Institute for Learning
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Registration deadline approaches for WBL and ACL trainers

Following the introduction of government reforms in 2007, learning providers that deliver further education provision through a contract or funding agreement with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are required to ensure that all their trainers, tutors and teachers:

* register as members of the Institute for Learning (IfL) by 30 September 2008
* undertake at least 30 hours' continuing professional development (CPD) each year (prorated for part-time trainers)
* abide by IfL's Code of Professional Practice.

The reforms apply to learning providers operating in work-based, adult and community, offender and voluntary sector settings. So far, nearly 150,000 practitioners have registered with IfL, including FE and specialist independent college teachers, who were required to register by the end of March 2008.

IfL's deputy chief executive, Lee Davies, said, "Following the publication of the FE white paper in March 2006, we saw strong support for teachers and trainers to become members of a professional body. Now that this is in place, our role is to help raise the individual and collective professional status of trainers and teachers, so that they get the recognition they deserve.

"We recognise that there are a few trainers and teachers who are not yet sure they want to join, or don't like the idea of being required to do so, but I think this will change. Just as doctors, lawyers and schoolteachers are automatically members of a professional body, it will become the norm for FE and skills practitioners to belong to their professional body."

In early September, IfL will be hosting three events around the country aimed at helping HR and staff development managers and senior leaders understand the impact of the new regulations on their organisations, and the opportunities for staff development. There is no charge for attending the briefings, but places are limited and must be booked in advance. There will be two sessions at each of the locations:

* London: 2 September 2008
* Birmingham: 3 September 2008
* Leeds: 4 September 2008

Further information and registration details are available on IfL's website at http://www.ifl.ac.uk/services/p_wwv_page?id=169&session_id=

---NOTES TO EDITORS---

There will be two sessions at each of the September events, to start at 08.30 and 11.30.

---About IfL---

The Institute for Learning (IfL) was formed in 2002 and is the professional body for teachers, tutors, trainers and student teachers in the learning and skills sector, including adult and community learning, emergency and public services, further education colleges, Ministry of Defence and the armed services, the voluntary sector and work-based learning.

Much of IfL’s work is guided by two sets of regulations that came into force on 1 September 2007:

* Revised teaching qualifications, including the introduction of licensed practitioner status and differentiation between full and associate teachers

* Remaining in good standing as a teaching professional, including mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) for all teachers.

Under the regulations, all FE college teachers are required to register as members of IfL, undertake CPD each year and abide by the IfL code of professional practice. The regulations are supported by contractual requirements for LSC-funded provision, which will ensure that the scope of the regulations covers all teachers in the sector.

The government has agreed to meet the full cost of standard registration with IfL for teachers in LSC-funded institutions who register online.
IfL also welcomes teachers and trainers who do not work on LSC-funded programmes; they are required to pay their own annual subscription, for which they receive a comprehensive range of professional benefits.

Teachers new to the sector from September 2007 are additionally required to become licensed practitioners. Although not mandatory for them, existing teachers are also encouraged to become licensed practitioners, as this will become the benchmark for the sector.

As a key partner in delivering workforce reform, IfL is responsible for managing this registration process and for conferring licensed practitioner status.

An independent body, IfL is governed by an elected council and works closely with several sector organisations, unions and employer bodies.

---CONTACT---

Press office:

Lindsay Baugh 07736 246 697 or 01707 392 552
Email lindsay.baugh@howardsgate.co.uk

Membership and other enquiries:

The Institute for Learning
Bracton House
34-36 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6AE

Telephone: 0870 757 7894
Website: www.ifl.ac.uk
Email: enquiries@ifl.ac.uk

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