Evaluating small-scale intervention designed to support non-native English speakers who were struggling to take full advantage of their vocational courses.
This project was set up to evaluate the impact of a small-scale intervention designed to support non-native English speakers who were struggling to take full advantage of their vocational courses.
Extra classes to focus on helping learners to develop the reading and writing skills needed to tackle their English, maths and vocational courses with more confidence were set up to trial the interventions. The most effective strategies were disseminated to all curriculum areas to improve cross-college teaching of non-native English speakers. Feedback regarding the interventions were mixed. However, learners’ own perceptions of their progress, when questioned during a small group support session, seemed to echo the tutors’ observations, saying that they felt that the sessions had improved their confidence in all aspects of English.
OTLA 8
1. Reflect on what works best in your teaching and learning to meet the diverse needs of learners - The project has encouraged the team to step outside ‘normal’ modes of delivery and identify how best to support new learners to the college, both non-native English speakers (NNESs) and learners with a relatively low English assessment score. Being able to nurture learners in a small group has allowed the team to target specific language difficulties which were hindering progress and has also impacted upon their confidence and mindset to improve. As a result, the team are also looking at how to develop a more robust Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) process which will inform how learners are supported next year.
20. Contribute to organisational development and quality improvement through collaboration with others - The team have also begun to offer staff development sessions based on some of the new technology we have used as part of the project. The first was offered in January, and was well received by different curriculum areas, one of which has booked further training April so they can use MS Teams reader as part of their everyday delivery.