This is a document detailing the organisation's policies and procedures. It should include any forms that tutors will use. This Manual contains standard operating procedures across all/any training, and will not necessarily change over time. If there are any changes to the Operation Manual over time, Skills Active must be informed in writing.
Mission Statement, Aims and Objectives
This should be the same content as in the learner pack. It is the tutor's responsibility to uphold these.
Example
- "[provider name] will commit to offer the highest quality of training possible. We will do this by ensuring we take into account each learner's needs and learning styles. All learners will be given the opportunity to provide feedback and we commit to address any issues raised. We shall also provide up to date research and all tutors will be occupationally competent".
Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure
The equal opportunities policy describes your commitment to ensure that all learners are given the fair and non-discriminatory opportunity to participate in your training. The procedures describe how you will ensure that the policy is consistently applied. Equal opportunities policy and procedures are a legal requirement and give learners confidence in your ability to cater for and adapt to their individual learning needs.
Examples:
- "All learners will be asked to identify any specific individual needs in relation to the training to enable us to take the necessary steps to ensure that they will be able to access the training appropriately, e.g. hearing impairment . Having prior knowledge of learner needs enables the tutor to adapt the materials and training methods to suit the identified needs."
- "We are committed to ensuring that learners will be treated with respect, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or religion or social background. Should individual requirements be identified, then [provider] will endeavour to accommodate their needs, where-ever possible."
- "We will ensure our teaching methods accommodate a wide range of learning styles"
Appeals procedure
The appeals procedure gives the learner confidence that they will be assessed in a fair and appropriate way. The appeals procedure sets out how a learner may make a formal appeal against an assessment decision that they deem has been conducted inappropriately or unprofessionally.
The appeals procedure should cover:
- The purpose
- Grounds for appeal
- Appeals procedure
- Appeal outcomes
- Appeal request form
Policy for Learning Support and Reasonable Adjustments
This policy details your commitment and scope towards providing support for learners in relation to their individual learning needs, for example dyslexia, other learning needs or disabilities. The policy lists the range of 'reasonable adjustments' to the training and assessment that will be put in place to support the learner and ensure they have fair access to learning and assessment opportunities. Areas to cover are:
- Resources: CD ROM – Enlarged Text
- Training: Provide extra support time or tour of venue
- Assessment: Reader – Scribe – additional time
Quality Assurance Policy and Procedure
The Quality Assurance Policy sets out your commitment towards ensuring that all training and assessment consistently meets SkillsActive/Awarding Organistion quality standards. The procedures describe the steps you will take to ensure that all training and assessment, across all venues and with different tutors is quality assured. A suitably qualified (V1) Quality Assurance Verifier is required to ensure that:
- regular staff training and meetings take place and are recorded
- assessment decisions are correctly recorded and sampled for validity and reliability
- teaching and learning is observed and any development needs recorded and acted upon
- Provision is made for different learner needs
It is important that you cover both the policy (what you are committing to do) and what the procedure is (how you are going to do it).
Tutor Procedures for Recording and Retaining Evidence
SkillsActive requires endorsed training providers to retain training and assessment records for a minimum of 2 years. Therefore, you must describe how you will retain and securely store learner's assessment and training records.
