Leeds Adult Learning - tutor support
The Leeds City Council Adult Learning provision has been assessed as Good by Ofsted (2017) and we are constantly working to not only retain this standard but to exceed it. Our aim is to become an outstanding adult learning provider and provide the best possible learning experience for our learners. To achieve this, we need to have clear expectations not just of what we would like you to do but also how we would like you to do it.
We understand that the role of tutor is a demanding one with many responsibilities and expectations. We will work with you and your manager to ensure that you fully understand the important part you play in the framework, our expectations of you and provide access to development opportunities.
Underpinning this is access to an appropriate and supportive performance management process which includes access to effective development and support. Your manager will have provided you with information about how your organisation monitors performance. This process should include regular opportunities to discuss your performance, aspirations, development needs and goals that you will work towards.
To support this process and to set appropriately challenging standards for our team of tutors to achieve, we have adopted a set of professional standards which have been created by The Education and Training Foundation and which cover three core areas:
- Professional values and attributes
- Professional knowledge and understanding
- Professional skills
You can also find out more from the Education and Training Foundation website.
In addition, further support is available through:
Tutor Handbook (guidance and Exemplar)
The Handbooks are designed to give you specific and general guidance for successful teaching on our courses as well as exemplars on how to use the templates. In particular they include guidance on:
Quality standards – so you know what we mean in terms of standards for delivery of teaching, learning and assessment and learner support.
Course documents – so you know what documents you are contractually obliged to complete in order to ensure quality and consistency and also demonstrate to our funders that the learners you work with are engaged in learning and are progressing towards their individual learning goals.
Professional Standards – so you know what we expect in terms of your values and attributes, knowledge, understanding and skills.
Toolkits
These are reference documents which provide further detailed information, guidance and practical suggestions you can use and cover specific areas of teaching and learning. They are reviewed regularly, and we are refreshing them following the publication of the new Education Inspection Framework and the Further Education and Skills Handbook.
Monthly drop in sessions
The dates for the full year are published in the tutor handbook. We offer a monthly drop in session at Technorth, where anyone working on the framework can book a slot and ask the team about anything they would like support with. To book a slot, please e-mail acls@leeds.gov.uk and let us know the topic you wish to talk about so we can ensure that the appropriate member of the team is available to support you.
Monthly workshops
Running alongside the drop in sessions (same day/time) these short workshops offer support on a range of topics and will supplement the Tutor Toolkits and Forums. Topics will be circulated to your manager at the start of each term
Termly Tutor Forums
The dates for the full year are published in the tutor handbook. Tutor Forums are a great way to meet other tutors as well as take part in a range of activities aimed at supporting improvements in delivery and keeping you up to date with all things Adult Learning. You will be paid for attending at a flat rate of £25.00. Places are limited and are offered on a first come first served basis.
We offer a range of forums each term including:
- A general tutor forum open to anyone teaching on our curriculum
- An induction forum specifically for tutors who are newly qualified and/or new to Adult Learning
- A FEML forum for anyone delivering Family English, Maths and Language
Coaching Support
Coaching can be a very useful tool to support professional and career development by helping you to reflect on your experience, consider your future development, deal with new and potentially challenging situations, and plan for the future. We can now offer this as part of our CPD offer. If you would like to benefit from this short supportive intervention, contact David Watson for more details.
Vacancies in Adult Learning
Many staff who work in Adult Learning work part time but may want or even need to work full time hours in order to be financially secure. This may be difficult to achieve working for one organisation but, using our vacancies page to advertise any additional availability and browsing vacancies will help you secure additional hours and benefit both yourself and our framework.
To advertise your availability, send your CV and details of what you are looking for to the Adult Learning team.