Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
Ongoing learning
Due to the need to maintain social distancing, FE providers will continue to
deliver much of their provision remotely. Over time, as restrictions are
lifted, providers will begin to re-introduce classroom and workshop-based
learning. For many learners, this will mean a transition from remote learning
to blended learning (e.g. a combination of remote and traditional classroom,
workshop or workplace learning).
Given resources are finite - estate, equipment and staff - the varied needs of
different learner groups and courses will need to be balanced, providers will
need flexibility in deciding the optimal mix of online and face to face
content across their curriculum to maximise learner engagement, support
vulnerable learners, and enable the provider as a whole to minimise the
transmission risk. Providers will also need to take account of learners who
may have family members who are shielding and therefore do not wish to
physically attend.
Two DfE grant funded organisations - Jisc and The Education and Training
Foundation (ETF) – are well-placed to advise and support colleges and staff
regarding remote teaching and learning.
Support available includes free content, blogs, and community support. The
ETF’s Enhance Digital Learning Platform offers free training to teachers in
how to use technology to support the continuity of teaching and learning. ETF
is also running webinars for FE providers
on how to make the most of online learning.
Providers’ strategies for ongoing learning should be informed by the needs of
teachers and students, and their respective home teaching and learning
environments. Where possible, colleges and other providers should:


Prepare staff on remote learning practice through bitesize/refresher training sessions focused on how to use college virtual learning environments (VLEs), communication tools and digital and non-digital resources.


Use tools already available at your college including physical and digital resources, and how to make use of cloud storage systems (for example, Office 365 or Google G Suite). Ensure staff and students have log-in details and know how to access online content.


Provide students with accessible guides on remote learning, focusing on where, when and how they are expected to engage and demonstrate their learning and how assessment and feedback will be delivered. Consider how to support disadvantaged learners.


Consider provision for partnership working with the relevant agencies (including Health and Social Care) to help ensure support for vulnerable children and children with special educational needs and disabilities.


Consider how you will deploy your staff to ensure safeguarding, Prevent and security policies are maintained. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides guidance on how to work from home while adhering to these policies.


Consider lesson capture to allow students to dip in and out of lessons at their own pace.


Be sensitive and adaptive to the wellbeing and wellness of both students and teachers, recognising that health and caring responsibilities will disrupt the teaching delivery and learning journey for individuals during the closure period. Jisc has produced a guide to the Digital Wellbeing of Learners which curates a number of resources and guides.


We understand that what providers can offer during this period will vary. Some
colleges and FE providers have shifted much of their provision online and are
delivering classes and other teacher led activity to a regular timetable. This
is excellent practice if it can be reasonably maintained.
The local ESFA teams will also provide support and you can submit enquiries
through the ESFA enquiries service.
Richard Atkins, the FE Commissioner (FEC), and his team of highly experienced
deputy FECs and FE advisers have offered their services to college leaders
that would like to talk through plans, concerns and issues. Our pool of
National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) also stand ready to offer any support
they can. If you would like to arrange a phone conversation between yourself
and a member of the FEC team or a NLG, email
FEC.OPERATIONS@education.gov.uk.
We continue to collect examples of good practice and will share these through
our usual communications channels.
[FE]: further education
  [DfE]: Department for Education
  [ETF]: Education and Training Foundation
  [VLEs]: virtual learning environments
  [NCSC]: National Cyber Security Centre
  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency
  [FEC]: further education commissioner
  [NLGs]: National Leaders of Governance
  *[NLG]: National Leader of Governance