Why are we here

1
Why are we here?
The Challenge Project aims to raise the English
and maths skills of Tyne and Wear residents by
giving people the chance to gain Level 1 and
Level 2 National Test qualifications, and by
improving the quality and raising the profile of
the Skills for Life profession.
2
Why are we here?

• To raise the profile of the Skills for Life
  agenda in the wider FE sector
• To experiment with recruitment methods and
  communicate our findings to providers
• To give a supportive context for the PLUS
  Strategy in Tyne and Wear.

3
Respect

• We will treat all participants in the project
  with respect. We aim to provide equality of
  opportunity for all learners regardless of the
  diversity of their individual backgrounds and
  needs, where they are recruited and the provider
  at which they attend.

4
Respect

• We will actively engage communities across Tyne
  and Wear ensuring all residents have equal access
  to the project
• We will treat everyone we are in contact with
  equally regardless of age, race, gender,
  disability or sexual orientation
• All our policies and processes will be fair and
  transparent.

5
Partnerships

• Effective partnership working is vital to the
  success of the project.

6
Partnerships

• We will build robust partnerships with all
  stakeholders
• We will be consistent in our approach to
  partnership working
• We will benefit from the knowledge of others
• We will deploy resources efficiently and
  effectively
• We will influence Skills for Life practitioners
  and Skills for Life delivery both during and
  after the lifetime of the project.

7
A Professionalised Workforce

• The project is committed to upskilling the
  workforce across a range of levels. We are as
  dedicated to raising the professional aptitude of
  all staff involved in the Skills for Life sector
  as we are to empowering learners.

8
A Professionalised Workforce

• National Test
• Bespoke training events
• Level 3 and Level 4 Literacy and Numeracy subject
  specialist courses
• Project staff
• Short-course training.

9
Promote the benefits of Skills for Life
qualifications

• The National Test qualifications carry huge
  benefits for individual learners, their families,
  employers and the economy.

10
Promote the benefits of Skills for Life
qualifications

• Proactive recruitment
• Imaginative marketing
• Networking with partners
• Contribution to relevant events and conferences.

11
Challenging the silo mentality

• The project will apply the techniques, knowledge
  and experience of other professions to the Skills
  for Life sector.

12
Challenging the silo mentality

• Break new ground in recruitment practice
• Employ skilled project staff with experience from
  a wealth of different arenas, including the
  corporate sector
• Learn from the experience of the national project
  Move On
• Act as a model of good practice for similar
  Skills for Life projects, including Test the
  Toon and Test the County
• Disseminate models of recruitment with potential
  learners in the region.

13
What do we call success?

• Success will be measured both quantitatively and
  qualitatively.

14
What do we call success?

• Meet all targets specified in the bid document
• The Skills for Life Community accept innovative
  ways of recruiting as a viable option
• Produce qualitative data about the learners
  experiences
• Learning Partnerships are fully informed about
  the lessons learnt and information gained from
  the Challenge Project
• 360 feedback.

15
We are committed to learner success

• We will support our learners to achieve their
  qualifications and as part of this have a
  commitment to their retention. This commitment
  extends both to National Test learners and to
  those undertaking practitioner training.

16
We are committed to learner success

• We will work with providers to support our
  learners to attend provision and to achieve
  qualifications
• We will work with providers to deliver a suitable
  learning environment to our learners
• We will establish effective systems to produce
  accurate information.

17
Exit Strategy

• We have a responsibility to prepare our staff
  for the end of the project. We will do all we can
  to support them in their immediate career
  progression.
• The Challenge Project aims to leave behind a
  legacy of experience which can inform future
  recruitment of Skills for Life learners, employer
  liaison and continuing development for Skills for
  Life professionals. 

18
Exit Strategy

• Promote CPD opportunities for our staff
• Produce a thorough project evaluation to be
  circulated to all funders, learning partnerships,
  providers and other interested parties
• Feed in our experiences to learning partnerships
• Encourage provider networks and other groups to
  continue after the end of our project
• Legacy of experience which will inform a
  sustainable framework of good practice.