Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 1 of 14

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1 Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 1 of 14

2 Contents Who s who? Your Apprenticeship English and Maths Support Your Portfolio Code of Conduct Fair Assessment Internal Assessment External Assessment General Information Learner and Teaching and Learning Mentors code of conduct. Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 2 of 14

3 Who s who? Your Teaching and Learning Mentor. Their role is to: Ensure you are taking the most appropriate qualification to enable you progress and achieve your goals. Look at any previous training you have completed and use this where possible in the units of your qualification. Conduct reviews of your progress and complete review forms which you will be asked to sign to confirm your agreement with what has been written. You will be given the opportunity to say what your views are and these will also be recorded on the form. Assist you in completing the relevant records and paperwork needed. Identify and plan your learning with you. Teach, observe and support you as you work towards achieving your qualification, assess the evidence of learning you produce and help you to reference this to the qualification standards for your award. Provide information advice and guidance to help and support you to achieve your qualification. Give you constructive and positive feedback on your work and progress. Give you their contact details so that you will be able to get their help and support when you need it. The Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) Their role is to: Ensure that all Teaching and Learning Mentor s follow the assessment specification given by the awarding body in a consistent and fair manner. Ensure Ixion s documentation and learners achievement records meet the standard required by the awarding body. Support you and your Teaching and Learning Mentor throughout the learning process. Monitor your progress by sampling your portfolio at set stages throughout the qualification. Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 3 of 14

4 The External Quality Assurer (EQA) The External Verifier is appointed by the awarding body. They make sure that we do our jobs fairly. They may wish to see or speak to you. Your Teaching and Learning Mentor will let you know if they do. The Awarding Body The Awarding Body is the organisation that produces the standards you have to achieve and the awarding body for your qualification is Edexcel. You will be registered with them and will be given a unique registration number issued by them and they will issue your certificate when you have achieved your qualification. Teaching and Learning Mentor Visits The visits from your Teaching and Learning Mentor are planned in advance and should be taking place every 4-5 weeks and some of these visits will need to be taking place during real work activities, so please advise them at the earliest opportunity if, for some reason, you will not be at your workplace as arranged. Should you need to contact your Teaching and Learning Mentor between visits, please contact them directly or if you are unable to contact your Teaching and Learning Mentor, please refer to the contact sheet at the start of your portfolio. English and Maths Support The Ixion website provides free resources to support you in the development of English and Maths. You can be assured that in all of our training programmes functional skills for English and Maths and embedded so that you are supported in this key area which will help you enter employment or further your career. Feedback You will have the opportunity to complete feedback surveys and participate in reviews every 12 weeks throughout the duration of course and you will be able to comment on the quality of your learning experience at these times. Your comments will be analysed and used to feedback into our continuous improvement programme. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us in order to help us to offer the best service possible! Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 4 of 14

5 Your qualification is divided into two types of criteria:- Knowledge The knowledge based element of the framework covers things you need to know in order to do your job and this can be completed using written and oral questioning and discussions with your Teaching and Learning Mentor. The qualifications are generally called vocationally related qualifications. Competence The competence based element of the framework is gained through assessment in the workplace and completing a portfolio illustrating your knowledge and practice and this can be completed by using observations of real work activities by the Teaching and Learning Mentor in the work place, reflective accounts of dated events where you have dealt with situations prior to starting the qualification and witness testimonies from senior staff and your manager about your work place activities. The time taken to achieve your qualification is dependent on how committed you are to achieving the qualification. This will be discussed with your Teaching and Learning Mentor and agreed at your induction. Your Teaching and Learning Mentor will monitor your progress in the workplace and will arrange visits to assess you against the criteria, and work through the training programme. These sessions will be documented and you and your manager will receive copies of the documentation. Unit Accreditation Learners who do not complete the full apprenticeship will be credited with the units they have completed. If any learner wishes to complete extra units, or has any questions regarding their apprenticeship, they should contact their Teaching and Learning Mentor or the Ixion Training Support Co-ordinator (See Contact List at the front of your portfolio). Recognition of Prior Learning This is when you have previously completed a qualification that is related to the subject you are studying, which could be used as evidence for your apprenticeship framework. If you have any questions regarding Prior Learning, please contact your assessor, as this maybe used within your current qualification. Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 5 of 14

6 Learner Portfolio What is a portfolio and why do I need one? A portfolio is a collection of evidence which demonstrates (evidences) that you have achieved the required level of skills and knowledge for the qualification programme you have been studying. When you have completed your programme of study, the Awarding Body will need to verify that the assessment decisions are correct. The Awarding Body achieves this through a process called verification. During verification, a Quality Assurer looks at your portfolio of evidence to determine whether or not you have demonstrated knowledge and competence to the required standard. What should my portfolio include? The exact contents of your portfolio will depend on the programme option and units you are studying. Your Teaching and Learning Mentor will tell you exactly what you need to include in your portfolio and you will need to bring the portfolio to every visit with your Teaching and Learning Mentor. Your portfolio can include things like: Workplace activities and accompanying reports - write a report for a unit about relevant activities at your workplace. Research reports Diaries of workplace activities Classroom presentations Evaluations of a classmate s work/presentations - so called peer-to-peer assessment Certificates of competence Witness testimony - from employers, colleagues, customer/clients etc When do I build my portfolio? You should start building your portfolio immediately you start your programme of study and continue to add to it every week. Your Teaching and Learning Mentor will look at your portfolio and give you guidance, and set targets and deadlines for evidence building. How do I store my portfolio? During your programme of study you will be responsible for ensuring your portfolio does not get lost or damaged. When do I submit my portfolio? Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 6 of 14

7 When you are around half way through the qualification and also when you and your Teaching and Learning Mentor agree that the portfolio is complete and ready for verification, your assessor will submit it for the final IQA process. Fair Assessment Policy Introduction Ixion and its partners aim to provide fair assessment for all Learners on qualification based programmes. Assessment practice will be open and consistent within the codes of practice and regulations laid down by the relevant awarding bodies. All assessments must be conducted rigorously and accurately and, where appropriate, in accordance with the awarding bodies published criteria and standards. Assessment Evidence Assessment evidence will be judged according to the principles of VARCS: Validity - evidence must be suitable to the syllabus/standards it is addressing and less than two years old. Previously attained certificates in support of your competency must also fall into this timeframe and be explained by you as to how they link to the current qualification being undertaken. Authenticity - evidence must reflect your knowledge, skills and understanding and you re Teaching and Learning Mentor will ask that you to sign and date every piece of evidence so that you confirm the evidence is your own work. The work of another person must not be submitted as your own. Other sources may be used as long as you appropriately reference these. Relevant evidence should be appropriate and relevant to the syllabus/standards it is addressing. Currency evidence should show that you are competent now. Sufficiency evidence must show consistent performance to the required level over a period of time The chosen format and method of assessment must be appropriate to the qualification/unit of competence, and any conditions specified by the awarding body. Assessment materials must be presented in clear and unambiguous language and must differentiate only on the basis of your knowledge, skills and understanding. Such materials must be free from any overt or covert discrimination against any individual either in wording or content. You will be assessed in the same manner against the same standards and will not be discriminated against or treated more harshly or more leniently than any other learners. As part of the induction process all new learners will undertake an initial assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. This will be used to assess Functional Skill levels and to inform decisions about any Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 7 of 14

8 additional courses which may be offered to you in the early stages of your course which will improve your skills in these areas. Internal Assessment Ixion will only appoint assessment staff whose knowledge, skills and understanding are appropriate for the programmes they assess. Assessment staff will maintain their competence by regular staff development activities organised internally or externally. Assessment must be available to all those who have the potential to achieve the standards required for a particular qualification. However, some learners may need access to alternative means of providing evidence. Such assessment methods must balance the need of the learner against the requirements of the awarding bodies, and care must be taken to ensure that any proposed assessment methods are of equal quality and rigour to those for mainstream learners in order to demonstrate that the learner has achieved the national standards. Learners may be identified has having particular assessment requirements in relation to, for example, learning difficulties, a visual, hearing or physical impairment, a mental illness, or English as a second language. This means that they will need appropriate guidance and/or support in their development to help them meet the required standards such as: Help with communication Adapted physical environment Information technology Confidence building Ixion will either appoint assessment staff able to deliver assessments in these circumstances, or advise the learner on how to obtain additional help before they embark on their qualification with Ixion. For example a learner who has English as a second language may find an external ESOL course is a more appropriate first step. Following all assessments, written or oral feedback must be given to you as soon as possible. Feedback should be as helpful as possible to you, confirming what has gone well and giving clear guidance on what you need to do in order to improve on your performance. Assessment will be internally verified in accordance with Ixion s procedures. Formative assessment will take place twice if time allows and must be conducted by reference to the awarding body national standards covering the required skills, knowledge and understanding. Ixion s Internal Verification strategies will be used at all internal verification interventions to ensure quality, consistency and fairness, and these strategies will be reviewed annually. Summative assessment will only take place when the Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 8 of 14

9 assessment process is complete in accordance with awarding body requirements and as deemed complete by the assessment staff. External Assessment External assessment will be administered strictly in accordance with instructions issued by the relevant awarding bodies. Learners may be selected for interview by External Verifiers to ensure that consistent fair practice is being used by Ixion s assessment staff. General Information What happens if you leave halfway through your programme? We hope that this does not occur and we will do our best to ensure that you complete your programme and achieve your award. However we do realise that sometimes things happen that leave you with no alternative. All we ask is that you are honest with us and let us know your reasons you are thinking of leaving before completing your course. What we expect from you as one of our Learners We ask that you attend all meetings arranged by your Teaching and Learning Mentor and always have your portfolio of work available. If you are unable to attend a meeting you need to telephone your Teaching and Learning Mentor before the scheduled meeting to let them know that you are going to be late or that you are not going to be able to attend. Information Support and Guidance Throughout your training you will be given a lot of information, support and guidance to ensure you get the most from your course. However if you are experiencing problems you need to inform your Teaching and Learning Mentor. Good Communication Good communication between all parties is essential. How this is achieved: Regular reviews between you and your Teaching and Learning Mentor where you can air your views and discuss issues and talk over problems. Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 9 of 14

10 You will be visited by your Teaching and Learning Mentor at your workplace to ensure you are receiving the best possible information, support and guidance. By asking for one-to-one support as and when required if working in a group. Getting the most from your training Tips to remember: Be punctual Attend regularly Use initiative and common sense Ring your Teaching and Learning mentor before the meeting if you are going to be absent or late. Ask if you are unsure of anything regarding your qualification. If you are going to be on holiday or away from work for any length of time, let your assessor know in advance. Learner Code of Conduct Physical or verbal abuse this will not be tolerated and will lead to withdrawal from the programme. To complete the tasks set by the assessor within the agreed timescales. To attend meetings as planned and on time Be respectful at all times Contribute to your learning Teaching and Learning Mentor s Code of Conduct Teaching and Learning Mentor will visit you every 4-5 weeks. Teaching and learning mentors at Ixion strive to work with individual learners and hope that most concerns are dealt with quickly and efficiently. It is our ethos that all learners are given a chance to improve and will be supported to achieve this. All Learners will sign a Learning Agreement as will your employer and assessor. Assessors will give you regular feedback and will keep your manager informed of your progress at the regular reviews that will take place throughout the duration of your qualification. Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 10 of 14

11 Rights and Responsibilities In Ixion there have to be some guidelines to ensure that everybody can enjoy and benefit from their studies. Hopefully everyone will recognise the need for these and will not have any difficulty following them. In return Ixion recognises that there may be occasions when you have a concern about some aspect of your course. You should raise these with your assessor first. If your assessor cannot resolve the issue we would encourage you to contact your Ixion Learner Journey Assurance Manager Lucy Wynn Tel: lucy.wynn@ixionholdings.com Equality and Diversity Learning activity Safe Guarding Vulnerable Adults Please read the following paragraphs and then discuss with you Teaching and Learning Mentor and then record you answers to the questions. What Is a Vulnerable Adult? A vulnerable adult is someone who is 18 years old or over who; Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 11 of 14

12 Is or may be in need of community care services by reasons of mental health or other disability, age or illness and may be unable to take care of themselves, or unable to protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation. A vulnerable adult may be a person who:- Is elderly or fail Has learning disability Suffers from a mental illness ( Dementia, personality disorder) Has a physical disability Is a substance misuser Is homeless Is in an abusive relationship Is receiving any type of health care Is in prison or on probation Is receiving support under health and social care systems Please note that disability or ages alone do not signify that an adult is vulnerable. Vulnerable adults can also be young people up to the day before their 25 th birthday who have come from a local authority or have a learning disability or difficulty. Ofsted who inspect training providers also have a list of circumstances that they think may mean people are vulnerable and in need of special protection. The list is: Young people away from home Disabilities- Physical or mental Abuse or bullying Race and Racism Child abuse Domestic violence Drug misuse by parents or family members Families living in temporary accommodation Living as migrant s, victims of trafficking Unaccompanied asylum seeking children Young people being young carers Safeguarding vulnerable adults Questions Give two examples of circumstances which might lead to an adult being vulnerable? 1- Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 12 of 14

13 2- If a person is under 18 has to look after brothers or sisters each day because their parents have diedwhat sort of things make them vulnerable in law? Give three examples of how and why a vulnerable adult could be exploited? If you are disabled are you automatically vulnerable? The age of a child in law is under 18. So in what circumstances would someone aged over 18 but less than 25 years be automatically be considered in need of protection? Learner Handbook Checklist Please tick to confirm that your assessor has covered all sections in the Learner Handbook: Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 13 of 14

14 Who s who? Your Apprenticeship Your Portfolio Fair Assessment Policy Internal Assessment External Assessment General Information Learner code of conduct Teaching and Learning Mentor code of conduct Equality and Diversity Quiz Date: Learner name: Learner signature: Assessor Signature: Learner Handbook Apprenticeships Ixion V Page 14 of 14