Effective practice | 18 March 2024

Supporting learners with additional learning needs

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Provider

Cardiff and Vale College Apprenticeships

Number of pupils

2500

Date of Inspection

October 2023

Information about the provider

Context and background to the effective or innovative practice

Description of nature of strategy or activity

What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?

How have you shared your good practice?

Information about the provider

Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) leads a partnership of 19 sub-contractors to deliver Welsh Government apprenticeship programmes. They deliver apprenticeships to approximately 2,500 learners at levels 2, 3 and 4 with most provision in the priority sectors. Eight per cent of learners are from ethnic minority groups, 10% have a declared disability and 35% are from areas of high deprivation.The college serve a diverse community in the capital region of Wales working with employers, local authorities, and the Welsh Government to promote apprenticeships. They work with over 1,000 employers, from multinational and national employers to SMEs, with 76% of employers from SMEs. The college has a clear purpose to change lives through learning with a particular focus on maximising opportunities for young people to engage with apprenticeships and to address barriers for under-represented groups.

Context and background to the effective or innovative practice

The ALN Act provided an opportunity for CAVC Apprenticeships to review its provision to ensure that it most effectively supported those learners who had a disclosed ALN/learning disability. It was important to ensure that all sub-contractors were aware of the requirements of the Act and were in a position to meet the requirements. Cardiff and Vale College had a well-established, specialist team of ALN staff and this expertise was used effectively to develop provision across the network and to support implementation of new policies and procedures designed to meet the requirements of the ALN Code. All provision was closely aligned to Cardiff and Vale College’s strategic vision and improved opportunities to be able to actively recruit and support apprentices with ALN/learning disabilities into learning and employment.

Description of nature of strategy or activity

CAVC Apprentices learner support teams offer a wide range of services for learners. There are strong arrangements in place to identify learners’ support needs and to monitor support appropriately in order to develop learners and support their progress. Clear processes were devised for apprentices who presented with an individual development plan, those who declared an ALN/learning disability at the start of their programme and those who staff suspected had an ALN/learning disability. Within the process the following key areas were identified:

Adjustments that could be made through universal provision were highlighted.
A resource bank of tools and guides, including apps, were made available.
A clear referral process to the ALN team was devised.
A process was in place to track and monitor these learners at every stage of their journey.
Monthly ALN referral case management meetings were held with the CAVC ALN team, to discuss and agree ALN referrals for apprentices.
Links to the ALS support were found if necessary.

This provision enabled tailored support for any learner who had an identified/suspected ALN/learning disability. It also ensured that learner progress was tracked and any learners who needed additional support or were at risk were quickly identified.

All staff attended a comprehensive training programme on identifying ALN, universal provision, effective support strategies and all elements of the referral process. As a result links with the CAVC ALN team have been strengthened, and some providers have been able to develop their own additional support.

What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?

As a result of this work, the provider saw an increase in the number of learners disclosing an ALN/learning disability. There are now more learners accessing this tailored support and making good progress in their learning and in their workplaces. Progress and achievement data indicates that learners who disclose an ALN/learning disability do well when compared to others.

Staff have identified that they are now more confident in identifying need and working with apprentices who have an ALN/learning disability.

Employers are engaging effectively and are employing learners with ALN, they are recognising the skillsets of these learners and widening opportunities and participation.

How have you shared your good practice?

Cardiff and Vale College apprenticeships attend National Training Federation For Wales meetings and share their practice with other apprenticeship providers. They have worked closely with the Colleges Wales ALN Transformation lead attending meetings, reviewing training and reflecting on approaches to meeting the ALN Code.

Information about the provider

Context and background to the effective or innovative practice

Description of nature of strategy or activity

What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?

How have you shared your good practice?