Recent projects

Kathryn is part of the delivery team for FE Associates providing training to middle managers. Kathryn delivers the module on ‘Leading and diverse and contemporary workforce’.

JPD: A 'quick fix' or a 'slow burn'? is a practical guide aimed at senior and middle leaders seeking ways to implement a joint practice development (JPD) approach in their institutions. It provides a summary of Tricia's doctoral research findings, as well as steps that leaders can take to begin to adopt this collaborative professional development model. For a copy, email: kj.consultinghi@outlook.com

Sue worked with unions and unionlearn to develop this guide for unions and union learning reps (ULRs) to support digital learning. It sets out the case for change to encourage employers to support workers to gain digital skills and confidence. It contains ideas and good practice, and provides some tips developed from a range of unions and ULRs.

Kathryn and Sue have been actively involved in supporting the strategic leadership of ETF's SEND Workforce Development Programme since it was first funded by DfE in 2016. Kathryn continues to work closely with delivery partners to ensure that practitioners, managers and leaders get the professional development they need to support and improve outcomes for learners with SEND.

Tricia led on the development of ETF's Professional Standards and the recent self assessment tool that provides a simple, quick and effective way to understand how teachers are currently perform against the Professional Standards for teachers and trainers working in further education and training. It provides an essential first step for teachers identifying areas of their practice they would like to improve.

Ready to Read is a guide for ULRs to help encourage reading for pleasure and promote Quick Reads in the workplace. It explores benefits of reading and offers a wide range of ideas and tips on how to develop reading activities in the workplace. Sue worked with unions and unionlearn to develop this handy resource.

Kathryn and Sue have developed and delivered a series of webinars for UNISON members to increase the confidence of staff to deal with emotionally challenging conversations in a caring way. This forms part of UNISON's support package for its members during the current pandemic.

Following the success of Caring Conversations webinars for UNISON staff, Kathryn and Sue developed and delivered sessions for managers. This training aims to help managers confidently support wellbeing for themselves and for their teams.

Tricia recently presented a webinar on behalf of the Education and Training Foundation together with Joyce Chen from the College of West Anglia. The session draws on both Tricia's and Joyce's research on JPD, situating the findings in the current context where teachers have had a unique opportunity to work collaboratively during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Kathryn worked with unionlearn to update this guide to unionlearn reps (URLs). It provides an overview of the role of URLs, the skills and knowledge required to be a URL and signposting to further sources of support and help

Assessment for learning is an intrinsic part of learning and includes monitoring, evaluating, reviewing and setting goals. Sue worked with ETF's delivery partners to develop this resource for the Education and Training Foundation. It contains practical activities to use with English and maths learners.

Kathryn has worked closely with the Women’s Leadership Network for the past five years, particularly in the delivery of training on career and professional development for aspiring women leaders, inclusive mentoring and organising the annual conference. More recently Kathryn has been actively involved in transforming WLN into an affinity group - a model of egalitarian activism to deliver intersectional gender equality across the sector.

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) offers fully funded literacy and numeracy provision up to Level 2, and can lead to effective partnerships between learning providers and employers to increase volumes of basic skills provision delivered in workplaces.

Supported by the Department for Education, the Learning and Work Institute worked with Sue to develop two guides for employers and learning providers.

Working as Head of Professional Status at the ETF, Tricia commissioned a set of four videos that illustrate how the Professional Standards have the potential to transform professional development approaches in FE institutions. The videos focus on work at four very different providers – Guernsey College, Lincoln College, MoD Lyneham and Waltham Forest College. In these organisations, middle and senior leaders have moved away from top-down performance management to placing ownership of professional development into the hands of practitioners.

Kathryn worked with the Learning and Work Institute to produce this resource for professionals in carers organisation to provide better support for young adult carers to remain in and succeed in learning and work. The resource was developed in collaboration with young adult carers and support staff to ensure relevance and a strengths-based approach. The resource also supports staff to think about their own on-going professional development.