1. Continuous improvement through collaborative development
February 2010

2. Agenda Time Content 10:30 – 10:40 Welcome and objectives of the day
10:40 – 11:45
Part 1 - Making PRD work for you and your colleagues:
Successfully embedding PRD within your own organisation!
11:45 – 12:30
Part 2a - Making your PRD group work for you:
A rigorous approach to validating your SAR can serve many purposes!
12:30 – 13:15
Lunch
13:15 – 14:15
Part 2b - Making your PRD group work for you:
Collaborating on improvement activities can provide greater and more cost effective returns than working individually!
14:15 – 15:00
Part 3 - Making other PRD groups work for you:
The wider PRD community provides access to a network of 900 Learning and Skills sector experts – use them!
15:00 – 15:30
Tea/coffee and close: further opportunity for networking

3. Welcome and introductions
10:30 – 10:40

4. To further develop effective approaches to collaborative group working
Purpose of the day
Aim:
To further develop effective approaches to collaborative group working
Objectives:
For delegates to learn how to:
successfully embed a collaborative PRD ethos within their own organisation
reap the benefits of collaborative activity arising from the rigorous validation of self-assessment judgements
undertake collaborative development activities
use the broader PRD community to address specific issues.

5. SfE Programme update
Over 900 providers currently engaged in the SfE Programme
176 groups currently across the FE sector
Development of an online PRD community and resources
Key issues for groups:
demonstrating impact
group sustainability

6. Part 1 - Making PRD work for you and your colleagues
Successfully embedding PRD within your own organisation!
10:40 – 11:45

7. Objectives During this session delegates will:
identify the key characteristics of embedded PRD
address some of the key challenges/barriers to embedding PRD
formulate key actions to achieve embedded PRD.

8. Case study - North West Two group
Task one (a)
Please spend a couple of minutes reading the case study of the NW2 group (copies on the table)
In what ways have the providers embedded PRD into their own organisations?
Please be prepared to feedback to the wider group

9. How well embedded is PRD in your organisation?
Low Level
Embedded
Fully
Embedded

10. Characteristics of embedded PRD
Task one (b)
Individually list (on the template provided) the top 10 key characteristics of what embedded PRD looks like?
Rate your own organisation from 1 (low) to 10 (high) with reference to how well embedded PRD is. Be honest!
Please be prepared to feedback to the wider group

11. Key characteristics of embedded PRD1
Senior Management actively support PRD and action outcomes where appropriate 2
PRD is identified in our quality assurance and improvement processes 3
Training for effective PRD forms part of our staff development plan 4
Results from PRD are identified within our self-assessment report 5
Development opportunities through PRD are identified within the quality improvement plan 6
Peer Review and Development is used internally to review and develop provision 7
Ofsted have recognised the positive effect of our PRD activities 8
There is a ‘pool’ of staff within the organisation trained to undertake reviews and give feedback 9
There is an annual calendar of PRD consortium activities with roles and responsibilities identified 10
PRD is well-understood across the organisation including recognition at Governor level

12. Challenges/barriers to embedding PRD
Task two
What are the internal barriers to embedding PRD and how can they be overcome?
Please discuss on your table and be prepared to feedback the barriers and possible solutions

13. Key barriers to embedding PRD1
Senior Management (inc Governors/Non Exec Directors) are not aware of the existence of the PRD group so are not leading on implementing actions/outcomes of review 2
Senior Management are aware of the existence of the PRD group. There is nominal support but they are not aware of the potential of the group and are not leading on implementing actions/outcomes of review 3
PRD is person dependent. All organisation, knowledge and leadership rests with one person 4
PRD is seen as adhoc. Relationships with other providers are seen as useful but are not formalised and there is no formal plan of activity, reviews and actions 5
There is no reference to PRD activity in self-assessment and quality improvement plans so good work on PRD can sometimes go unrecognised or unnoticed 6
Staff have not been trained on PRD and are not sure what they are meant to do 7
There are no external sources of funds available to providers for carrying out PRD

14. Key actions to embed PRD in your organisations
Task three
Based on the discussions during the session:
list the top four key actions you will look to take to embed PRD into your organisations when you return to the office
what are the outcomes you want to achieve from these?
Please be prepared to feedback to the wider group

15. Key actions to embedded PRD
Put together a business case/plan on why the organisation should be involved in PRD and present to the senior management (and Governors/Non-Exec Directors)
Outcome 1
Senior Management agree to support and lead PRD activity with other organisations. PRD is no longer person dependant
Action 2
Integrate PRD activity into self-assessment and quality improvement processes and plans
Outcome 2
PRD activity is formalised in the self-assessment and quality improvement plan cycle and is recognised as having a positive impact
Action 3
Source funding from within the organisation for PRD activity
Outcome 3
Funding for PRD activity is guaranteed for at least three years in order for full impact and benefits to be realised
Action 4
Train staff in PRD activity to be able to carry out meaningful reviews and not just share best practice
Outcome 4
There is an annual programme of training linked to CPD to keep PRD skills up to date and relevant

16. Part 2a - Making your PRD group work for you
A rigorous approach to validating your SAR can serve many purposes!
11:45 – 12:30

17. Objectives During this session delegates will:
consider what needs to be contained in a SAR and how you validate the SAR
be encouraged to re-evaluate their own SAR and revisit the document with a fresh pair of eyes.

18. SAR validation activity
You will be given an extract from a SAR focusing on either safeguarding or equality of opportunity from either a:
work-based learning provider
offender learning provider
general further education provider
adult and community learning provider
Before you look at the individual SAR, in groups or pairs list what you expect or need to see in the SAR
Feedback to the room
Review the SAR and feedback

19. Expectations of information in a SAR - Safeguarding
Information about policies and procedures within the organisation and how they are communicated to staff
Who takes responsibility for safeguarding and how safeguarding is managed
Information about CRB checks
Staff development, training and awareness of safeguarding
When and how learners receive safeguarding information
Answers to the question about how safe learners feel and how the provider knows this
How safeguarding is promoted and reinforced
Information about risk assessments of learners
Examples of good practice or examples of changes or initiatives introduced
Other information

20. Expectations of information in a SAR – Equality of opportunity
Information about policies and procedures within the organisation and how they are communicated to stakeholders and staff
Who takes responsibility for the promotion and monitoring of equality and diversity
How equal opportunities is promoted and monitored
Staff development, training and awareness of equality and diversity
When and how learners receive equal opportunities information
How equal opportunities is reinforced on an ongoing basis
How data is collected and used to monitor the performance of different groups of learners
Examples of good practice or examples of changes or initiatives introduced
Other information

21. Lunch
12:30 – 13:15

22. Part 2b - Making your PRD group work for you
Collaborating on improvement activities can provide greater and more cost effective returns than working individually!
13:15 – 14:15

23. Objectives During this session delegates will:
consider what is required in order to carry out collaborative development activity
discuss how collaboration could help their organisations to save resources and improve provision.

24. Collaborative development activity
On your table look through the cards for safeguarding or equality and diversity some of which are essential and some are desirable
In groups or pairs consider which could be produced/delivered collaboratively
Identify the advantages of collaborative working and how the tasks could be shared
Feedback the conclusions from the group

25. To further develop effective approaches to collaborative group working
Purpose of the day
Aim:
To further develop effective approaches to collaborative group working
Objectives:
For delegates to learn how to:
successfully embed a collaborative PRD ethos within their own organisation
reap the benefits of collaborative activity arising from the rigorous validation of self-assessment judgements
undertake collaborative development activities
use the broader PRD community to address specific issues.

26. Part 3 - Making other PRD groups work for you
The wider PRD community provides access to a network of 900 Learning and Skills sector experts – use them!
14:15 – 15:00

27. Objectives During this session delegates will:
network with colleagues who have carried out activities in an area of interest to their group
inform colleagues of the activities that their group has undertaken and the outcomes of these
consider for what purpose they might want to work with another PRD group.

28. Collaborative group working across the Programme
Approximately 54 (31%) of groups are actively collaborating with other groups/organisations
A large number of groups are part of a network (e.g. South West Peer Confederation) who share information from their PRD activities with the other network members
One of the key areas groups are collaborating on relate to national priorities and current challenges facing the sector

29. Activity – Making connections
In relation to the topic heading on the posters around the room:
choose an area where you have carried out PRD activity in
as a group brainstorm:
what collectively you have done in this area
what were the outcomes
how could you work collaboratively between groups on this
important factors when collaborating
are you looking to collaborate in a particular area?
feedback to the room.

30. PRD community
A new web space designed to promote collaboration between providers. The community holds information on every organisation and PRD group currently involved in SfE peer review and development activity and allows users to:
Browse groups and organisations by sector, region and PRD activity
Identify other groups involved in activities of common interest
Contact (and be contacted by) other groups and providers over a secure server
Ask questions and share experiences via an interactive notice board
Apply to join additional PRD groups and networks
Set up new groups and manage group details

31. Thank you for attending