The programme is now finished for this academic year and regrettably we are no longer accepting applications.

The CBI report “Working on the Three Rs” highlights that understanding and responding appropriately to oral communications is an essential skill. We know that confident learners have well-developed speaking and listening skills and that these skills are essential for success in life and work. Despite this, these aspects of Skills for Life are under-developed in relation to our understanding of what approaches we should take to teaching and learning speaking and listening skills effectively. This element of the programme will consider current best practice, reflect on challenges and work towards further developing specialist guidance.    

What are the benefits to my organisation of accessing the programme?
The programme welcomes organisations where managers are committed to investing the necessary staff time and resources as part of their self-improving organisation for the benefit of all learners. The programme offers your organisation:

• Regional clusters to share good practice and resources
• Specialist, expert support for senior managers and staff
• Access to in-house or local training tailored to your needs
• Participation in focus groups to inform evaluation

We will operate through regional clusters and by accessing providers’ in-house expertise in order to share experiences and expertise in teaching speaking and listening skills. Your organisation will share the current best practice and be at the forefront of shaping future thinking and developing further guidance for the teaching of these essential skills.

Who should get involved?
Practitioners from all sectors who are involved in delivering speaking and listening will benefit from this programme, particularly those developing speaking and listening in an embedded way, including numeracy and vocational practitioners, from:

• Further Education colleges
• Adult and Community learning settings
• The Voluntary and Community Sector
• Work based learning providers
• The Army
• Offender learning settings

We are seeking representation from programme managers, advanced practitioners, coaches and mentors in vocational subjects and subject learning coaches. Teacher educators will also find this programme particularly helpful.

What is involved?
Providers from all sectors and contexts will be offered training and development, as well as support from specialist providers, using the Skills for Life resources, Improving Speaking and Listening Skills – a practical guide for Skills for Life teachers and Developing Speaking and Listening Skills – a support pack for staff working with offenders. The programme provides an opportunity to explore current guidance, develop approaches and then reflect on activities and inform an evaluation that will influence further development of specialist guidance.

Participants will develop and reflect on their practice and feedback their experiences of what worked best as well as the challenges they and their learners faced. Focus groups will be held to inform the evaluation. An evaluation report will be produced and on the basis of the results, combined with insight gathered from research and literature as well as practitioners, further materials will be developed for different settings and contexts.

How do I apply for support?

The programme is now finished for this academic year and regrettably we are no longer accepting applications.