Apprenticeships, Business and Community Parent Handbook 2014/2015 For all Parents, Guardians and Carers X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 1 Contents Introduction What are Apprenticeships Induction Campus Locations Attendance Resources (including moodle and Learning Resource Centres) Additional Learning Support Student ID Cards NUS Extra and NUS Apprentice Extra Cards Student Support Services Progression Student Union Course Representatives Confidentiality Appeals Procedure X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 3 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 2 Complaints Health and Safety Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Safeguarding 8 8 9 9 Version Date Author Authorised by Review date 1 11.06.14 JM TAB 2 06.10.14 JM TAB 31.07.15 3 4
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Introduction It is understandable, that as parents, guardians and carers, you want the best for your young person and this handbook has been designed to provide you with information on work based learning at Hadlow College. It provides you with an overview of key information and identifies where further details can be found. Our commitment is to support all of our Apprentices to be successful and we welcome your involvement to help make this happen. Please note, throughout the handbook any reference to parents also refers to guardians and carers. What are Apprenticeships? Hadlow College apprenticeships are offered at intermediate and advanced levels in a range of agriculture, horticulture, food, drink and brewery settings. The programmes we offer will provide a solid foundation of skills and knowledge to build a career in the apprentice’s chosen field. With input from employers, the qualifications we offer have been designed by industry bodies and Sector Skills Councils and are therefore relevant to need the needs of the respective industry. Apprentices are employees and therefore earn a wage whilst working alongside experienced staff to gain job‐specific skills. There is no set rate of pay for apprentices, however all employed apprentices must receive an hourly rate of no less than £2.73* and a recent study showed that the average wage per week for an apprentice is now around £170 per week* *source https://www.gov.uk/national‐minimum‐wage‐rates correct as of 01.10.14 Apprentices will also receive structured off‐the‐job training from an experienced and qualified Hadlow College Assessor. The majority of learning will take within the workplace however there may be opportunities for the apprentice to attend the College. The apprentice’s practical application of their newly gained knowledge and skills will be assessed in the workplace through various methods including observations, discussions, assignments, work products and witness testimonies. X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 3 The Assessor will agree targets and action plans with the apprentice and will involve the employer at all times. Regular reviews will be completed by the Assessor involving the apprentice and employer to ensure appropriate support is being provided and acceptable progress is being made. Depending on the apprenticeship level, the apprentice’s ability and the industry sector, the course will be completed in one to two years. Successful completion of the apprenticeship will lead to the achievement of national recognised qualifications such as Certificates or Diplomas and additional qualifications in English and mathematics. Induction Every Apprentice will be invited to the Hadlow campus for an induction where the content of their programme will be explained in detail. At the induction, the Apprentice will meet their Assessor and learn about College policies and our expectations of them. There will also be opportunities for the Apprentice to find out about community involvement and College life including Student Union and Course Representation. Campus Locations Hadlow Campus Hadlow College Hadlow Tonbridge Kent TN11 0AL Canterbury Campus Hadlow College Spring Lane Canterbury Kent CT1 1TB Greenwich Campus 241 Shooters Hill Road Shooters Hill DA16 3RP Court Lane Campus Hadlow College Court Lane Hadlow Kent TN11 0RF Mottingham Campus Hadlow College Mottingham Lane Mottingham London SE12 9AW Medway Campus Bloors Lane Rainham Kent Princess Christian’s Farm Riding Lane Hildenborough Kent TN11 9LP Attendance and what to do if they are absent Full attendance and punctuality are expected at all times and are a requirement of the qualification. Assessors travel long distances to see Apprentices in the workplace; if the Apprentice is unable to attend a scheduled visit they need to contact their Assessor immediately using their mobile number or 01732 853 163 or 01732 853 164. X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 4 Name of my Assessor: ____________________ Contact Number: ____________________ Email Address: ____________________ The College and employer have a vested interest in the Apprentice’s progression and successful completion of the course. Hadlow College will inform the employer of any missed classroom based sessions or workplace assessment visits. Resources Moodle Moodle is the College VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) which is accessible via the internet for teaching, learning and communicating with College staff. Moodle also provides access to newsletters, Learner Voice feedback, financial guidance, College policies, Student Union information and more. The Apprentice will be provided with a user ID and password and will be accessible from home via http://moodle.hadlow.ac.uk Learning Resource Centres We appreciate the majority of learning will take place in the workplace or community however Apprentice also have access to our Learning Resource Centres at our Hadlow, Mottingham and Canterbury campuses where they’ll find libraries stocked with over 20,000 specialist resources in print and electronic formats. The learning resource centres also offer private study areas and computers with internet access. For up to date opening times visit: http://www.hadlow.ac.uk/current‐students/library‐services/lrc‐opening‐times Hadlow Campus Mottingham Campus Term time: Term time: Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 9:00pm Monday: 8:30am – 6:30pm Friday: 8:30am – 6:00pm Tuesday: 8:30am – 5:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 3:00pm Wednesday: 8:30am – 6:30pm Thursday 8:30am – 5:00pm Holiday opening times: Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm Saturday Closed Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm Holiday opening times: Monday – Thursday 8:45am – 5:00pm Friday: 8:45am – 4:30pm X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 5 Canterbury Campus Monday: 8:30am – 6:45pm Tuesday: 8:30am – 5:30pm Wednesday: 8:30am – 5:30pm Thursday: 8:30am – 5:30pm Friday: 8:30am – 5:00pm Saturday: Closed To borrow books a current student ID card is required which is usually issued at induction. If the Apprentice does not have one it can be obtained from Student Support Services. Additional Learning Support The College has an excellent Additional Learning Support team who are here to assist Apprentices with their studies. They can offer support in many areas including:  English and maths  English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)  Specific learning difficulties (dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, ADD and ADHD) Student ID Cards For the security and safety of all Apprentices and for the purposes of identification all Apprentices are expected to wear their student ID card on College premises. Apprentices should ensure that any visitors to the College sign in on arrival, wear a visible orange lanyard or sticker and sign our on departure. ID cards are required to loan books from the Learning Resource Centre, to use the Finance cash‐back facility, use the College restaurant, obtain discounts at Broadview Garden Centre and on the local Arriva bus service. The cost of replacing a lost or mislaid ID card is £5. NUS Extra and NUS Apprentice Extra Cards As an Apprentice of Hadlow College discounts can be obtained in shops and online by buying an NUS extra or NUS Apprentice extra card. For current prices and to purchase one of these visit: www.nus.org.uk Student Support Services The team is here to assist with all College life. Wherever the Apprentice is based our enthusiastic and skilled staff can support, advise and guide you through your time at Hadlow College on:  Health and welfare  Safety, behaviour and discipline X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 6 
Contribution to College life by helping the Apprentice get involved in Learner Voice activities, Student Union, Course Representation roles and community project work The team works closely with Apprentices, support staff and external agencies to ensure the Apprentice’s experience at Hadlow College is enjoyable and rewarding. Progression We hope all Apprentices will be successful with their chosen course and remain in full‐time employment with their employer. For Apprentices on a fixed‐term contract or those wishing to progress to a higher level qualification, details of all options available can be obtained from their Assessor or the College prospectus. For those who would benefit from support with career plans, the College has a Careers Hub offering the following services: • Careers and guidance interviews • Job and apprenticeship services (internally and externally advertised vacancies) • Work experience and voluntary placement assistance • UCAS applications (including personal statement) advice • CVs and covering letters guidance • Interview tips, techniques and practice • Careers workshops • Careers fairs and events The Careers Co‐ordinator is at the Hadlow Campus (Monday – Wednesday & Friday). The Mottingham Campus (Thursday 8.45am – 12.25pm) and the Canterbury Campus (Thursday 1.45pm – 5.00pm) Student Union The Student Union is the College’s social hub. Being pro‐active and getting involved is an excellent way for Apprentices to fully enjoy and be part of the vibrant College life offered at Hadlow. The Student Union works closely with the Student Support Services team to arrange many fundraising and social events such as Halloween Night, The Winter Party and The Summer Ball. It is also responsible for celebrating the equality and diversity of the College by organising charitable events, such as Children in Need and Comic Relief, throughout the year. Membership of the Student Union is open to all Apprentices who are enrolled at the College. Elections to the Student Union Executive Committee are held every year with all members invited to stand for election or vote. There are various Student Union Representative roles ‐ each have the opportunity to be part of College committees as well as becoming a Student Governor Course Representatives It is important to the College that we hear what Apprentices think and get ideas on how we can improve things. Being a Course Representative puts the Apprentice in an ideal position to help shape the College and to ensure that they have an exceptional learning experience. This is an ideal opportunity to influence the decisions about their course and improve how courses are delivered and assessed. X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 7 If your young person is interested in becoming a Course Representative they simply need to contact their Assessor in the first instance. Confidentiality The Assessor and Internal Verifier will review any documents (work products) that are submitted as portfolio evidence. If there is a risk of a breach of confidentiality or Data Protection these documents may be excluded from the portfolio and instead, signposted to their location within the workplace. Appeals Procedure Assessment is not an exact science. It relies heavily on the Assessor’s judgement of the observed performance against known criteria. The assessment of performance should be made impartially and fairly against the standards laid down. The Assessor will be trained in assessment techniques and will be familiar with the standards to be obtained. Assessors not infallible however and may, for whatever reason, occasionally make errors of judgement. For this reason, the Verifier is responsible for checking the fairness and reliability of the Assessor’s judgements and for ensuring that the overall standards of quality assessment are maintained. If an Apprentice disagrees with a judgement, the reasons should be discussed with the Assessor. If the Apprentice does not achieve satisfaction, the following procedure should be followed: Procedure A candidate who wishes to appeal against the decision of a QCF Assessor working for, or in conjunction with, Hadlow College, should operate the following procedure: 1. On deciding that there are grounds for appeal the candidate should contact one of the College Verifiers as soon as possible. The trained Internal Verifiers are responsible for running the QCF scheme, if one of them is their Course Tutor and they would prefer to contact another Verifier, they are at liberty to do so 2. On contacting the Internal Verifier, the complainant should, within five working days, submit a written statement to the Verifier outlining the nature of the complaint. This will be dealt with within five working days, when an appointment will be made with the complainant to discuss the nature of the grievance. The intention at this stage is that the problem can be dealt with and the matter resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned 3. If the complainant is not satisfied, the Internal Verifier will send the complaint to the Course’s External Verifier within five working days. The External Verifiers decision will be final and will be sent in writing to the candidate within ten working days of the decision being made. Complaints X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 8 The College will thoroughly investigate any complaint, whether informal or formal, relating to the day‐to‐day operation of the College and the standards of service we provide. The procedure for raising informal and formal complaints is available from the Assessor, the administration team and the Hadlow College website. Health and Safety Apprentices are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and not to act in a manner that will place themselves or others in danger. In particular, they must:  Be familiar and comply with their employer’s and the College’s fire and emergency procedures  Maintain good levels of housekeeping  Use plant, machinery and equipment only when authorised to do so and in accordance with instructions  Use the correct equipment and tools for the job and any protective clothing and safety equipment in a proper manner  Report to their employer and/or Assessor any defects in premises, plant, machinery, equipment and first aid facilities  Take an active interest in health and safety  Wear or use the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Personal Protective Clothing (PPC)  Use the appropriate tools for the job correctly Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Hadlow College is committed to being an inclusive College, where all feel safe and valued. Our Strategic aims and core values reflect the environment in which our Apprentices study and live safely and with dignity and one in which our staff work effectively to foster and develop an atmosphere of respect and understanding where discrimination is not tolerated. All our stakeholders are recognised as unique individuals, representing an array of different characters which set each other apart whilst uniting all in the College culture and mission “Hadlow – The outstanding land‐
based college”. Our responsibility to promote equality of opportunity for students and staff is fundamental to the core values we foster: Our intention at all times is to be: • Inclusive and welcoming • Professional and efficient • Honest and reliable • Open and transparent • Supportive and caring • Responsible and accountable X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 9 Each individual is encouraged to reach their full potential through the development of their skills and knowledge based on their unique contribution and individuality regardless of age, disability, gender, including gender reassignment, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy. If you do have any questions or concerns please report it to your Assessor immediately. Safeguarding Hadlow College is committed to ensuring the safety and well‐being of all young people, vulnerable adults, stakeholders and staff. All staff are provided with the relevant training and are aware of the requirement to respond to abuse and neglect as well as to ensure that all College activities protect Apprentices and staff from harm. Safeguarding refers to all types of harm or potential harm including but not limited to:  Sexual abuse or inappropriate relationships  Grooming  Physical and emotional abuse by neglect  Domestic violence  Inappropriate parenting  Inappropriate supervision by staff and volunteers  Bullying, cyber‐bullying and acts of violence and aggression from within the learner community  Victimisation  Self‐harm and risk behaviour  Unsafe activities and environments  Crime  Exploitation Any concerns relating to safeguarding or child protection should be referred to the following members of staff: 01732 850 551 Bev Cleves Associate Principal, Student Support Services Sharon Lowen Designated Child Protection Co‐ordinator 01732 850 551 Once again, we would like to wish your young person the very best of luck with their course. We hope they enjoy the time spent with us and look forward to hearing about their achievements and successes along the way. The ABC Team X\ABC\Employer Student and Parental Communication\Parent Handbook 10