SR Education
Information, Advice and Guidance Policy
All learners applying for a programme of learning with SR Education have an entitlement to impartial
information, advice and guidance (IAG) at every stage of their learning journey.
Information, Advice and Guidance is provided:

Before entry to learning – choosing a programme with SR Education or any other provider,
that is most suited to the learners needs particularly in terms of location, content, level,
delivery style, costs, qualification, entry requirements, support available, etc.

At induction – key information and advice related to programme, learning contract, options
for course change if required, complaints procedure, etc.

On programme – advice on learner support available, possible progression/ employment
routes. This is particularly important during all Learner Progress Reviews.

On exit – further learning or employment information, etc.

At any time – referral to the relevant partner College or any another organisation for advice
on careers, work and learning that may be outside the scope of what SR Education is able to
provide.
We are committed to providing high quality IAG to existing and potential learners. We will also
recognise our own limitations and refer enquirers to our partner Colleges and/or other external
agencies and services when the required IAG cannot be provided by us. All SR staff are expected to
adhere to the highest professional standards in the provision of IAG and embrace the principles of
the Career Development Institute (CDI) ‘Code of Ethics’.
To ensure that IAG services are accessible to all and are of high quality, we will:

Work towards achieving and maintaining the Matrix IAG quality mark and ensure that IAG
services meet the standards within this framework.

Ensure that marketing, promotional and information materials are comprehensive, accessible
and available in a range of formats.

Monitor the effectiveness and improve the quality of IAG via:
- Customer feedback
- Staff feedback
- Employer feedback
- Partner College feedback
- Analysis of referral information
- Analysis of Initial Learner Profiles, ILP’s, career aspirations and Learner Progress Reviews
- Analysis of outcomes for learners
- Annual review, renewal & update of information materials
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
Provide opportunities for SR staff to obtain professional training and/or qualifications in IAG to
ensure understanding of:
-
IAG policy, strategy, aims, objectives, procedures and performance indicators
Equality and diversity
Confidentiality issues
Learner support, including financial support
Referral systems (internal and external)
Customer Care, Health & Safety and Safeguarding
Technological support
Information sources

Develop and review partnerships and networks to support provision of impartial IAG and
referral to appropriate partners and other external agencies/services.

Embed IAG in quality assurance, staff development and training and the performance
review/appraisal processes.
Employer Engagement
IAG given as part of SR Education employer engagement activities will conform to the IAG policy as
stated.
Employer training needs analysis, conducted as part of employer engagement, will also comply with
our IAG policy.
Where required, staff will be enabled to access training to develop the skills required for employer
related IAG and training needs analysis.
IAG AIM
SR Education’s overall IAG aim is:
“To provide high quality impartial information, advice and guidance to learners at all stages of
their learning journey that is aligned to their individual needs and aspirations”.
All SR Education IAG staff are expected to deliver this aim in accordance with the National IAG
Board’s Code of Principles, to support learners and potential learners to make informed choices by
giving IAG that is:

Impartial:
We won’t only look at courses offered by SR Education and our partner Colleges. We will help
clients look at what other providers are offering. They will be told how to find out more –
perhaps given a phone number or website address.

Confidential:
Nothing from the discussion will be shared with anyone else without the client’s knowledge or
permission.
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
Fair:
Clients will be treated fairly and equally. If they have a learning difficulty and/or disability,
reasonable adjustment will be made. If their culture or religious beliefs require particular
arrangements, SR Education in conjunction with the relevant partner College will endeavour
to accommodate these wherever possible.

Transparent:
Clients will be told what will happen. If, at any time, clients do not understand what is going
on, they will be encouraged to ask their tutor/assessor or adviser to explain.

Accessible:
We will do all we can to help clients access ours, partner College and other external IAG
services and support them in using them. If clients have any concerns or worries about being
able to use our service, or those of our partner College’s or other external agencies/services
they will be encouraged to let us know.
IAG OBJECTIVES
1. To provide impartial information, advice and guidance to learners at all stages of their learning
journey, these include; pre-entry, induction, on-programme and support on exit.
2. To provide impartial information, advice and guidance to all learners that enables them to make
informed choices about their options and next steps in relation to their chosen course
programme/s and career aspirations.
3. To provide support that enables learners to develop self and opportunity awareness
4. To achieve nationally recognised qualifications.
5. To make a positive progression into employment or further learning and/or training.
In delivering these objectives SR staff will:
- Establish effective communication with learners and potential learners.
- Identify information requested by learners and potential learners.
- Supply information materials to learners and potential learners.
- Assist learners and potential learners to clarify their requirements.
- Identify a range of options for achieving learner requirements
- Enable learners and potential learners to select a course of action
- Maintain and improve information materials.
- Provide access to curriculum specialist information and where necessary refer learners to
specialist external IAG support services from our partner Colleges and other external
services/agencies. Advice is available from, for example, trained IAG staff at partner
Colleges, curriculum staff, learner services staff and senior managers.
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OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
All learners and potential learners have the same entitlement to reliable and easy to access IAG.
SR Education’s quality improvement procedures apply to our IAG service.
IAG will be provided by appropriately trained and experienced staff.
Initial IAG will be given as per the diagrams in the IAG procedure.
On course and exit IAG will be given in a variety of ways:

As part of the Individual Learner Planning process

As part of Learner Progress Reviews

1:1 learner support activities

By self or tutor referral to IAG specialist staff
All staff will receive training and be aware of:

The SR Education curriculum/training offer.

The IAG support services available externally, particularly from our partner Colleges.

Their own role, limitations and when to refer clients.

When and where to refer clients who need IAG beyond the limitations of the IAG Service
offered by SR Education.
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Information, Advice and Guidance: What front office/administrator staff need to do
An enquirer requires
specific course
information
regarding date, time,
and venue for an
existing SR
Education course.
Give information
and refer enquirer
to the relevant
Curriculum
Manager or other
members of the
curriculum staff
team.
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An enquirer is
uncertain of the level
of experience or
qualifications that they
need to join a course.
Provide initial information
about SR Education
courses and refer learner
to relevant Curriculum
Manager/s and/or College
partner IAG service.
Referral response to
enquiry required within
2 working days.
5
An enquirer is
thinking about a
career change and
would like some
guidance.
Tell the enquirer
about the courses
that we offer, but
advise that you are
unable to give advice
on a career change.
Refer enquirer to the
relevant partner
College Careers
Information/IAG
Services Officer.
Information, Advice and Guidance: What curriculum staff need to do
The enquirer wants a course that
we offer:
Arrange a telephone or face-toface interview to discuss the
options available to the enquirer.
Invite enquirer to pre-course
presentation event (if applicable).
The enquirer wants a course
that we do not offer or is not
currently available:
Refer the enquirer to another
suitable provider and/or
partner College Careers
Information/IAG Services
Officer.
Note the course requested for
programme planning
purposes. Forward this
information to the relevant
Curriculum Manager.
Arrange for the applicant to enrol
onto one of our courses.
Give the enquirer an IAG
evaluation form to complete
regarding the advice and
information s/he has received, or
direct her/him to the IAG
evaluation form on our website.
Give the enquirer an IAG
evaluation to complete or
direct her/him to the
evaluation form on our
website.
Response required within 2
working days
Response required within 2
working days
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