Home > News > January 2007 > 11 January 2007

TDA launches online training planner

An online guide designed to help school leaders plan and implement training for their support staff in language, literacy and numeracy skills has been launched by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA).

The Skills for Life planner, part of the Government's Skills for Life strategy, is designed in a 'dip in and out' format, with printable checklists, template forms for skills analysis, suggested questions for training providers and advice on reward and recognition.

Available online at www.tda.gov.uk/sflplanner, the planner also contains information on raising awareness of Skills for Life initiatives, business benefits, securing funding and evaluating success.

Over half a million support staff work in a range of support roles in schools, including teaching assistants, administrators, catering and premises staff and midday supervisors.

Bill Rammell, minister for higher education and lifelong learning, said: "We know that learning has a positive effect on social and family life and often provides individuals with a springboard to other opportunities, both in and outside the workplace.

"Skills development is a key priority for the government and I am pleased to say that Skills for Life initiatives are now becoming embedded throughout the education and training system. That can only be a good thing for both pupils and the wider community."

Jill Staley, director of the TDA's wider workforce programme, said: "There are now around half a million support staff working in England's schools and they all contribute to their school's success in raising standards.

"All support staff deserve the opportunity to brush up on or develop key skills so that they can help pupils even more effectively and, for many, the benefits of Skills for Life training extend beyond work.

"The Skills for Life planner concentrates on those areas where support is most often requested. It will save school leaders time, money and effort by helping them to maximise the great range of training opportunities for support staff."

External links

Skills for Life planner

More general information on the government's Skills for Life strategy can be found on the following websites: www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus and www.move-on.org.uk

Training Reference is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites.

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