Functional Skills Support Programme (FSSP) 2008–2009

Introduction

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has charged the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) and the Secondary National Strategy (SNS) with leading work to design and develop a programme of support for the introduction of functional skills. The combined knowledge, established networks and specialist associates of all partners will facilitate effective and efficient delivery of the programme.

The Functional Skills Support Programme (FSSP) began in the summer of 2007 to support the first tranche of pilot centres participating in the pilot of functional skills qualifications. The programme provided four days of CPD delivered by the National Strategies (NS) in partnership with the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA).

The offer for the next phase of the pilot has been informed both by the review undertaken by the DCSF and evaluation by NS. Feedback requested:

• greater flexibility in the delivery of training – that is, the possibility of combining sessions into fewer full days or segmenting them into a series of half-day or twilight sessions
• the introduction of an element of choice for centres that would take into account their different starting points and expertise in implementing the skills agenda.