Funding Assurance Review Insights
2025-01-21 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/London) | Online
Overview
This webinar is designed to help participants gain an understanding of the ESFA’s approach to funding assurance reviews and how to prepare for a visit.
Objectives
This webinar will provide operational updates and share best practices on:

What to expect from an ESFA Funding Assurance Review;
How to plan and prepare for the visit;
Some common issues identified from recent ESFA Funding Assurance Reviews.

Who should attend?
This session will be of interest to Directors of Finance and MIS Managers at providers who are in receipt of ESFA Funding and who are therefore in-scope for an ESFA Funding Assurance Review.
Facilitators
Lisa Smith, Risk Assurance Director, RSM and Emma Gipson, Manager, RSM

Ufi’s VocTech Activate grant fund: Pre-application workshop
2025-01-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-01-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-01-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Grants of up to £60,000 available from Ufi VocTech Trust

Ufi VocTech Trust (Ufi), the UK charity unlocking the full potential of technology to get adults learning, will be opening applications for the VocTech Activate grant fund from 6 January to 4 February 2025.

Grants of between £30,000 to £60,000 are available for projects lasting three to 12 months which have the potential to transform how adults gain and maintain the skills they need for work.

Designed specifically to help early-stage ideas, VocTech Activate supports the design, development, testing, and adoption of new digital tools and approaches that could reach learners furthest from opportunity.

To help you prepare your application, Ufi run a series help you prepare your application, Ufi run a series of online workshops to introduce the fund and help ensure it is right for you. Applicants who attend one of our workshops are much more likely to be successful.

Our workshops provide an opportunity to find out more about the scope of this grant call. You will be able to take part in small group discussions with members of the Ufi team to ask any questions you might have.

Try the two minute eligibility checker, book a pre-application online workshop and find the full details of the grant fund at www.ufi.co.uk/activate.

Safeguarding Learners: Understanding and Recognising Adults at Risk
2025-01-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Overview
This 60 minute Safeguarding Awareness webinar will allow delegates to gain an overall insight into safeguarding at an introductory level. This webinar is suitable for all those who require an overview to safeguarding to meet the organisational policy and procedure requirement.
Objectives
This webinar will give delegates an introduction to:

National guidance and procedures;
Categories of abuse;
Ensuring a response of logging and reporting concerns;
Whistleblowing and sharing professional concerns.

Delegates will be aware of the latest guidelines and will learn how to deal with any concerns they have and how to report them.
The carry through benefits for the learners are that they have access to well trained, supportive staff that they can confide in if they have any concerns and who will be able to signpost them to the correct places for further support.
Who should attend this webinar?
This webinar is suitable for all those who work in post 18 education and training provision who have minimal or ad hoc contact with learners.
Facilitator
Carly Spicer, Safeguarding Consultant, ECP

Ufi's VocTech Activate grant fund: Pre-application workshop
2025-01-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Online

Contextualised English, maths & ICT
2025-01-08 10:00 - 13:00 | Online
Embedding English, Maths and ICT is something that many teachers and trainers are aware we should be doing in our planning, but how deep does our understanding and application actually go?

This masterclass is designed to help add some real clarity into ‘why’ and ‘how’ we can embed English, Maths and ICT in our teaching and learning where appropriate. Being able to identify, explain and apply naturally occurring opportunities to embed these key skills throughout our specific sessions and wider curriculum is something that we should all be looking to take advantage of.

This session is ideal for trainers and managers who are looking to increase their knowledge and skillset, specifically in areas of planning. This masterclass is also a very useful CPD session for more experienced teachers, trainers and managers who may be mentoring newer teachers/trainers or carrying out session observations.

This workshop is part of the Solvendis Teaching Excellence Programme, a programme which also includes:

Level 3 Award in Education and Training
Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training

…and a series of workshops covering topics such as:

Embedding British Values into Planning and Delivery
Contextualised English, Maths and ICT
Inclusive Teaching Practice
Adapting to Teaching Adult Learners

Understanding and embedding the new matrix Standards and accreditation processes
2025-01-08 09:30 - 12:30 | Online
Overview
This online workshop will introduce providers to the rationale and detail of the 2024 matrix Standards and changes to these made compared to the previous standards.
The session aims to allow Providers to develop a deeper understanding of the matrix Standards accreditation and re-accreditation processes and how to plan and prepare.
Providers will be able to apply the stages of the matrix Standards to their quality arrangement and hear about practical approaches and strategies to embed into daily operational processes and practice, aligned to the EIF inspection requirements.
Objectives
This session will help delegates to:

Develop a greater understanding of matrix and effective strategies to embed into governance, leadership, management, and quality arrangements;
Use the strategies discussed to take back to their own organisation and use in planning and preparation for Matrix accreditation/re-accreditation processes;
Consider strategies for embedding the matrix Standards into their quality arrangements aligning stages and processes to the EIF and inspection requirements for good practice.

Who should attend?
This webinar is designed for:

Leadership and management;
Colleagues responsible for preparing and planning for a provider Matrix Standards application and accreditation processes;
Provider careers advice and guidance colleagues;
Curriculum managers;
Senior quality of education practitioners and curriculum sector/vocational leads.

Facilitator
Facilitator: Maureen Deary, FE and Skills and Independent Schools Inspector, Strategic Adviser in Quality
Guest speakers: Roger Chapman, The Growth Company and Sue Gomer, Quality Director, Logistica Training & Consultancy

FIN Working Group - Policy and Research - ESFA Funding
2024-12-17 14:00 - 15:00
Please join us for our third Policy and research group, from this we will be submitting a paper to DfE to try to influence change.

The topic of this round table will be ESFA Funding.FIN members have raised a concern regarding the 50% achievement threshold. Firstly, we fully understand the impact of July’s ESFA instruction that requires providers with less than a 50% Qualification Achievement Rate (QAR) for an individual standard in 2023/24 to stop new starts in that apprenticeship programme. FIN members have raised serious concerns about how this would impact on a provider’s strategic planning, business development and cashflow.

If you require any support with booking please contact info@fin-online.org.uk

Events – Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (fin-online.org.uk)

Power BI for Apprenticeship and Training Providers
2024-12-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Overview
This Power BI Data Analytics session is the perfect opportunity to enhance your business’s performance through cutting-edge data analytics.
Unlock the full potential of business intelligence reporting and create visually stunning dashboards for your team and stakeholders.
Objectives
This webinar will help delegates to:

Master advanced Power BI formulas and functions;
Implement Power Query for effective data transformation;
Develop interactive dashboards to visualise complex data insights.

Who should attend?
This webinar is designed for:

Heads of;
MDs / CEOs;
Managers leading delivery staff such as tutors, teachers and coaches;
Quality managers;
Curriculum leads;
Directors.

Facilitator
Shivam Deva, Finance Data Technician Mentor, EMA Training Ltd
Click here to find out more information or to register.

Unlock your Future Leadership skills: register now for the ALT Winter Summit 2024!
2024-12-10 09:00 - 17:30 | Online
We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the ALT Winter Summit 2024. This year’s theme is ‘Future Leadership in Learning Technology’. Join us on Tuesday 10 December 2024 from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM GMT for an exciting full-day online event.

Learning Technologies and the political and economic landscape of education are ever-evolving. To succeed in the future, we need to continuously develop new skills, approaches and strategies to overcome the challenges ahead. We also need to identify and develop the future leaders of our organisations. Whether early career or an established leader, this event will help you to explore:

How to lead and champion innovative technologies, pedagogies and practices and build a vision that resonates with your stakeholders.

Approaches to managing and implementing technological and educational change and strategies to overcome challenges.

Supporting people, teams and organisations to navigate the challenging and continuously changing technology and education environment.

The power of leading with authenticity, embracing your unique strengths and crafting and leveraging a personal brand that enhances your visibility and influence.

How to nurture and develop the skills and qualities emerging leaders need to progress.

We’ve shaken up the format of our previous Winter Summits to create an interactive, collaborative event with plenty of opportunity for knowledge sharing and networking. The day will be filled with peer-to-peer discussions, informative panels, roundtables, and insightful presentations.

You’ll leave the day with fresh connections, actionable ideas, and the vision to take your leadership journey to the next level. So, come along and be part of the conversation shaping the future of leadership; registration starts from £89.

Not an ALT Member? For an additional £4 on top of the non-member rate, you can enjoy a year’s membership of ALT. Explore the benefits of becoming a member.

Ofsted update - with Dr Richard Beynon SHMI
2024-12-09 14:00 - 15:15
Welcome to an Exclusive Session with Ofsted.

FIN are delighted to announce that Dr Richard Beynon, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector (SHMI) FES Policy, will be joining Kerry Boffey for an insightful session in December. Richard will provide an overview of the current inspection landscape, offering valuable perspectives on Ofsted’s approach and priorities.

During the session, Richard will:

Share key findings from The Big Listen, reflecting on the feedback received.Outline considerations for the future of inspections.Present a timeline of upcoming developments.

Following his presentation, there will be a Q&A session. To make the most of this opportunity, we kindly ask attendees to submit their questions in advance to info@fin-online.org.uk

Join us for this engaging session to deepen your understanding of the evolving inspection framework and gain invaluable insights into the future. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you require any support with booking please contact info@fin-online.org.uk

Events – Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (fin-online.org.uk)

Using Observations of Practice in your Quality Cycle
2024-12-09 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
Observations of practice can be a powerful tool to improve quality when implemented well, with the right intent behind them.
Done badly observations add little value and can be perceived as a threat.
Let’s take a deep dive into observations of practice within the context of your quality cycle.
How can you make sure your observations of practice substantially improve CPD for your colleagues and benefit your learners?
How can we successfully bridge the relationship between quality assurance and practitioner development?
That’s what this session is all about – led by top-quality specialist, Lou Doyle.
Here’s what we’ll cover:

Considering how to implement a successful observation strategy

Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to observations

Critiquing examples of reporting on outcomes from observations

Sharing experiences with colleagues from other organisations to help you to develop your plans and practice

About your session
The session will be led by Lou Doyle, CEO Mesma and Strategic Associate SDN. Lou is an industry leading quality improvement specialist, facilitator and coach.
Lou will be drawing on SDN and Mesma’s collective work, supporting over 6,000 apprenticeship staff from 1,000 organisations, to deliver and improve the quality of their apprenticeships.
This workshop is designed for those responsible for the internal quality assurance of their apprenticeship/course provision (or similar roles).
“Thank you… you are making such a difference to the sector!”
– Barbara Van der Eecken, Bvde Quality Solutions Ltd
“The webinar was excellent as usual – Lou is very knowledgeable and engages the audience really well … always insightful and helpful especially as I am very much managing this ‘on my own’!”
“Very insightful that left me with actionable steps to take afterwards.”
“Excellent session – shared really useful information and guidance could have watched all day”
– Quality event attendees
Booking and payment:
We recommend attending this workshop live, but you can be sent the recording and materials if you prefer to review them in your own time.
If you have several staff who would benefit, let us know and we’ll send you details of the most cost-effective way of accessing the session.
If you’re a public sector body (e.g. Local Authority), and unable to book via card, please email us. When you make a booking, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (including those who request a booking via email and invoice)
SDN CPD is designed for Government funded Training Providers. If you’re not a Government funded Training Provider but are still interested in attending please email events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk to discuss your attendance in more detail before booking.

Level 3 Award in undertaking end-point assessment – November
2024-11-05 09:00 - 2024-12-18 17:00 | Online
Are you looking to conduct end-point assessment in the future, or prepare apprentices for it? End-point assessment is different and high stakes.
This Level 3 course will provide you with the building blocks to carry out end-point assessment in future and help you to get ahead of the game. If you’re preparing apprentices for end-point assessment on-programme, the course will give you a useful insight into what apprentices will face.
SDN has helped many of the first EPAOs (and their assessor teams) currently delivering end-point assessment and have a cutting-edge insight into what end-point assessment looks like in practice.
Here’s what the course covers:

Understand the principles and practices of end-point assessment as part of an apprenticeship standard

The role and responsibilities of an end-point assessor
The function of end-point assessment as part of an apprenticeship standard
The requirements of apprenticeship standards and end-point assessments
The difference between ongoing assessments and end-point assessments
Grading requirements of end-point assessments and the differences between each grade

Understand different types and methods of end-point assessment

The different types and methods of end-point assessments that form part of apprenticeship standards
The strengths and limitations of a range of end-point assessment types and methods

Know how to plan end-point assessments in line with the apprenticeship standard and assessment plan

Key factors to consider when planning end-point assessments.
Risks that may be involved in conducting end-point assessments within own area of responsibility
Planning how to conduct end-point assessments in line with the requirements of an apprenticeship standard and assessment plan
Communicating planned end-point assessments to relevant stakeholders

Be able to make end-point assessment decisions

Assessing the vocational knowledge, skills and behaviours of an apprentice to meet end-point assessment requirements
Recording the end-point assessment decision
Justifying end-point assessment and grading decisions in line with the apprenticeship requirements.
Following procedures to maintain the confidentiality of end-point assessment information
Following relevant policies, procedures and legislation when conducting, recording and reporting end-point assessments
Providing end-point assessment feedback to stakeholders

Understand quality assurance of the end-point assessment process

Quality assurance and standardisation policies and procedures that apply to end-point assessments
Procedures to follow when there are disputes concerning end-point assessments decisions
Planning and logging professional development opportunities relevant to own role

About your session
The course will be taught by Chris Cherry & Emily Hughes, SDN experts in apprenticeship on-programme training and end-point assessment.
Our team have been heavily involved in the development of new standards and assessment plans, as well as supporting many EPAOs and hundreds of individuals to prepare to deliver end-point assessment.
This course is designed for those conducting, planning to deliver, or those preparing apprentices for end-point assessment and is applicable to all industries.
This qualification is accredited by Highfield Qualifications, with whom SDN is an approved centre. If you successfully complete the course, you will receive a Level 3 Award in Undertaking End-Point Assessment
“I absolutely loved the course and will be recommending the course to others.”
“The course has been outstanding. Very high standard of training from highly experienced and credible practitioners”
“Vital course for anyone who is considering a career as an end-point assessor”
– Attendees from our last course

Before you book:
Entry requirements:

Age 18 or over
Proficiency in literacy and numeracy
Proven occupational experience in your EPA sector area

Documentation:

Copy of your CV
Professional statement
Relevant certificates
Proof of ID

You’ll need:

Headphones/earphones set to reduce background noise
Microphone – you’ll need to participate in the session
Webcam – to verify identity and allow assessor to observe activity

Booking and payment:
If you’re a Local Authority, and unable to book via card, please email us. When you make a booking, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (including those who request a booking via email and invoice)
Any questions, or to request an invoice, please email: events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk
SDN CPD is designed for Government funded Training Providers. If you’re not a Government funded Training Provider but are still interested in attending please email events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk to discuss your attendance in more detail before booking.
What your payment covers:
Cost – £295.00 (+VAT)

Online learning materials
2x online assessment sessions (attendance is mandatory)
All course administration
Pre and post course materials
Certification (where successful)
Discount on related SDN webinars

Starting November
Course introduction: Tuesday 5 November – You’ll be emailed online learning materials, a video introduction and a log-in to your online learning portal.
Before assessment session 1: Complete required modules and assignments.
Option A (AM sessions): Tuesday 10 & 17 December, 9:00am – 1:00pm
Option B (PM sessions): Wednesday 11 & 18 December, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
