Community & Family Learning Handbook

Welcome to Nottingham City Council’s

Community & Family Learning Service

We are pleased to have the opportunity to work in partnership with a range of local organisations to deliver a high-quality service to citizens across Nottingham. In particular, we aim to provide learning in less advantaged communities.

We hope that you enjoy your learning experience!

Community & Family Learning

What is it?

Targeted at citizens of all backgrounds, Community & Family Learning is a suite of activities and programmes aimed at:

u Encouraging adults to take the first steps into learning

u Improving basic literacy and numeracy skills

u Improving the confidence, health, and wellbeing of individuals and families

u Equipping parents and guardians with the skills and knowledge to support their children’s learning and development

u Helping parents to understand the vital role that they play in their children’s learning and development

u Improving digital skills and online safety

u Increasing awareness and understanding of STEM subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

u Improving financial literacy

u Supporting adults in improving their employability and job prospects Courses can involve adults and children together or just adults/parents learning in a group.

How is it organised?

u Community & Family Learning is funded by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and organised by Nottingham City Council

u Nottingham City Council contract with local providers and groups to deliver the courses Learning can be formal and informal within the community or school setting.

What you can expect from us…

Nottingham City Council want you to enjoy your learning opportunity and hope that it helps you to develop your interests and confidence. We believe that you deserve a good quality experience and we will do all we can to make this happen. As a learner you have a right to:

◆ Have the chance to say what sort of learning interests you and the best ways for you to learn

◆ Get advice on courses that are right for you and will help with your plans for the future

◆ Get information that is clear and easy to understand

◆ Join a cours e simply and easily

◆

B e informed as to what to expect from your learning

◆ B e made aware of the facilities that are available at your place of learning and the location

u Learn in a safe, friendly environment

u Good quality teaching that supports your learning needs

u Good quality teaching aids that help you learn

u Have feedback on how you are getting on

u Respect from all staff and fellow students

u Help to decide what to do next.

u The chance to let us know if:

1. You are unhappy with any part of your learning

2. You feel that you have not been treated fairly or have been discriminated against

3. You would like to discuss anything to do with your current or future learning

4. You feel unsafe at any point on your programme.

Equal Opportunities:

“Nottingham City Council believes and recognises that the diversity of Nottingham’s communities is a huge asset that should be valued and seen as one of the City’s great strengths.”

u We see Community & Family Learning as an opportunity for families from all cultures and backgrounds to meet and learn from each other

u We are committed to supporting you as best we can if you have additional learning or access needs and to fully meeting the expectations of the Disability Discrimination Act

We expect you to:

u Show understanding, interest and respect towards learners who are from different cultures and backgrounds

u Let your tutor know if you feel that you or someone else in the group is not being treated fairly or feels they are being bullied

u Let your tutor know if you have a learning difficulty and/or disability as soon as you can, so that we can arrange to accommodate your needs in the class, exams or regarding accessibility

u Try to attend regularly, punctually and remember your folder and equipment

u Let us know if you will be absent or wish to leave the course

u Follow all health and safety guidelines and keep areas tidy and hygienic

u With our support , complete necessary forms and documents

u Feel confident to be able to challenge, in an appropriate way, your workload

u Take responsibility for your own learning

u Tell your tutor if you are worried someone is showing signs of being radicalised

Health and Safety

You are entitled to a safe, healthy and supportive environment, wherever learning takes place. In order for us to achieve this, we:

u Require all providers to assess the suitability of venues and subsequently risk assess the activities you will be undertaking

u Provide you with an induction to Health and Safety when starting the learning or training at each new location, including fire, first aid and emergency procedures

u Ask all learners undertaking physical activity to complete a health questionnaire so that their tutor is aware of any health issues and can adapt their teaching accordingly

u Ask all learners using computers to adjust their chair correctly, use a footrest and document holder if needed, and to make sure regular breaks, away from the screen, are taken

u Ask learners to be aware of their own personal safety when travelling to and from classes

u Inform all learners that health and safety is everyone’s responsibility and to report any concerns to their tutor

Data protection

On 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation, known as GDPR, came into effect. This imposes additional obligations on organisations and gives you extra rights around how your data is used.

u We want you to know that the Community & Family Learning Service respects the information we hold on you and that we take the security of your information very seriously.

u We have recently published a new privacy notice to give you more information on the data we hold on you, what we do with that data, who we share your data with and your new rights under the General Data Protection Regulation.

Why do we collect data and what do we do with it?

The personal data we collect is used to report on the effectiveness of our programmes, monitor the achievement and progression of learners and enable us to plan our future provision. It helps us to ensure that we offer learning opportunities to as many Nottingham City residents as possible, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and disability.

The personal information you provide to Nottingham City Council is passed to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Where necessary, it is also shared with the Department for Education (DfE). The information is used for the exercise of functions of these government departments and to meet statutory responsibilities, including under the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, and to create and maintain a unique learner number (ULN) and a personal learning record (PLR). The information you provide may be shared with other organisations for education, training, employment and well-being related purposes, including for research. You may be contacted by the English European Social Fund (ESF) Managing Authority, or its agents, to carry out research and evaluation to inform the effectiveness of the programme. Further information about use of and access to your personal data, and details of organisations with whom we regularly share data are available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-privacynotice

We may use the personal information you have provided for the following purposes; to contact you about learning opportunities, for surveys and research and we may contact you after your programme to establish whether you have entered employment or gone onto further education or training.

Changing your mind and access to your information

If you have consented to us using or sharing your information for any purposes other than to meet our statutory responsibilities, e.g. research or marketing, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time. You have a right to request a copy of the information we hold about you. If you would like a copy of some or all of your personal information or if any of the information we hold for you is incorrect, please email or write to us.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice, your rights, or if you have a complaint about how your information has been used, please contact The Data Protection Officer (DPO) in writing or email to the following addresses:

Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG Data.ProtectionOfficer@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

How do we keep track of your progress and achievement?

Your learning diary is your record of your progress and achievements. Used carefully, it will aid you and your tutor to evaluate your progress and plan future sessions relevant to meeting your learning needs.

Additional learner support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or medical need we can offer a range of services, including:

u Support in the classroom

u Support for examinations and assessment

u Support with English and maths, and

u Providing specialist equipment. Please contact your tutor to discuss in more detail.

Learning styles

Your tutor will also discuss with you the range of differing learning styles we all have, how they can affect your child’s learning and progress and how together you can get the most out of each session.

Learning styles are a way to help improve your quality of learning. By understanding your own personal styles, you can adapt the learning process and techniques you use.

To try a learning styles test, visit: www.learning-styles-online.com and select free learning styles inventory test www.vark-learn.com and select questionnaire

Safeguarding

Safeguarding children and adults is very important to us all. Abuse can happen to anyone of any age, and it needs to be taken seriously. We encourage you to talk to someone, whether it is happening to you, or you witness it happening to someone else, or they tell you about it. It should never be ignored. This is the one area of our work with adults and families which can never be kept confidential. All our staff are trained to recognise it and report it. If you know about it, you should report it, by talking to someone at school, the tutor a friend or report it your self to the NSPCC, a domestic abuse organisation, the police, or to the designated safeguarding lead for Community and Family Learning.

Abuse includes

Vulnerable Adults

A vulnerable adult is defined within the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) Policy as: ‘A person aged 18 years and over who is or maybe in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness AND

Who is or maybe unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation’

Those in need of community care may include:

u People with a learning disability

u People with a physical disability

u People with mental ill health

u People who are profoundly deaf

Domestic Abuse

Useful contacts and websites

u People who are visually impaired

u People who are deafblind

u People over 65

u People with HIV/AIDS

Centre for women’s Justice w ww.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk NCPCC www.nspcc.org.uk Childline call Childline on 0800 1111

Domestic Abuse – to get help – who to contact and how National Helpline number: 0808 2000 247

How to contact Nottingham Central Women’s aid

Helping women and children live free from fear. An independent charity providing life-saving services to women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

Call us: 0115 960 7943 30 Chaucer Street, Nottingham NG1 5LP

Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum 2 First Ave, Nottingham · 0115 962 3237

Victim Support Community services/non-profits St . Nicholas Ct, Nottingham · 0300 303 1967

Nottingham City Council www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/information-for-residents/housing/homelessness-prevention-andadvice/domestic-abuse/

County Lines

‘County Lines’ is when gangs and organised crime networks groom and exploit children, young people and vulnerable adults to sell drugs. Often these children are made to travel across counties, and they use dedicated mobile phone ‘lines’ to supply drugs. Children as young as 7 are being put in danger by criminals who are taking advantage of how innocent and inexperienced these young people are. Any child, young person or vulnerable adult can be exploited, no matter what their background. Sometimes this also involves taking over someone’s home to use as a base, known as ‘cuckooing’.

If you suspect this is happening, please report to: the Police:101 or 999 www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/media/3332814/county-lines-guidance.pdf

Prevent and British Values

British values are defined as: “Democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.” (Prevent Duty Guidance, HM Government, December 2014)

They were defined to support the people who live in Britain to respect each other, and to live in harmony together.

Many people have different points of view about all aspects of life, and we should respect these differences even when we disagree with them.

The difficulty comes when some people have extreme points of view, including far right, far left and extreme religious beliefs. We call this extremism. This can lead to violence and terrorism.

Some examples are:

Violent extremism refers to the activity of individuals or groups conducting acts by any means to express views which justify or glorify terrorist violence. This includes those that encourage others to commit terrorist acts or provoke others into terrorist related activity. It also includes those who foster hatred which may lead to inter-community tensions and violence within the United Kingdom.

Radicalisation is the process where a vulnerable young person or adult changes their perception and beliefs due to exposure of an extremist influence (which may be online, publication or one to one direct contact) to become more extremist in nature which may result in extremist actions.

Prevent is a government programme designed to identify and support any people of any age, race or culture who are at risk of joining extremist groups and carrying out terrorist activities.

Click, Report, Protect: www.gov.uk/report-terrorism or report to your local police.

If you have any further queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your local authority Prevent team:

Email: Prevent@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Call: Amy Goulden, Prevent Coordinator, 07818 458 778

ICT safe working practices and acceptable use policy

The Community & Family Learning Service may provide you with ICT equipment to support your learning. Typical activities may include: online research, online learning applications, word processing, internet research, e-learning or applications related to your course of study. As a learner, you have a duty when using Nottingham City Council, Community & Family Learning internet and computer resources. Your tutor will share the ICT policy with you; please ensure you understand your responsibilities and any questions relating to the policy, please raise these with your tutor directly.

Useful websites

There are a lot of fun learning sites on the internet!

Please check all websites for suitability before letting your children use them. Sites may change and we are not responsible for the content. u w ww.bbc.co.uk/skillswise

Improve your English and maths with Skillswise. This site is aimed at Level 1 learners for literacy and numeracy. A mixture of factsheets, interactive games and worksheets with answers. Very useful resource with some differentiation to Entry 3 and Level 2.

Other sites…

General

u w ww.teachingideas.co.uk u www.enchantedlearning.com u www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize u www.happychild.org.uk u www.familylearning.org.uk u www.primaryworksheets.co.uk u www.primaryresources.co.uk u https://uk.ixl.com u www.twinkl.com u FORMATE

Numeracy u w ww.mathcats.com u www.mathsisfun.com u www.math-exercises-for-kids.com

Literacy u w ww.booktrust.org.uk u www.literacytrust.org.uk u www.sparklebox.co.uk u www.fundamentallychildren.com

Parents & Carers u w ww.bbc.co.uk/parenting u www.familylives.org.uk u www.fosteringnetwork.org.uk u www.netmums.com u https://gov.uk u https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

Dads u w ww.fnf.org.uk/ u www.onlydads.org u www.fatherhoodinstitute.org

Kids u w ww.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies u www.ancientegypt.co.uk u www.activityvillage.co.uk u www.twinkl.com

Science u w ww.sciencemadesimple.co.uk u www.nhm.ac.uk u www.madscience.org Internet Safety u www.net-aware.org.uk u www.netaware.org.uk/ networks/?order=popularity u www.everybodyplays.co.uk u www.commonsensemedia.org u www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre u www.parentzone.org.uk u www.nspcc.org.uk/preventingabuse/ keeping-children-safe/onlinesafety/#tips Domestic Violence Support u www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk u https://junowomensaid.org.uk u www.victimsupport.org.uk u www.nottinghamwomenscentre.com

FREE careers advice for adults

Tracy Winter - Community Family Learning Partnership & IAG Coordinator

We would like you to gain the most out of your Community Learning course. As part of your journey, Nottingham City Council provides an impartial Information, Advice and Guidance session during your course to support you in identifying a range of:

◆ Local engaging activities

◆ Further training courses

◆

Education and Employment pathways

My role as Community Family Learning Partnership & IAG Coordinator is to provide information, advice and guidance. I can support you with one-to-one sessions, advice on CV writing and signposting to achieve your goals towards further education, training and employment.

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact

Tracy Winter

Community Family Learning Partnership & IAG Coordinator

Mobile: 07929 667 364

E: tracy.winter@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Looking for work in Nottingham

Nottingham Jobs

Local jobs for local people. You can search and apply for vacancies or sign up for training opportunities. To register call 0115 876 4508 or visit www.nottinghamjobs.com

Indeed

If you wish to widen your options search Indeed. A national website that offers a wide variety of job opportunities across the UK, including Nottingham. To search and apply visit www.indeed.co.uk

Have you considered work experience or volunteering?

Both are fantastic ways to gain specific skills and experience in areas that interest you if you are considering a return to work or looking at a new career.

Other benefits include:

u Gaining a valuable insight into different careers

u Developing your confidence and self-esteem

u Helping to enhance your CV and covering letters

u Gaining you new references

u Opportunities to build networks and access the hidden jobs market

Work experience opportunities are available on www.nottinghamjobs.com and at all Job Centre Plus locations. For further information contact your work coach.

Volunteering opportunities can be found at www.do-it.org or www.nottinghamcvs.co.uk/volunteering

You can also contact your local voluntary services.

Want to brush up on your English or maths skills?

Begin

Begin supports learners to identify the available provision for speakers of other languages to improve their English spoken, written, and writing skills, as well as providing information of current ESOL courses available.

CFL provide Basic ESOL courses for those first initial steps into improving English, as we are aware that these are vital skills needed for progressing into further training, volunteer work and pathways to employment.

Improving English can also help you to:

u Support children who are learning new things at school

u Get better qualifications

u Improve employment status

u Build confidence in speaking English language

Whatever your needs, phone Begin for help and advice. Begin is a free service that is designed to find the right English, maths or ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) course for you.

Phone our confidential helpline to speak to a friendly adviser: u 0115 978 0942 (Greater Nottingham)

Begin help over 3,000 people a year to find the right local course. They will be happy to help you!

Support for families...

The

u Finding childc are to suit you

u Activities for children and young people aged 0-20 years

u Sources of help and support for you and your family’s needs

u Training and guidance on working with children

Contact them on freephone 0800 458 4114 | Email: fis@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Feedback

We welcome any feedback that you can provide us with to help us improve the quality of our courses. Your tutor will provide you with a feedback postcard. Please feel free to complete this with your comments at any time during the programme and return it, in confidence, to:

Community & Family Learning, Nottingham City Council, 4th Floor, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG

Telephone: 0115 876 4508 | Email: learn@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Each month, returned postcards/e-mails offering feedback will be entered into a prize draw, with the winner receiving a £10 voucher.

The Complaints Procedure

We hope that you will have no reason to complain about your learning experience, however complaints provide an opportunity to improve our services. Any concerns you have about your course should, in the first instance, be raised with your course provider, who will follow their complaints procedure. If you remain dissatisfied, please contact Community & Family Learning:

Telephone: 0115 876 4508 | Email: learn@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or in writing to:

Community & Family Learning, Nottingham City Council, 4th Floor, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG

Once we have received your complaint, we will contact you within 5 working days acknowledging receipt of your letter. Your complaint will then be dealt with in accordance with the City Council Complaints Procedure.

If you have a complaint about your tutor then please contact the provider in the first instance.

If you remain dissatisfied contact Community & Family Learning using the contact details above.

Learner Entitlement Statement

Community & Family Learning

Welcome!

We want you to enjoy this Community & Family Learning opportunity and hope that it helps you to develop your interests and confidence. We believe that you deserve a good quality experience and we will do all we can to make this happen. You have a right to:

u Join a cours e simply and easily

u B e told what to expect from your learning

u B e told the facilities that are available at your place of learning and where they are

u Friendly, safe facilities to learn in

u Respect from all staff and fellow students

u The chance to say what sort of learning interests you and the best way for you to learn

u Good quality teaching that supports your learning needs

u Good quality teaching aids that help you to learn

u Have feedback on how you are getting on

u Advice on courses that are right for you and will help with your plans for the future

u Get help to decide what to do next

u Information that is clear and easy to understand

u The chance to let us know if:

1 You are unhappy with any part of your learning

2 You feel that you have not been treated fairly or have been discriminated against

3 You would like to discuss anything to do with your current or future learning

4 You feel unsafe

5

If you are worried someone is showing signs of being radicalised

6 You are concerned about a safeguarding issue, including physical, sexual, emotional, discriminatory, financial or psychological

It is very important to the service that we get to know about any ways that we can support you and/or any problems that you may experience.

Please contact the team on 0115 876 3533 to speak in confidence to one of the team or email learn@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Working with

Learner Induction Checklist

As part of your learner induction, you should receive information about the following:

u Agreeing and recording your individual learning needs and your progress towards meeting them

u Learning styles and how they affect you and your children’s learning

u Arrangements for accessing impartial information and advice about other courses or training you may wish to move on to

u Health and s afety procedures including any that relate to the course, fire and emergency evacuation procedures and first aid

u Working agreement

u Information about our equal opportunities policies, (including bullying and harassment) and what to do if you feel bullied or harassed

u The importance of attending your class regularly and on time

u What you need to do if you cannot attend a session/s or if you leave the course before it finishes

u Practical arrangements including childcare, break times, refreshments, toilets, car parking and security issues

u The importance of providing up-to-date contact details so you can be notified of changes to or postponements of lessons

u How to access additional support

u e-s afety policy (if applicable)

u Cours e feedback postcard

u The importance of confidentiality

Tutor signature:

Learner signature:

Date: