differentiation• Considering how to reduce the assessment burden for tutors and learners • A case study of best practice Buxton and Leek College University of Derby

- presenting ideas for how to innovate and expand your foundation learning curriculum

Diagnostic Assessment and Skills Checks

Initial assessment tools provide information about learners’ current levels of skills, measured against national standards. They are useful in helping to match learners to an appropriate learning programme and in directing further, more in-depth, assessment.

Diagnostic assessment

Materials that can be used to explore whether learners would benefit from further assessment for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia).

Specific diagnostic tasks should be selected and used at the start of a learning programme but also regularly throughout the programme to assess particular skills as further needs are identified.

Diagnostic materials help you to discuss and agree with individual learners:

• learning targets for both consolidating existing skills and developing new ones;• recommendations about how the learner will tackle new learning; • their own priorities: for example, skills needed at work.

Differentiation and Personalisation:

Personalised teaching and learning should be at the heart of any foundation learning programme.

Teaching and learning should be based on an assessment of eachlearner’s starting-points (identified through initial/diagnostic assessment) and should aim to develop and promote each learner’s incremental achievement.

Teachers should expect to adapt the level of demand of the activitiesto meet the needs of particular learners and particular contexts,and learners should be made aware of the skills that they are developing.

The activities should be presented as flexibly as possible, with suggestions as to how they can be adapted for different levels

An important part of assessment is its flexibility which ensures that evidence may be generate through different methods and that learners are not always classroom based. It is crucial that learning modes and learning styles are taken into consideration at the planning stage.

Detailed schemes of learning structured focused around each series of units.

For example: Differentiation: Independent Living Units:

Making Choices E1/E2/E3

Personal Relationships E1/E2/E3

Why choose AIM Awards?

Suites of qualifications• flexible• wide-ranging• adaptable to institutional circumstances• provide progression opportunities

Why choose AIM Awards?

Quality• assigned external verifier• assigned quality reviewer• clear supporting documentation• support and guidance at visits• training and professional development

opportunities• the award of Direct Claims Status

AIM Awards Foundation Learning Offer

209 qualifications at Level 1 and below:Literacy Sports

NumeracyEngagement Pre-Entry

Employability InductionOffender Learning

ICTFunctional Skills

Entry Level

• Exploring work– Award (3 credits)– Extended Award (9 credits)– Certificate (15 credits)– Extended Certificate (credits)– Diploma (37 credits)

• Work focus meets SFA funding requirements

Entry Level

• Developing Work Skills (E1 – E3)– Award in Work Skills Awareness includes pre-

Entry– Awards and Certificates at other levels

• Independent Living (E1 – E3)– Award/Certificate/Diploma

Entry 3 and Beyond!!!

• Skills for Employment and Further Learning (SEFL) Entry 3 – Level 3

– Award (E3 - 3 credits Other Levels 6 credits)– Extended Award (9 credits)– Certificate (15 credits)– Extended Certificate (27 credits)– Diploma (37 credits)

• Vocational pathways• 900+ units• Resources available