Support for work-based learning consortia in Wales

Descriptions

In July 2010, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) issued an invitation to tender for the delivery of work-based learning (WBL) programmes over the period 1 August 2011 – 31 July 2014. The tenders will be evaluated in autumn 2010, with successful bidders being notified in March 2011.It is anticipated that as a result of the tender, approximately ten provider partnerships, consortia and joint ventures will be established. DCELLS wishes to commission a programme of support for WBL consortia which will help to ensure that they establish consistent systems for the management and delivery of learning across their membership.The contractor’s objectives will be to:•Work with DCELLS to carry out a baseline review of tender submissions and evaluations, in order to identify good practice and weaknesses. •Design and deliver regional workshops for consortium members, focusing on effective partnership working and on the policies, management practices and systems which will need to be established.•Deliver individualised consultancy support to each consortium, to reflect its starting point and particular strengths and weaknesses.•Use the outcomes of the support programme to develop practical guidance for consortia, drawing on other resources including Estyn’s review of sub-contracting arrangements in WBL (due to report in March 2011). It is intended that the support programme will focus primarily on consortia management systems and processes rather than on the delivery of learning, although each consortium is expected to place learners’ experiences and outcomes at the centre of their planning.DCELLS has identified the following key areas to be addressed by the programme:(i)Quality assurance: each consortium will need to develop a ‘joined-up’ quality cycle, based on regular self-assessment in line with DCELLS’ self-assessment guidance. These must include quality development planning and progress monitoring. Each consortium needs to establish arrangements for using peer review to bring additional rigour to its quality cycle (working within the consortium’s membership and/or with other WBL providers), and to ensure that mechanisms are in place to disseminate and build on best practice within the partnership.(ii)Data and benchmarking: New consortia will need to develop integrated data systems and to ensure that all members are meeting performance targets. In addition, DCELLS wants to increase the use of benchmarking in WBL and will expect consortia to use comparative data to identify strengths and areas for improvement. (iii)Policy requirements: each consortium is contractually required to have in place a number of policies which reflect DCELLS priorities and legal obligations. These include:•Equal opportunities (including bullying and harassment);•Welsh medium education;•Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship;•Learner involvement; and•Protection of children and vulnerable adults. (iv)Planning and operational management: consortia will need to establish planning cycles to ensure that they meet the requirements of the WBL programme specifications. The Welsh Assembly Government, on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, will be conducting this procurememt exercise through the etenderwales portal https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk. Tender documents and other information must be downloaded from and returned through this portal. If you require any further assistance the BravoSolution helpdesk is available on:Email: help@bravosolution.co.uk Phone: 0800 3684850 / Fax: 020 7060 0480Full information in accessing the portal is found in Section VI.3.