Learner Supports and Resources

Learner Supports and Resources (Full details in Section 8 per our Quality Assurance Manual April 2022)

Policy

TalentPool regards the provision of appropriate learner supports and resources as critical components in the creation of an effective learning environment.  We are committed to supporting all learners to enhance their learning journey and to afford them the best possible chance of successfully completing their programme.

TalentPool  is committed to supporting learners with identified special support needs and providing reasonable accommodation for assessment where possible.  TalentPool defines learning resources as the collection of materials used to conduct a programme to include, but are not limited to, a programme handbook, programme materials, presentation graphics, texts, videos, software, and other materials. Learner supports focus on what TalentPool does to help learners beyond the formal delivery of programme content. TalentPool regard the provision of appropriate learner supports and resources as critical components in the creation of an effective learning environment.

Monitoring

Learners and Trainer Feedback – learners and trainers are asked to give their overall impression of learning resources and supports in their evaluation forms. We review this feedback on a regular basis.

Your trainer is responsible for ensuring all relevant programme documentation is distributed to learners and completed e.g. daily sign in sheets, evaluation forms etc.

Trainers provide formative and summative feedback to learners throughout the programme. Some trainers give provisional results to learners are part of the formative feedback process. In this case, the learners are advised to ‘Please note that all marks are provisional until they have been approved by the Results Approval Panel and may change’.

TalentPool accommodates special needs insofar as this is practicable and meets the programme needs, to ensure that learners who may need additional support can access and benefits from programmes. As well as direct support with programme content, TP recognise that learners often need help and guidance on administrative or personal issues e.g. delay an assignment because of sickness or cancel enrolment and postpone it to another date. The Quality Officer/Principal Officer is available to advise learners who may benefit from additional support from agencies. This includes NALA for learners who may have issues with literacy and the local ETB who may be able to offer English language support for those who do not meet the minimum entry requirements for programmes with regards to their level of written or spoken English.

Trainers (or Programme Leaders if appropriate) are available to meet learner on a one-to-one basis if a learner has a particular concern or an issue they wish to raise in confidence. The trainers’ record details of such meetings in a Learner Meeting Report which is submitted to the Quality Officer and details are recorded on the learners’ record (if considered significant).

The trainers are available to learners after the programme finishes (up to the point of certification) if they need to contact them. TalentPool ensures that the premises TalentPool use for training delivery are comfortable, well- maintained, fit-for-purpose and conducive to learning. While TalentPool is not in a position to provide structured pastoral care, it aims to provide a caring and supportive environment which supports the general wellbeing of learners. If any learners present to any member of staff with a problem, they will be supported whatever way possible. If the issue is outside remit or range of professional expertise, TalentPool will refer the learners onto professional support services.

Funding for Programmes

Details of fees and allowances for specific programmes are published on our website and in programme brochures. Learners studying long duration programmes may be eligible for an allowance as a contribution towards their expenses. The availability of allowances is conditional on budgetary constraints and allowances may be terminated without notice. TalentPool advise applicants about the possibility of receiving grant aid/funding for programme fees There is a portal on the website which makes application easy and assessable and there is staff member who advises learners or employers applying for grant aid/funding.

Group Representatives (Group Reps.)

At the start of each (long) programme, the Programme leader encourages learners to nominate one of the groups to represent the views of the Group and raise any issues that might impact the learning experience. Trainers maintain regular contact with group rep and discusses any issues that arise during the programme. If a trainer considers any matter arising from these discussions to be of serious concern or may involve risk, they bring the issue to the attention of the Quality Officer. TalentPool has a Guidelines for Group Reps document which the trainers give to rep when they are nominated.

Role of the Rep:

  • Maintain contact with trainers to discuss any issues that arise during the programme
  • Meet the trainers on an occasional basis to highlight/discuss issues
  • Assist communication between staff and learners in relation to programme matters
  • Act as a point of contact for learners

 

Facilitating Diversity

Fundamental to TalentPool’s mission is the principle of equality and inclusivity and we are committed to equality of access and attainment among learners. The organisation actively implements procedures which promote equality and combats discrimination. TalentPool aims to provide training which is suitable to all learners including those individuals or groups with additional or diverse needs to enable them to successfully participate in programmes insofar as this is possible and practicable.

TalentPool identify the diverse needs of learners at the application, registration and induction stages and considers each request for reasonable accommodation of a case-by-case basis. Applicants who have any learning support needs are asked to let staff know when they apply. However, while TalentPool make every effort to accommodate special needs, TalentPool only respond to requests that are reasonable and practicable and applicants must meet minimum entry requirements.

Ahead’s Teaching and Learning; Making learning accessible for those with disabilities in further education for guidance when making arrangements for reasonable accommodation. (Further details in Section 8 per our Quality Assurance Manual April 2022)

 

Learners Complaints and Grievances

TalentPool recognises and upholds people’s right to express a complaint in the event they feel mistreated or disadvantaged in any way in their dealings with TalentPool. We take all valid complaints seriously and strives to achieve speedy, equitable, timely and courteous solutions. The SD Unit does everything possible to resolve complaints informally and at the earliest possible opportunity. It this is not possible; a formal complaint can be made. All complaints are reviewed in a fair and consistent manner and resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction, insofar as this is possible. The SD Unit welcomes comments, suggestions and complaints about its performance and treats them as opportunities to review programmes, practice, procedures and identify areas for improvement.

Observations and complaints may come from learners, staff, trainers, employers, awarding bodies, statutory agencies and the general public. Trainers outline the complaints procedure at induction and in the Learner Handbook and learners are asked if they have any complaint in Learner Feedback Questionnaire. Complaint’s procedures apply to all complaints from or about learners.

The complaints procedure comprises two stages, outlined below:

Stage 1 – Informal Complaint Complaints can be made informally at any point to any member of staff. TP invites learner to highlight any issues of concern to their trainer in the first instance, at the earliest possible stage with a view to having the issue resolved informally before invoking the formal complaints procedure. To make an informal complaint, learners can raise an issue with their trainer using e-mail or face - to-face communication. The trainer will discuss the situation with the learner and attempt to generate positive solutions to resolve the issue. If a resolution cannot be reached, the formal complaints procedure, outlined below, is available to all learners. Learners should allow the trainer enough time to investigate or remedy the issue. The trainer receiving the complaint will attempt to resolve the complaint as soon as possible.

Stage 2 – Formal Complaint If an informal complaint is not resolved to the satisfaction of the learner, or if the learner feels that they cannot make an informal complaint to a trainer, they can make a formal complaint.

A formal complaint must be submitted in writing to the Quality Officer within five working days of initial contact or the issue arising (or as soon as is reasonably possible) – using the Learner Complaints Form providing a detailed account of the complaint.

  • The Quality Officer acknowledges receipt of the complaint and outline the course of action to be taken.
  • The Quality Officer investigates the complaint. The investigation may take different forms depending on the nature of the complaint. This process is completed within 30 days of receipt of the complaint where possible (where the investigation takes greater than 30 days, the complainant will be notified).
  • When the investigation of the complaint is complete the complainant will be notified in writing of the outcome by the Quality Officer
  • If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome, they can ask for a final review to be carried out. This request must be submitted in writing to the Manager of the Training Unit within 10 working days.
  • The Manager of the Training Unit appoints an independent senior member of staff to carry out the review. The decision arising from this review is final. The Quality Officer maintains a Complaints Log which is reviewed at each meeting of the TAD Committee.

 

Academic and Non-Academic Resources and Supports Available to Learners

The programme design team identify the human, physical and academic and non-academic supports and resources necessary for delivery of a programme and set out the details clearly in the programme descriptors prior to programme delivery. TP regards the provision of appropriate learner supports and resources as critical components in the creation of an effective learning environment.

 

Academic Resources and Supports Available to Learners

  • Highly trained, skilled and committed trainers and support staff many of whom are experienced practitioners with successful track records.
  • Use of an appropriate mix of training methodologies and styles to suit learners varying learning styles.
  • Premises used for training delivery are comfortable, well- maintained, fit-for-purpose and conducive to learning with appropriate, high-quality training equipment and resources.
  • The provision of programme materials and Learner Packs/Programme Handbooks (structured and detailed manual containing lesson plans, copies of reading materials, programme content, assessment criteria, reading/reference lists and assessment briefs for some of programmes)
  • Trainers provide formative and summative feedback to learners throughout the programmes.
  • Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) - currently being rolled out
  • Reasonable Accommodation/compassionate consideration
  • TalentPool accommodates special needs insofar as this is practicable and meets the programme needs, to ensure that learners who may need additional support can access and benefit from programmes of supports that TalentPool can make available to learner.
  • Examples of accommodations (this list is not exhaustive and any learner presenting with any other support need will be accommodated within reason to the best of the Training Unit’s ability)
  • Physical modifications to the training location e.g. seating arrangements etc.
  • Learning materials provided in accessible format where possible.
  • Additional time allocated to complete assessments.
  • Alternative assessment formats
  • Advice on Access, Transfer and Progression

 

Non-Academic Resources and Supports Available to Learners

TalentPool's aim is to provide a caring and supportive learning environment which supports the general wellbeing of learners. If any learners present to member of staff with a problem, they will be supported in every way possible. If the issue is outside the remit or range of professional expertise, we will refer the learners to professional support services.

Trainers (or Programme Leaders if appropriate) are available to meet learners on a one-to-one basis if a learner has a particular concern or issue, they wish to raise in confidence.

Trainers are available to learners by email/telephone after the programme finishes (up to the point of certification) if they need to contact them. As well as direct support with programme content, we recognise that learners often need help and guidance on administrative or personal issues e.g. delay an assignment because of sickness or cancel enrolment and postpone it to another date.

The Quality Officer/Administrators are available to advise learners. If TP identifies, during a programme, that an individual learner needs specific or special attention, trainers facilitate them with as much individual assistance as possible working within the constraints of programme delivery.

Representatives (Group Reps) System.

At the start of each (long) programme, the Trainer/Principal Officer encourages learners to nominate one group member to represent the views of the group and raise any issues that might impact on the learning experience. The trainers maintain regular contact with the group reps and discusses any issues that arise during the programme. If a trainer considers any matter arising to be of serious concern or may involve risk, they bring the issue to the attention of the Quality Officer.

Safeguarding – TP has a detailed and comprehensive safeguarding policy and procedures in place to help ensure that any learner aged 18 or under and the members of the programme teams who work with them are fully protected.

Data Protection - TP has a detailed and comprehensive data protection policy and procedures in place to help ensure that learners personal data is fully protected and used only for the purposes for which it is intended

Health and Safety – the health and safety of learners is of paramount importance. There is a health and safety/risk assessment for each programme which is reviewed regularly by the relevant Programme Board and additional mitigating measures put in place if considered necessary. Health and safety are addressed at Learner Induction and in the Learner Handbook.

Appeals Processes - We facilitate learners who wish to appeal an assessment result/process and a process to facilitate learners who are not successful in an application for entry to a programme.

Complaint Process - We have a complaints process in place which any learner who is unhappy with a programme or services can use. All complaints are reviewed in a consistent manner and resolved fairly and to the complainant’s satisfaction, insofar as this is possible.

Equality and Diversity Policy - in place which clearly sets out Talentpool’s commitment to facilitating diversity and difference in all units of TalentPool. TalentPool aims to provide training which is suitable to all learners including those individuals or groups with additional or diverse needs to enable them to successfully participate in programmes insofar as this is possible and practicable. TP identify the diverse needs of learners at the application, registration and induction stages and considers each request for reasonable accommodation of a case-by-case basis.

Learner induction - Trainers/Principal and/or Programme Leaders induct learners at the outset of each programme using a standard induction PowerPoint presentation. Induction includes an introduction to TP, to the Training Unit, the awarding body and to the programme. The most important supports/services are highlighted at Induction. The trainers make a copy of the Learner Handbook available to learners at Induction. Details of the full range of supports and services available to learners are detailed in this Learner Handbook. Opportunities for industry networking Careers advice/employer introductions Funding for Programmes. TP advise applicants about the possibility of receiving grant aid/funding for programme fees and, in some cases, subsistence costs national and European funding mechanisms. There is a portal on the website which makes application easy and assessable and there is staff member who advises learners or employers applying for grant aid/funding. Provision of clear, comprehensive and up-to-date information at all stages of the learning journey is accessible and in user-friendly formats.

Supporting Documents

  • Equality and Diversity Policy
  • Safeguarding Policy
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Guidelines for Group Reps

Supporting Processes

  • Provision of Reasonable Accommodation/Compassionate Consideration
  • Facilitating Diversity
  • Appeals Process (Assessment)
  • Appeals Process (Admissions)
  • Complaints Process