You can browse all improvement services available from LSIS using the A to Z list below.
This strand will support all providers delivering apprenticeship programmes in the planning and delivering of functional skills. CPD events will be offered to help providers embed language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) and ICT skills into vocational programmes, develop approaches to summative assessment, improve initial and diagnostic assessment and develop flexible delivery models for workplace programmes.
Download the information sheet about Collaborative Organisational Learning
Curriculum Design and Development
This strand of activity will further develop the capacity of curriculum managers to manage and develop their programmes of learning in the new context of less centralised government control , reductions in budgets and changes in funding.
Themes include: Managing curriculum change; Developing unit-based delivery; Designing cost effective programmes of learning ; Designing curricula to support progression; Developing an inclusive curriculum; Developing HE in FE. Support will be provided through resources, regional and in-house workshops, together with funding; for development projects and Peer Review and Development groups.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
This strand will build the capacity and develop confidence in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) through a range of services to improve individual and organisational performance in EDI. These include bespoke or tailored training events, participation in staff development activities, e-resources to support self development activities, consultancy services, network and peer review activities, grant offers to encourage innovative and creative projects in EDI. These are then disseminated at annual events held across the regions, provider led learning events, seminars, conferences and partnership work with sector agencies.
Excellence Gateway (EG)
The Excellence Gateway gives you access to the most comprehensive collection of information, resources and networks, brought together specifically for the further education and skills sector. It supports you as leaders, managers and practitioners in the development and improvement of your work with learners and communities. The Excellence Gateway is brought to you by LSIS in co-operation with national and regional partners.
Executive Leadership Development
This strand will meet the leadership continuing professional development needs of principals and chief executives in the sector. It will focus on current issues facing the sector and provide opportunities for training, learning from peer colleagues, coaching and mentoring and accessing external expertise.
Flexibility and Innovation Fund
This strand will share effective practice and disseminate resources developed through provider projects funded by the Flexibility and Innovation Fund in 2009-11, to maximise the benefit of this significant investment for the sector.
Leadership Toolkits for ACL, WBL and ISCs
This strand will provide engaging online resources to improve leadership practice at all levels of learning provider organisations. This will be achieved through independent and/or supported blended learning approach to leadership and management development. Resources include downloadable diagnostic and self-assessment tools towards inspection-readiness; employer and learner responsiveness; safeguarding; equality and diversity. Increasing efficiency of the sector by providing resources to raise awareness and assess organisational efficiency and by reducing travel and material costs associated with learning via online and blended learning approach.
Learner Engagement and Wellbeing
This strand will look at how to increase learner engagement and involvement to improve the effectiveness of the sector in meeting learners' needs and how to improve the sector's approaches to safeguarding and learner health and wellbeing. We will particularly work with WBL/ACL and offender learning as well as increasing the involvement of learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD). The work will be delivered through a combination of workshops, regional network meetings, training programmes, consultancy, resources on the Excellence Gateway and on-line learning.
Learner and Learner Support
This strand will look at ways of improving learning and learner support including tutoring, career development for learners and support for learners with learning difficulties and or disabilities and mental health issues to ensure that they reach their potential. This work will be delivered through a combination of workshops, training programmes, consultancy, on-line learning resources, regional networks and resources available via the Excellence Gateway.
LSIS Learning Environment (LLE)
The LSIS Learning Environment (LLE) support those who are learning on LSIS programmes and activities. You can register free of charge to access just-in-time online learning or to access blended learning to support you on LSIS courses in which you are engaged. The LLE serves leaders and managers, equalities and subject learning coaches.
Literacy, Language and Numeracy (LLN): improving the quality of provision
This strand will support providers to improve the quality of their literacy, language and numeracy (LLN) provision. Aimed at all organisations that are new to delivering LLN programmes and providers with unsatisfactory provision, support will be offered by lead providers with proven expertise in delivering high quality LLN. It will be customised to organisational priorities, with an emphasis on a whole organisation approach and may be offered through consultancy, continuing professional development, webinars, study visits or peer working groups.
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M-R
Minimum Contract Level: supporting smaller independent training providers in collaborative contracting
This strand is targeted at smaller providers who are required to work in new partnership or contracting arrangements to meet the Skills Funding Agency's minimum contract level. A range of support in available including resources, web seminars and an online discussion forum, with tailored support from Partnership Advisers to facilitate the formation and ongoing development of new collaborative arrangements.
Offender Learning
This strand will support quality improvement within the Offender Learning part of the learning and skills sector. The focus is on helping to transform offenders into committed learners during their sentences whether these are passed in custody or working within the community. It supports the government's 'Rehabilitation Revolution' agenda. This work will be delivered through resources to share effective practice and a series of workshops.
Organisational Health Check (OHC)
The strand will offer sector organisations an opportunity to receive objective feedback about their organisation, in relation to meeting their current and future strategic quality improvement requirements Organisational Health Check (OHC). A team of trained senior practitioners, drawn from the learning and skills sector, will tailor the health check to organisational needs. OHCs are offered on a priority basis for any organisation who has not received an Ofsted inspection in the last 2 years and who believes that an external view can support their vision and aims.
Peer Review and Development (PRD)
This strand will increase collaborative improvement activity through Peer Review and Development (PRD). It facilitates professionals to work together on a wide range of priorities and themes to improve provision and to take joint action to support each other to improve. PRD group members work together in validating self-assessment processes and judgements, use of performance measures, share effective practice and carry out collaborative development work. Groups will be supported by a team of PRD Advisers.
Practitioner attitudes to technology
This strand will focus on the use and implementation of technology to address quality improvement, effective practice, and improvements in management and efficiency.
This area of work utilises Generator, the technology improvement tool for further education and skills. Using Generator enables providers to improve their organisation's strategic deployment of technology for the benefit of learners. LSIS is moving Generator toward a suite of tools for organisational development, through sector participation in national survey work, to monitor technology use and implementation. This LSIS research will create a research instrument for use by sector providers within the Generator tool.
Prepared for inspection? Leading and demonstrating capacity to improve
This strand will help providers prepare for inspection by exploring the implications of the common inspection framework, how to effectively gather evidence of the impact of their work on learners as the core of their quality improvement activities, and how to present this evidence base at inspection. Developed and delivered in conjunction with Ofsted and the sector, this service offers a range of modules and workshops and an on-line learning resource with a focus on evidence based self-assessment and building and demonstrating capacity to improve.
Qualifications Credit Framework: making the most of it
This strand of support will work with providers as they look at exploiting the flexibilities of the Qualifications Credit Framework to develop new curriculum delivery models to meet the needs of learners and employers. Support will be provided through resources, regional and in-house workshops, funding for development projects and peer-led consultancy.
Resource Utilisation
This strand will focus on developing and implementing measurable efficiency savings in organisations across the sector. The work will be delivered through a series of grant funding opportunities, workshops and online tools and implementation plans.
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S-Z
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM): regional support
This strand will support the national STEM agenda with a focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, through specific training, support and development enabling providers to raise the profile of STEM at strategic and organisational level and improve standards of recruitment, retention and achievement.
Sector Support Service (SSS)
This service has now been replaced by the Improvement Development Service
Staff Engagement and Wellbeing
This strand will work with providers and individuals through career coaching, workshops, webinars and e-learning to ensure the engagement and well being of staff through projects, think pieces and case studies. We will develop innovative work to promote the staff voice and promote Healthy FE in driving forward excellence.
Strategy, Policy, Research and Knowledge
This strand will provide expert analysis of policy, research and other sources of knowledge to equip the sector to understand and anticipate strategic change and to develop a collective vision for the future. It aims to develop the sector's capacity to shape and influence policy and its context, locally and nationally, working collaboratively with other leaders both within the sector and across the public, private and third sectors. This strand will also develop and implement an effective research strategy which engages the sector, develops its strategic capacity and feeds LSIS with vital and rigorous underpinning for future planning and development.
Sustainable Development - leading and learning for a sustainable future
This strand will work with and support individuals and providers to build and promote learning and resources to respond to the challenges of sustainability and carbon reduction. It will focus on developing capacity and capability within the sector, and on sharing and embedding effective practice.
Teaching and Learning Excellence
The strand aims to create a vibrant community of effective practice in teaching and learning through peer coaching, networking, resource development and grants. This will be achieved through regional teaching and learning fairs which offer opportunities for change agents and their managers to network together and access LSIS resources.
Technology for Organisational Success
This strand will support managers and leaders in organisations at both strategic and operational levels in developing a focused approach to maximising the potential benefits arising from the effective use of technology. Activities include grants for improvement activity, workshops and seminars.
Technology to support learners with
learning difficulties and/or disabilities
This strand will address the need for practitioners and organisations to access appropriate ‘accessibility and assistive resources’ for learners with disabilities or specific needs to improve their autonomy (and consequently improve work, living and learning outcomes) through sustainable assistive and enabling technology support. This work will populate a database of resources which will be made available on the Excellence Gateway. It will also involve some testing with practitioners and learners in provider settings.
TES FE Awards
This strand will spotlight the achievements of the wide range of providers working in the further education and skills sector. A successor to the LSIS STAR Awards, the TES FE Awards are sponsored by LSIS.
UK Qualifications and Skills (UKS)
This strand aims to enhance professionalism and talent for the lifelong learning workforce across the UK. Acting as link between employers, professionals, partners and policy maker. Covers FE, WBL, Community Development, Youth Work, Career Guidance and Libraries, Archives, Records and Information Management Services. This strand develops and maintains National Occupational Standards (NOS), qualifications and apprenticeship frameworks.
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