Nationally Accredited and Sector Endorsed/Recognised training for Learning Mentors is on the increase.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

National Vocational Qualifications at levels 3 and 4 derived from our National Occupational Standards are now available through three awarding bodies: OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations, UK), Edexcel and the Open University (OU).

OCR and Edexcel have provided us with contact details should you wish to search for centres across the UK offering the NVQs, although it must be pointed out that provision does not yet cover all areas.  The contact details are as follows:

Edexcel: Customer Service line - 0870 240 9800

OCR: Customer Contact Centre 02476 851509 or email: vocational.qualifications@ocr.org.uk

Details of Edexcel's NVQ programme can be viewed here

Details of OCR's NVQ programmes can be viewed here

Foundation Degrees

Foundation Degree provision is also taking shape across the country.  The current list of courses which have achieved sector recognition (as of July 2006) is below:

Brighton University
Contact Mark Price - m.price@brighton.ac.uk

Canterbury University
Contact Dr. Barbara Bassot - b.e.bassot@canterbury.ac.uk

City University London
Contact Dr Ian Scott - i.scott@city.ac.uk

De Montfort University
Contact Bhups Narsey - bnarsey@dnu.ac.uk

Lancaster CETAD
Contact Jane O’Brien - cetad@lancaster.ac.uk

Leeds Metropolitan University
Contact John Dishman - J.dishman@leedsmet.ac.uk

Open university
Contact Julia Platt - j.m.platt@open.ac.uk

Teeside University
Contact Jonathan Roberts - J.roberts@tees.ac.uk

Liverpool John Moores University - The Diploma in Higher Education, Learning Development and Support
Contact  Fiona Crampton - F.Crampton@ljmu.ac.uk

All provision considers prior experience and achievement, although some of the Foundation Degrees provide credits for successful completion of the National Learning Mentor Initial Training programme on production of the certificate derived from successful portfolio completion.  Individual institutions should be contacted for more information.  The portfolio can also contribute to assessment planning for NVQs, but formal linkage does not exist at this stage.

Honours Degrees

As of yet, a sector recognition programme for Honours Degrees derived from our National Occupational Standards has not yet been developed.  We are aware of one Honours Degree in this field at present

BA (Hons) Learning Development and Support, Liverpool John Moores University

Contact Fiona Crampton – F.Crampton@ljmu.ac.uk

LJMU have provided the following text.  Students can choose to study for the full degree or exit earlier with the equivalent of a foundation degree. On production of the certificate, credit is given in the first year for the completion of the National Learning Mentor Initial Training programme. Study is part-time, with a blend of direct teaching on Saturdays (approximately one per month) and distance learning. Learning at Work modules allow credit to be achieved for workplace research.

Part of this qualification is the Diploma in Higher Education Learning Development and Support (first two years).  This element of the programme meets the learning outcomes and requirements as set out within the Statement of Requirements for the Foundation Degree in Working with Young People and Support Services .The  Diploma in Higher Education Learning Development and Support has therefore received sector recognition.

Other programmes

A range of related training and accreditation is also available through learning providers across the country, including universities, FE colleges and the like.  Again, this provision is not yet covered by any form of sector recognition, but can be useful to Learning Mentors, or people working in similar fields.  Interested parties should approach local learning providers to find out what is on offer.

We intend to look more closely at how we can develop a wider range of sector recognised qualifications which take into account pre-entry training and higher level qualifications, although planning is currently in the early stages.