FE providers invited to collaborate on innovation projects to support Functional Skills

Further Education and Training providers across England have a new opportunity to collaborate on funded innovation projects that will support the delivery of the new maths and English Functional Skills qualifications.

Launched by The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) today, the new Maths and English Functional Skills Collaborative Projects programme will provide funding and support for 15 partnerships of post-16 providers to explore approaches to teaching Functional Skills.

Delivered by Creative Education and funded by the ETF, the programme will support the Further Education (FE) and Training Sector workforce with the introduction of the reformed maths and English Functional Skills in September 2019.

The main aims of the programme are to identify and disseminate:

• effective practice in delivering maths and English Functional Skills. 
• effective approaches to developing the staff who deliver Functional Skills. 

The outcomes of the 15 projects will be disseminated to the wider sector through ‘how to’ guides and videos.

The ETF and Creative Education are looking for project proposals with a clear focus on Functional Skills delivery which are collaborative, evidence-based, sustainable and transferrable. Each project must be delivered by a partnership of a minimum of two providers. This will provide a great opportunity for providers to compare approaches and develop successful strategies together.

Each partnership will receive funding and other support, including an assigned project mentor and a range of workshops throughout the year to ensure the projects have maximum impact.

The projects will begin in mid-November and conclude at the end of May 2019.

Providers who are interested should register their interest on the Creative Education website by the 30 September.

Once registered, individuals from the providers can attend a Proposal Development Workshop to find out more about the programme, build partnerships with other providers, explore ideas and craft the perfect proposal.

These are taking place around the country in September and October.

• Leeds – 26 September
• Birmingham – 27 September
• Manchester – 28 September
• London – 1 October
• Taunton- 2 October

Creative Education has managed more than 30 collaborative projects for the Education and Training Foundation across England, including projects developing an engaging maths and English curriculum with employers, and supporting the ‘learning-readiness’ of prison inmates.

Imke Djouadj, Head of Maths and English, at the Education and Training Foundation, said:  “This new programme will help support the FE workforce with the introduction of the new Functional Skills qualifications in 2019 by exploring, identifying and disseminating effective approaches to teaching maths and English Functional Skills.

“By improving teacher confidence and capability in the delivery of Functional Skills, these effective approaches will help increase learners’ level of engagement, attendance and progress in maths and English Functional Skills.”

Tom Hesmondhalgh, Commercial Director at Creative Education, said: “Collaborative projects are different to other forms of professional development in that they focus on providing solutions to the issues that matter to the practitioner, with solutions that are appropriate for their contexts.

“Providers who have participated in collaborative projects have found it a transformative experience. The opportunity to share ideas and develop innovative approaches within a supportive framework has enabled many providers to have a real impact on learner outcomes.”