Welcome to the Leading on Curriculum Planning Toolkit designed for busy leaders and managers in the adult community education sector to support the new flexibilities offered through the creation of the Tailored Learning funding stream.
This toolkit hosts voices from the sector in the form of video-case studies, top tips and further resources.
In the following video, Sue Pember, Policy Director for HOLEX, explores the importance of adult education in modern life and how leaders and tutors can use the toolkit videos to develop a course from scratch.
Voices from the sector
In the following playlist, leaders from across the Further º£½ÇÉçÇø (FE) and Skills sector discuss what they do to set up a new course. The first video considers this in broad terms and can be applied across any subject area. The subsequent four videos each tackle a specific curriculum area and each videos provide top tips for leaders to consider.
After watching the videos, you may wish to ask yourself:
What opportunities do the points in the videos raise for my learning organisation?
How can I cascade the content to my staff?
How to set up a new course from scratch (universal considerations) Joanne Keatley, a part-time Ofsted Inspector and adult education leader, who has worked in local authority learning organisations in the West Midlands, describes how to set up a course from scratch and what a leader will need to consider during this process. Read our top tips for setting up a course from scratch.
Designing and delivering a tailored Digital ESOL course Sam Pepper, Advanced Learning Practitioner – ESOL, from WM College talks to us about their highly successful ESOL IT course, highlighting the elements to consider when establishing a Digital Skills focused ESOL English language course. Read our top tips for designing and delivering a Digital ESOL course.
Designing and delivering a tailored Employability course Hannah Kirkham, Quality Manager at Leeds City Council’s Employment and Skills introduces the subject of designing and delivering a tailored Employability course. Hannah draws on her experience of developing a holistic, collaborative employability programme that Leeds run in partnership with the NHS and other trusted partners. Read our top tips for designing and delivering an employability course.
Designing and delivering a tailored ESOL course Tina Boon, Adult Learning Manager at Leeds Adult Community Learning, talks us through some of the key steps involved in setting up an ESOL course. She draws on her experience of the Leeds ESOL programme which provides learners with opportunities to understand and participate in their local communities and prepares them for progression into further learning, volunteering or work. Read our top tips for designing and delivering an ESOL course.
Top tips for curriculum planning
How to set up a new course from scratch (universal considerations)
Clarify Purpose: Clearly define the purpose and objectives of the course. Understand why you are developing it and what specific needs or gaps it aims to address.
Align with Mission: Ensure the course aligns with the mission and goals of your organisation.
Stakeholder Engagement: Involve key stakeholders, including staff and potential students, from the outset. Seek input and feedback on the design, content and delivery approach to ensure it meets their needs and expectations.
Financial Planning: Collaborate with finance and management information systems (MIS) staff early on to secure funding and resources for course development and implementation. Establish a clear budget and financial plan to support the project.
Implement Quality Assurance: Incorporate quality assurance procedures and standards from the beginning. Define criteria for assessing the effectiveness and success of the course and regularly evaluate and refine it based on feedback and performance data.
Use Awarding Body Materials: Use and adapt the information and resources provided by the awarding body.
Designing and delivering a tailored Digital ESOL course
Digital ESOL Basics: Start with sound scheme of works in foundational digital ESOL skills such as using a keyboard, navigating software interfaces and understanding file management.
Encourage and Facilitate: Teachers sharing resources.
Interactive Learning Platforms: Utilise interactive online platforms and educational apps that offer adaptive learning experiences and personalised feedback.
Visual Tutorials: Provide step-by-step visual tutorials and demonstrations to guide learners through using digital tools and applications effectively.
Practice Opportunities: Offer plenty of opportunities for hands-on practice and exploration in a safe and supportive environment to build confidence and proficiency.
Accessibility Considerations: Ensure that digital resources and materials are accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities or limited digital literacy.
Designing and delivering a tailored Employability course
Work with Local Partnerships: e.g: Jobcentre Plus or other key local employment support agencies and services. Encourage such services to refer jobseekers to gain new skills first — before they are mandated to take work.
Needs Assessment: Work collaboratively to understand specific needs and goals of both your employers and prospective adult learners. Tailor course content accordingly.
Curriculum Design: Decide whether the programme concentrates on a vocational area and/or a generic employability course.
Develop a Comprehensive and Holistic Curriculum: Covering essential skills such as resume writing, interview techniques, job search strategies, communication skills, and professional etiquette.
Basic Skills: Embed literacy, numeracy and digital skills in both types of courses.
Qualifications: Try to ensure there is a qualification participants can gain whether vocational, basic skills or for employability skills.
Interactive Learning: Incorporate interactive activities, group discussions, case studies and role-playing exercises to keep participants engaged and facilitate active learning.
Guest Speakers: Invite industry professionals to share insights, experiences and expertise, offering valuable perspectives and networking opportunities.
Practical Exercises: Provide hands-on exercises and real-world simulations to help participants apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.
Feedback Mechanism: Establish a feedback mechanism to continuously assess participants’ progress and gather input for course improvement.
Resource Support: Offer access to resources such as career counselling, job listings, online tutorials and relevant literature to support participants throughout their learning journey.
Flexibility: Be flexible to accommodate participants’ schedules and individual learning needs.
Soft Skills Development: Emphasise the development of soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, time management and adaptability — all are crucial for success in the workplace.
Designing and delivering a tailored ESOL course
Needs Assessment: Conduct a thorough needs assessment to understand the language proficiency levels, cultural backgrounds and specific needs of your target audience. Then, use this information to tailor the programme accordingly.
Contextualise Learning: Incorporate real-life scenarios, cultural references, and everyday situations into your curriculum to make learning relevant and engaging for learners.
Communicative Approach: Emphasise communication skills such as speaking, listening, reading and writing in authentic contexts. Provide ample opportunities for interaction and practice.
Multimodal Learning: Utilise a variety of teaching materials and resources, including multimedia, visual aids, role-plays and group activities.
Cultural Sensitivity: Foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment by respecting cultural diversity, encouraging mutual understanding and addressing potential cultural barriers or sensitivities.
Further resources
Please note, the resources will open in new tabs.
How to set up a new course from scratch
Designing and delivering a tailored Digital ESOL course
