CPD webinar recordings library

If you currently deliver apprenticeship training as a trainer/assessor, your role is changing considerably.

You need to design training plans and deliver to meet the requirements of apprenticeship standards. You need to integrate new assessment methods and grading into your training planning, and prepare the apprentice to meet the gateway and undertake end-point assessment.

This five-part recorded series will guide you through the end-to-end process of the role, what is required from you at each stage, and equip you with tools and resources to prepare you to start delivery:

Webinar 1: Setting up the apprenticeship

• How does the induction process differ in the new world of apprenticeships?
• Working with the employer and apprentice to map out the training

Webinar 2: Developing individual training plans in-line with the standard

• What are the components of an effective training plan?
• When is assessment integrated?
• How to deliver to the standard (not necessarily qualifications)

Webinar 3: Integrating assessment into the on-programme phase

• Understanding and working with different assessment methods
• How to naturally integrate these assessment methods into your training

Webinar 4: Working with grading

• Getting apprentices familiar with graded work and assessments
• Using grading as progress tool
• How to grade apprentices in a way that reflects the end-point assessment

Webinar 5: Preparing your apprentice for the gateway

• How to deal with different types of gateway criteria
• Supporting apprentices to conduct activities / work that will contribute to the end-point assessment

Who is this webinar series for?

The webinar series has been designed for front-line apprenticeship staff (tutors, trainers, assessors, teachers, lecturers, coaches, mentors). Those who manage and lead front-line teams would also benefit from signing up.

Facilitators and speakers

The series is facilitated by Chris Cherry, an SDN expert in apprenticeship on-programme training and end-point assessment. Chris has been heavily involved in the development of new standards and assessment plans, as well as supporting hundreds of apprenticeship staff to prepare for the reforms.

To purchase this webinar series, please select the series at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

How do you move from an apprenticeship standard and the requirements of the employer, to a full blown curriculum with schemes of work and individual training plans?

It’s not easy. And what’s more, it’s going to be key focus in future Ofsted inspections.

In this in-depth 3-part recorded webinar series, we’ll show you how – and also give you the templates you need to put it into practice!

The three recordings, slides and templates will take you through:

• How to decode the standard and map out your curriculum structure, with or without qualifications
• Effective ways to co-design the curriculum with your employers
• Building in component parts – on and off-the-job training, English and maths, progress monitoring and preparation for end-point assessment
• How to take the detail, and design effective schemes of work and individual training plans
• Practical examples and actions you can take with your teams

As part of the series, we’ve also included a range of templates, including training plans and schemes of work, with supporting guidance for you to use within your organisation.

Who is the series for?

For curriculum leads, managers and front-line staff involved in apprenticeship training. Senior managers would also benefit, to inform your curriculum development approach as an organisation.

Facilitators and speakers

The webinar recordings are facilitated by Chris Cherry and Louise Doyle, SDN experts in apprenticeship on-programme training and end-point assessment. Chris and Louise have supported hundreds of apprenticeship organisations to develop their curriculum against the new standards, and have lots of insights to share.

To purchase this webinar series, please select the series at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

For many, progress monitoring will be nothing new – but in the world of apprenticeship standards (particularly where there are no mandated qualifications), many trainers will need to approach it differently.

This 2-part recorded webinar series provides guidance and examples on:

• the focus on occupational competence, and the new role of the trainer
• how to measure progress of knowledge, skills and behaviours
• how to measure progress where there are no mandated qualifications
• stretching the apprentice and using grading as a progress tool
• how progress monitoring informs preparation for the gateway and end-point assessment
• This recorded series includes the full webinar series recordings, slides and workbook

Who is this webinar series for?

Mid-level managers and front-line staff involved in apprenticeship training

Facilitators and speakers

The recorded webinars are facilitated by Chris Cherry, an SDN expert in apprenticeship on-programme training and end-point assessment. Chris has been heavily involved in the development of new standards and assessment plans, as well as supporting hundreds of apprenticeship staff to prepare for the reforms.

To purchase this webinar series, please select the series at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

The development of behaviours (alongside knowledge and skills) form a key part of the new apprenticeship standards. Apprentices will need to demonstrate particular behaviours to successfully pass the end-point assessment.

But for on-programme trainers, the development and assessment of behaviours can be hard to develop and difficult to quantify.

This 2-part webinar series provides guidance and examples on:

• How to identify the apprentice’s behavioural starting point
• Mapping behaviours from the standard into the training plan
• Training techniques to develop behaviours, with the employer
• Monitoring progress, assessing and evidencing behaviours
• Behaviors and preparation for end-point assessment

Who is this webinar series for?

Mid-level managers and front-line staff involved in apprenticeship training

Facilitators and speakers

The webinar will be facilitated by Chris Cherry, an SDN specialist in apprenticeship on-programme training and end-point assessment. Chris has been heavily involved in the development of new standards and assessment plans, as well as supporting hundreds of apprenticeship staff to prepare for the reforms.

To purchase this webinar series, please select the series at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

The role of the employer in supporting on-the-job learning is crucial to the new apprenticeship standards. Many employers (and their staff) are new to the world of apprenticeships, and look to providers for support.

So what guidance should you give as the provider? How can you best support employers to provide high quality support and mentoring for on-the-job learning?

The webinars will take you through:

• who employers can use as a mentor in apprenticeships
• the difference between mentoring and line management
• the mentor’s role at different stages of the apprenticeship journey
• providing the right level of support to mentors up-front
• how mentors can help to develop apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours
• examples of effective practice, and actions you can take

Who is this webinar for?

For managers, business development, curriculum and front-line staff involved in apprenticeship training.

Facilitators and speakers

The webinars are facilitated by Simon Shaw. Simon works with employers up and down the country to launch and grow their apprenticeship programmes and is also the Director of a training provider, with first-hand experience of working with employers at every stage of the apprenticeship.

To purchase this webinar series, please select the series at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

Do you manage the internal quality assurance (IQA) of your apprenticeship provision? If so, the way you carry out your role is changing, especially if delivering apprenticeship standards with no mandated qualifications.

In many cases, delivering apprenticeship standards will require you to rethink how you utilise your IQA resource. Are your IQA activities solely focused on awarding body requirements? Are you able to monitor the apprentice’s learning and progress effectively (particularly where there are no qualifications)? Is your role helping trainers to prepare apprentices adequately for the gateway and end-point assessment?

SDN has teamed up with Mesma to bring you a recorded webinar, taking you through:

• The key changes to the IQA role and the questions you should be asking
• How to quality assure progress in the absence of qualifications
• Practical examples of how IQA’s can contribute to preparing apprentices for end-point assessment
• How you change and adapt your internal quality assurance processes so they are fit for purpose

This recorded webinar is insightful and action-focused, equipping you with the knowledge, tools and resources to prepare for your future role in apprenticeships.

Who is this webinar for?

This recording is designed for those responsible for the internal quality assurance of their apprenticeship provision (or similar roles).

Facilitators and speakers

The webinar is facilitated by Carole Loader, Director of quality assurance experts Mesma, and part of SDN’s specialist apprenticeship on-programme training team. Carole has been heavily involved in supporting hundreds of apprenticeship staff to prepare to deliver standards.

To purchase this webinar, please select at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

Getting initial assessment right for apprenticeship standards is vital, and underpins the quality and effectiveness of your provision. What’s more, it’s been an increasing area of focus for Ofsted and the ESFA.

Initial assessment is no longer a just about compliance – in the world of apprenticeship standards, it needs to be central to the way you develop the curriculum and training plan for each apprentice.

Drawing on our work with over 1,000 apprenticeship providers, this 4-part webinar series will guide you through the different models and approaches you can use, and equip you with tools, case studies and insights to take action.

1. Initial assessment and its impact on curriculum planning

• Reclaiming initial assessment – ESFA, Ofsted and the big picture
• How your initial assessments can help to drive quality
• Using initial assessment to shape your curriculum and programme of learning for each apprentice
• Initial assessment and its link to on-programme assessment and preparation for end-point assessment

2. Initial assessment, compliance and calculating prior learning

• What are the rules and what evidence do ESFA require?
• Conducting skills gap analysis
• Applying recognition of prior learning (RPL) to the training price
• Learner Management System (LMS) controls

3. The component parts of initial assessment

• Standard-based knowledge, skills and behaviours
• English, maths and digital skills
• Learning difficulties, disabilities and SEND

4. Methods of assessment and interview techniques

• Tools and methods of initial assessment
• Asking the right questions
• Getting the timing, analysis and validity right

Who are these webinars for?

The webinar series has been designed for those involved in the delivery and management of apprenticeship training (managers, curriculum leads, tutors, trainers, assessors, teachers, lecturers, coaches, etc.).

Facilitators and speakers

Initial assessment is a complex topic. We’ve brought together three of our leading specialists, who have helped hundreds of providers and their staff to prepare to deliver standards. The series will be facilitated by Louise Doyle (specialising in curriculum planning and quality assurance), Chris Cherry (our lead on assessment and curriculum design) and David Lockhart-Hawkins (our resident expert in compliance).

To purchase this webinar series, please select the series at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

Thousands of apprentices are due to go through their end-point assessment in the coming months. It’s different and high-stakes. Making sure your apprentices are fully prepared, is a vital part of part of the training programme and fundamental to the apprentice’s success.

But at what point might you start to prepare the apprentice? How do you set up robust on-programme assessments that mirrors what the apprentice will face at the end-point? At what point might you introduce the concept of grading, or start to discuss the gateway process with the employer?

Drawing on the latest examples from our work with over 50 EPAOs and 1,000 apprenticeship training providers, this  5-part recorded webinar series will guide you through the different models and approaches you can use, and equip you with tools, case studies and insights to prepare your apprentices for EPA.

1. Laying the foundations – building EPA preparation into the training programme 

• How to decode the assessment plan
• Engaging with EPAOs early – questions you should be asking
• Common models – building EPA preparation into your curriculum and training plan

2. Preparing your apprentices for EPA assessment methods – part 1

• The Professional Discussion
• Preparation for Interviews
• Working with Showcases or Presentations

3. Preparing your apprentices for EPA assessment methods – part 2 

• Introducing Observed Assessments
• Preparing for Practical Assessments
• Working with Portfolios

4. Grading preparatory assessments 

• When and how might you introduce the concept of grading?
• How might you use grading as a progress tool?
• How to develop your knowledge and skills of grading, as a trainer

5. Supporting your apprentice through the gateway phase 

• Knowing when the apprentice is ready – conducting a triage of the evidence
• The role of the employer in the gateway and EPA process
• What gateway activities feed into the EPA, and what is your role in supporting the apprentice?

Who are these webinar recordings for?

The webinar series has been designed for front-line apprenticeship staff involved in the delivery of apprenticeship training (tutors, trainers, assessors, teachers, lecturers, coaches, mentors). Those who manage and lead front-line teams would also benefit from signing up.

Facilitators and speakers

The series is facilitated by Chris Cherry. Chris has helped to set up many of the first EPAOs (and their assessor teams) to conduct end-point assessment, as well as working with hundreds of apprenticeship providers and their staff to prepare apprentices for EPA.

To purchase this webinar series, please select the series at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

We hosted an interactive two-part webinar series with the Department for Education, looking in depth at the Prevent Duty and British Values and what it means in practice for you as an FE and skills provider.

In this series led by Sam Slack at DfE, we looked at Prevent risk assessment and action planning, British Values and how to embed this into the curriculum.

Here’s the detail of what we covered:

Webinar 1 – Prevent risk assessment and action planning for FE

• The basic requirements of completing a Prevent risk assessment and action

• The information you need and where to access it, especially for providers with a regional or national footprint

• Which partners can help you access terrorism and extremism risk information and how can it be used to assess risk

• Prevent Training – what does it need to cover and what reliable resources are available

• Examples of good practice, risk assessment templates, links to training resources and tips on meeting Ofsted requirements

Webinar 2 – British Values: what is it, why is it important and ways to embed it with learners in FE

• What are British Values in the context of FE

• Why is it important to providers and learners

• Some ideas on embedding British Values into your curriculum

• A look at a powerful resource to use with FE learners – how to use it and what it’s message is

Facilitators and speakers

The webinar was facilitated by Sam Slack, East Midlands Regional Prevent Coordinator HE/FE at the Department for Education.

To purchase this webinar, please select at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

For many, the delivery of Functional Skills will be new – understanding how it can be effectively integrated as part of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships can be a challenge.

Emily Hughes joined us to share insights and examples of how to successfully integrate Functional Skills within Higher and Degree Apprenticeships. During the session, we looked at the importance of engaging staff across the institution and ways in which you might overcome some of the hurdles of working with awarding organisations.

Here’s what we covered:

• How to identify where functional skills English and Maths can be embedded within wider apprenticeship delivery
• Innovative approaches to integrating functional skills within knowledge, skills and behaviours development
• The importance of engaging academics, on-programme tutors, workplace mentors and the wider apprenticeship team in the planning and delivery process
• The challenges and opportunities of working with awarding organisations and delivering functional skills qualifications

To purchase this webinar, please select the webinar at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

When lockdown struck, many of you did an amazing job in pivoting overnight to support apprentices online and keep them on-programme. The reality is however, that for many, longer-term support is needed to design and deliver engaging online learning sessions for apprentices, and have a clear digital strategy in place. It’s something Ofsted will want to see too.

Just ‘pinging back’ to face-to-face or relying on your LMS is a risky strategy. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Erica Farmer (apprenticeship and digital learning specialist at Welcome Two) to run a 5-part webinar to help you develop a robust digital strategy and be clear on the tools and techniques that really help to drive high-quality online training sessions for apprentices.

The series will take you through:

1. Strategy: Converting your emergency response to a sustainable strategy

2. Curriculum: Building an effective blended learning programme

3. Learning sessions: Best practice interactivity and engagement online

4. Tools and techniques: Using videos and virtual classrooms technology

5. Quality: Creating a robust evidence pack for Ofsted which illustrates your COVID-19 journey

Who are these webinars for?

The webinar series has been designed for those involved in the delivery, design and management of apprenticeship training.

Facilitators and speakers

Erica has over 20 years’ experience of designing and delivering apprenticeships and L&D for the likes of Working Links, LV, British Gas, Specsavers and Virgin Care, as well as being a trailblazer chair. Erica specialises in digital learning and innovation in apprenticeships and, in light of the sector’s COVID-19 response, sits on a number of leading apprenticeship provider boards supporting the creation of sustainable digital strategies.

To purchase this webinar series, please select the series at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

Whether you’re a trainer delivering sessions for your learners, or a manager presenting to colleagues, knowing how to confidently deliver online presentations is an essential skill.

Doing this online, rather than face-to-face, can feel very different and needs a different set of skills.

We hosted a 1-hour webinar with one of the best presenter trainers there is. Having produced and trained some of the leading TV presenters on the BBC/ITV, Gareth Davies will be sharing some insightful strategies and practical tips on how to present to screen.

During the session, we covered:

• How to present with impact and personality online

• How to develop your own personal presenting style

• How to ensure that your presentations work with the brand of your business

• How to write good content

• How to structure your presentation so it keeps your viewers engaged

• How to frame, light and set up your shot so it looks and sounds professional

Facilitator

Gareth Davies has worked in the media for over 25 years, as an Executive TV Producer and a Communications Coach/MD of The Presenter Studio.

Gareth is one of the UK’s best-known TV Executive Producers and has produced award-winning series for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and SKY. His hit shows include big Saturday series like Strictly Come Dancing, to events like The BAFTA Awards, to hard-hitting documentaries for C4 and Gareth is also a former BBC NEWS journalist and reporter working out in LA, and NYC.

Gareth has produced some of the media’s biggest names – top presenters like Graham Norton, Claudia Winkleman, Zoe Ball, Sara Cox, Tess Daly, Mel Giedroyc to music stars like Kylie Minogue to sporting legends like Colin Jackson CBE to international chefs like Jamie Oliver and Raymond Blanc.

As the MD of The Presenter Studio Gareth has coached some of the world’s biggest brands on presentation skills and media training – Prudential PLC, ASOS, Lush Cosmetics, GQ, British Vogue, Porsche, Red Bull, The Huffington Post, NIKE, Virgin Business, Sage, AOL, AOC, The Guardian, Huffington Post, and The Telegraph.

Gareth works with his clients on both the delivery of a presentation (or interview or speech) and the content – without a great script the rest falls down. He has 360-degree approach to his coaching and looks at every aspect of ‘you’ – from personal branding, the brand of your business, your customer, your messaging, and your competition…

Why an SDN webinar?

SDN works with partners, such as The Presenter Studio bring together top-quality specialists to support the FE and skills sector. We’ve worked with 1,000 training providers and over 5,000 practitioners over the last few years – allowing us to share practical insights and support you to take action.

To purchase this webinar, please select the webinar at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

Do you, and your teams, know why you charge what you do for apprenticeship training? Do you understand the difference between eligible and ineligible costs? Do you know what to record in a training price breakdown and what variations need to be applied in the case of subcontracted delivery?

Getting your apprenticeship costings right is essential for ESFA compliance and for operating a financially sound apprenticeship programme. Ensuring employers are aware of the transparent price of programmes is a common area of error and with increased rules in 21-22 regarding subcontracting costs it is easy to make mistakes.

This three part series looked at pricing in apprenticeships from a compliance and quality perspective as well as offering a bespoke support package to organisations afterwards to help continue their compliance journey.

In the webinar series, we helped you to:

• Be clear on eligible and ineligible costs of training and their relationship with training price
• Understand the relationship between price and recognition of prior learning
• Establish a clear rational for your costs – in particular, the training price and assessment price
• Explore different costing models and options
• Understand the additional rules for breaking down price when working with subcontractors
• Eligible costs for end point assessment

Facilitators and speakers

The session will be facilitated by David Lockhart-Hawkins, SDN’s compliance expert who has supported hundreds of providers in their apprenticeship journey including some of the UK’s largest, highest quality, specialist and new providers.

Funding rules sessions are up to date at the time of original broadcast. Rules are updated by the ESFA and we recommend that subsequent webinars on compliance are watched so that you are aware of the material changes. This is based on 20/21 rules.

* Correct and delivered February 2022

To purchase this webinar, please select the webinar at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

It’s easy to note down a list of funding rule changes but it’s more complex to evaluate their impact and how you might practically implement them in a way that is effective and efficient.

That’s where we’ve done some thinking for you. Using the stages of the learner journey as a visual guide, this 2.5-hr session will walk through the updates, what it means operationally for different teams along the way, where new risks might arise and practical ways you can mitigate these. The session will also provide you with opportunity for questions and address the core implementation challenges.

Led by SDN’s compliance specialist David Lockhart-Hawkins, the session will cover:

• The key changes and risks

– Data capture and the ILR

– Policy

– Process

• Where the changes impact the apprentice journey and what this means for different teams involved in the set-up and delivery of the apprenticeship:

– Pre-entry

– Entry

– On-programme

– Gateway and end-point assessment

– Progression

• Practical advice on how to adapt your systems, processes and practices

Delegates will also receive a detailed “Changes Action Plan” that identifies all the key changes and our recommendations for development.

Who is this in-depth webinar for?

Compliance and operational staff, quality managers, and leaders overseeing the impact on the apprenticeship delivery journey.

Facilitators and speakers

The session is facilitated by David Lockhart-Hawkins, SDN’s compliance expert who has supported hundreds of providers of all shapes and sizes in their apprenticeship journey including some of the UK’s largest, highest quality and niche specialists including leading Independent Providers, Universities, Colleges and Employer Providers.

Funding rules sessions are up to date at the time of original broadcast. Rules are updated by the ESFA and we recommend that subsequent webinars on compliance are watched so that you are aware of the material changes. This is based on 21/22 rules.

* Correct and delivered 12 August 2021

To purchase this webinar, please select the webinar at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.

Providers often lack confidence in claiming Learning Support Funding (LSF). Added to this, ESFA funding rules around learning support included some significant changes this year.

That’s why – led by our compliance expert David Lockhart Hawkins – we hosted a packed 2-hour 15minute webinar session to look at the rules and evidence needed to claim LSF funding with confidence.

Demonstrating practical examples of what is needed to support a claim, David will take you through:

• The 21/22 Funding Rules for learning support

• Identifying barriers to learning

• Needs Assessment

• Support Planning

• Support Review

• Funding claim controls

• Compliance management

• Best Practice

Attendees will also receive a detailed slide pack and a free Learning Support Review template to use month to month with your apprentices.

Facilitators and speakers

The session is facilitated by David Lockhart-Hawkins, SDN’s compliance expert who has supported hundreds of providers of all shapes and sizes in their apprenticeship journey including some of the UK’s largest, highest quality and niche specialists including leading Independent Providers, Universities, Colleges and Employer Providers.

Sessions are up to date at the time of original broadcast. Rules are updated by the ESFA and we recommend that subsequent webinars on compliance are watched so that you are aware of the material changes. This is based on 21/22 rules.

* Correct and delivered 3 March 2022

To purchase this webinar, please select the webinar at the bottom of the page and how many people you would like to have access.