You can find an interactive version of this handbook on the following link:

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2 Thank you for choosing to learn with NAC Group PLC. This handbook is designed to provide you with information that we hope will help you make the most of your time with us. You can find an interactive version of this handbook on the following link:

3 Key staff on your course: Mick Donkin Gary McKenna Kevin Corrigan Tutor Manufacturing and Logistics, Mentor in the workplace GCSE Manufacturing Tutor delivering on full-time study programme and support Mick in Traineeship Tutor and Assessor, Manufacturing and Logistics Sara Newton Functional Skills Tutor Alison Brough Sophie Smith Learner Support Officer and Mentor Admin Support with key functions such as enrolments, induction, processing expenses and main contact for any queries Joanne Milburn Business Development Officer

4 Learner Charter NAC is committed to providing all learners with a quality learning experience whatever their individual needs. This document was designed to provide useful information and guidance relating to your programme of study including: 1. what you have a right to expect as a learner 2. your responsibilities as a learner 3. the action you can take if you are dissatisfied with your experience 1) What you have a right to expect as a learner Information, advice and enrolment NAC will provide accurate and current information on our courses to include details of the course on which you are enrolling and what you can get out of it information about the qualifications you can achieve advice on which level of course best suits your needs Training Officers/Assessors Training Officers / Assessors are selected because they are competent in their subject area, and enthusiastic when delivering learning. All trainers maintain their own training and development to ensure their knowledge and skills are up-to-date. They are open to suggestions about improvements that could be made to the courses they deliver. Training Officers will: take into account your previous experience and current level of ability, and plan work that is suited to your needs

5 plan interesting and stimulating classes including a variety of activities so that learning is at its most effective provide you with feedback on your progress and how you can improve During the course Throughout the course, we will support you to achieve your learning aims including taking into account any special needs you may have and doing what we can to support them providing appropriate and current learning materials at the end of the course When you ve completed your course you will be provided with information about other learning opportunities. We will ask you for feedback on the course and how you think it could be improved. 2) Your responsibilities as a learner To ensure that all learners have an equal chance of completing the course, we ask that you: respect the rights of others, regardless of differences in culture, ability, race, gender, age, sexual orientation or economic status attend all course sessions arrive at the sessions in plenty of time complete course work within the deadlines set by your trainer and discuss any problems with them notify your trainer or admin officer if you are unable to attend a session let us know if you need further assistance when completing your coursework 3) What you should do if you are dissatisfied with your learning experience during the course If you feel that we have not met the commitments we have made in this charter, you can: speak to your Training Officer, and, if necessary, take up the matter with the centre co-ordinator or your manager refer to the Compliments and Complaints policy (a copy of which is available from your Training Officer) use the feedback form to make comments at the end of the programme

6 NAC Policies & Procedures Equality and Diversity NAC is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all learners. Everyone has the right to feel comfortable and productive in what they are doing; the equal opportunities policy has been established to make sure that happens. NAC does not tolerate: racism, sexism or comments relating to sexual orientation; racist graffiti or jokes offensive remarks about someone s appearance, sexuality, beliefs or abilities unwelcome physical contact offensive posters, literature or Internet material If you are being harassed in any way, there are a number of people who will help you deal with your complaint: your trainer the Centre Manager Student activities organisers Any other member of staff you can trust Any discussion you have will remain confidential, and you are welcome to bring a friend. Action will be taken in line with NAC procedures, where appropriate, to prevent further unwelcome behaviour. Any learner or member of staff who breaches the equal opportunities policy runs the risk of disciplinary proceedings which could lead to permanent exclusion or dismissal. If you wish to make a complaint regarding any Equal Opportunities issues you should contact one of the following: your trainer the Centre Manager if appropriate, your line manager.

7 We review our policies and strategies regularly and would like to hear from you if you think we could better provide opportunities for you or a colleague. Please contact us via the address at the end of this booklet. Learner Health and Safety NAC recognises and accepts its responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and undertakes to: carry out a full Health and Safety inspection of premises where learning will take place prior to delivery ensure that all learners are given a Health and Safety induction before starting their learning, including confirmation of o o o fire and emergency evacuation procedures accident reporting procedures contact details should anyone require first aid attention In order to protect yourself and others we ask you to follow the guidelines below: Co-operate - Health and Safety rules and regulations exist to protect everyone and they help make your learning environment a safe place to work Evacuation - if you hear the alarm o o o Leave the building by the nearest exit do not return to the training venue or stop to collect your belongings Report to the designated assembly point Remain at the assembly point until the all clear is given and it is safe to return to the building Accidents/Hazards report any accident, incidence of ill-health or hazard to a member of staff The Safe Learner The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) takes the safety of learners seriously. For more information, visit Safeguarding and protecting vulnerable adults. Definition A vulnerable adult is someone over 18 yrs of age who has a physical condition, a learning difficulty or a mental health condition which affects their ability to protect themselves from significant harm and the increased risk of mistreatment and abuse by others.)

8 NAC recognises that the welfare of vulnerable adults is everyone s responsibility and takes reasonable steps to assure that only suitable people are appointed to work with learners. NAC acknowledges that the mistreatment and abuse of vulnerable adults is not acceptable and that all learners have the right to: live lives free from fear, violence and harm protection from mistreatment and abuse live an independent lifestyle and to make choices even if some of those choices involve a degree of risk If you wish to make a complaint regarding any Safeguarding issues you should contact one of the following: your tutor the Centre Manager if appropriate your line manager Assessment Policies Fair assessment NAC aims to provide all learners with access to fair assessments by ensuring: assessors and verifiers are competent, regularly updated, and monitored assessment procedures are followed all learners are registered against the qualification all learners attend induction sessions and understand the assessment process all learners complete and agree an assessment plan with their assessor which is monitored all learners, assessors and verifiers understand the Appeals Procedure regular communication is maintained with the assessment team learners have access to their assessor and verifier, and are aware of the method for making contact any special learner assessment needs are identified by the assessor, and procedures adjusted to ensure fair assessment

9 no learner suffers discrimination by reason of age, colour, race or gender. (NAC s equal opportunity Policy is available from your assessor on request). Plagiarism and Malpractice The NAC Group and partners strive to identify and minimise the risk of plagiarism or malpractice by learners, and to respond to any incident of alleged malpractice promptly and effectively. These malpractices can be defined as follows: Learner malpractice any action that has the potential to undermine the integrity and validity of the assessment of a learner s work (plagiarism, cheating, collusion, etc) Plagiarism taking and using another thought s or writings as one s own. Appropriate penalties and/or sanctions will be imposed on learners where incidents of malpractice or attempted incidents are proven. Minor acts of learner malpractice will be handled by the assessor; more serious acts (such as extensive copying or a second or subsequent offence) will be handled by the Quality Manager, the Director of Operations or their nominee. NAC also has in place an assessor malpractice policy. The full policies are available if required. You should ensure that the work that you present for assessment is your own work. Appeals Procedure If you consider that the assessment of your work has not been carried out properly or you disagree with a decision, you have the right to challenge an assessment decision of unit/units of competency. You can be accompanied and assisted at all stages by a person of your choice with his/her agreement. Before invoking the appeals procedure, you should talk to your trainer or assessor. If you still unhappy with the decision made, the following procedure will be followed: Appeals should be made in writing to the Internal Verifier. Contact details are available from your assessor Appeals must be logged within 15 days of the notification of the assessment decision A date for the appeal will be set by the centre co-ordinator for the appeal to be considered by the Appeals Panel. There will be no more than 3 people on the panel, one of whom will be an independent assessor. All members of the panel will be independent of the initial assessment. The centre co-ordinator will attempt to resolve the situation at a local level prior to the Appeal Panel meeting. These attempts may include discussion with the candidate, assessor and verifier, or the assessment may be repeated by another assessor. The

10 centre co-ordinator must identify a member of the panel, (the Appeals Adjudicator) to evaluate the evidence and give a judgement. The centre co-ordinator will inform the external verifier of the pending appeal. If the centre co-ordinator has been unable to successfully mediate, then the Appeals Panel will sit. A full account of the assessment will be required from each of the parties involved. If the learner disagrees with the decision of the Appeals Panel, their complaint will be referred to the body which awards the qualification to make a final decision (following investigation of all relevant information). Disciplinary Procedure This disciplinary procedure will be used when dealing with cases of misconduct. The following is a guide to the procedure: Stage 1 Oral warning issued by the person responsible for the learner and recorded in the learner file Stage 2 First written warning issued by the trainer/assessor, giving reasons for the warning and the consequences of further inappropriate behaviour Stage 3 Final written warning. This stage is only reached when the learner has committed serious offences or for incidents of repeated misconduct. In the event of an allegation of serious of gross misconduct the Learner may be suspended pending completion of the hearing NAC staff may vary the policy for dealing with cases of misconduct, having informed the learner concerned, subject to the considerations of fairness. Data Protection NAC acknowledges its obligations under the Data Protection Act Also acknowledged is the importance of compliance with the governing principles of the Act. Personal data must: be obtained only for specified and lawful purposes be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose for which it is processed be accurate and, where necessary, be kept up-to-date not be retained for longer than necessary

11 be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects be safeguarded using appropriate technical and organisational measures not be transferred to countries outside the EEA, unless that country provides and accurate level of protection All users of personal data must ensure it is kept secure and confidential, and treated in accordance with the Act. All users shall be aware that the Act covers students and business data. Any queries in relation to compliance with this Act should be directed to the Data Controller who has overall responsibility for the Data. NAC IT Policies Information is a vital asset to any organisation and this is especially so in a knowledge-driven organisation such as NAC group, where information will relate to learning and teaching, research, administration and management. This policy is concerned with the management and security of NAC s information assets (an information asset is defined to be an item or body of information, an information storage system or an information processing system which is of value to NAC) and the use made of these assets by its members and others who may legitimately process NAC information on behalf of NAC. This overarching policy document provides an overview of information security and lists a hierarchical set of policy documents (sub-policies) which taken together constitute the Information Security Policy of NAC.

12 NAC Social Networking At NAC we create opportunities to network via our social media sites and would love you to spread the word about life at NAC. Why not check out our website for all the information you need Course Times: Monday Thursday 8:00-4:30 Friday 8:00-12:00 NAC Group Plc North East Business & Innovation Centre Enterprise Park East Sunderland SR5 2TQ Tel: