Funding applications open for Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment projects for English

Funding applications for Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment (OTLA) collaborative development projects that focus on approaches to teaching English have opened.

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has funded a team led by ccConsultancy, in partnership with That Reading Thing and Skills for Life Network, to manage and select up to 10 OTLA English projects.

This national collaborative development programme, supported by a team of national experts in Post-16 English, aims to systematically improve the teaching, learning and assessment of English.

The OTLA English programme offer groups of education and training providers to apply to access collaborative development grants worth up to £15,000 for each project.

Partnerships of learning providers will work with each other with the aim to develop and share approaches for ensuring outstanding practice across a full range of contexts and topics.

These projects will be informed by relevant practice-based research to enable improved practice, demonstrable through enhanced learner outcomes.

OTLA funded activities range from small scale projects involving single departments or individuals to region-wide activity promoting change and sharing of effective practice.

The programmes focus on empowering practitioners to enable effective practice that is most helpful for their own challenges. The wide range of activity that the ETF deliver is brought together under the banner of Outstanding Teaching Learning and Assessment (OTLA).

Julie Gibbings-Garrett, The ETF’s Head of Teaching, Learning and Assessment, said:

“The ETF supports a range of activities to improve teaching and training in the Further Education (FE) and Training sector. OTLA Projects focus on provider and practitioner defined problems, often linked to a current theme important to the sector.

“We encourage applications for the OTLA English programme that that focus on approaches to teaching English that solve current challenges in teaching, learning and assessment and that enhance attainment, retention and progression for learners.”

The themes of the projects will be determined by the sector, these could include:

• Spelling and reading using phonics
• Developing speaking and listening
• Developing reading and writing
• Working with learners to use assessment for learning to encourage progress and plan for learning
• Developing resilience through teaching and learning
• Meeting individual learners’ needs
• Creating a reading culture
• Developing new teaching strategies for improving English

Applications will close at midnight on 29th April 2019.

Further information for the OTLA English programme and how to apply can be found on the Skills for Life Network website.

Organisations wishing to submit proposals for funding should read the guidance document before completing the online application form. This form is designed for single organisations to apply to be included in one of the projects.

The OTLA team will select organisations to form project teams based on size, geography and common themes.

Visit the Education and Training Foundation website for more information on OTLA projects.