The new Induction Standards for a career in Children’s Care

Posted on March 22, 2010 by admin

If you have designs on working with children and young people, you’ll know that this is an important career. You’ll relish the challenge of playing a valuable role in shaping the lives of future generations and in making this the best possible place in the world for children to live.

Successful people in this field see themselves as professional – right from the start.

So lots lots of enthusiasm, energy and passion is required. You will also need knowledge and understanding of what children, young people and their families need to achieve their full potential.

Perhaps you are new to a role working in children’s services or maybe your work role has changed within children’s services – whichever it is, you can be sure it will be demanding and challenging, yet thoroughly rewarding.

What are the induction standards all about?

The induction standards from the Children’s Workforce Development Council (the sector Skills Council) set out the knowledge, skills and understanding which are essential to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families. All new staff coming into the Children’s Care workforce, should complete the induction standards. ATG Training can help you understand the requirements.

Induction is your first step along a journey of developing your professional skills and understanding your role. Workplace induction is a planned programme of activities to prepare and orient new staff to the workplace.

The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the children and young people’s workforce sets out the basic skills and knowledge needed by all people (including volunteers) whose work brings them into regular contact with children and young people. For more information, please contact future@atg-training.co.uk

Engineering

Posted on March 11, 2010 by admin

Director of Learning and Skills

ATG’s Board of Trustees have recently approved investment in new CNC machinery for the engineering programme. This new equipment will give businesses the opportunity to train and practice on modern machining equipment supported by the latest CAD/CAM software. With short and medium-length courses available, ATG is able to meet many business’ needs for training.

ATG’s unique selling point is its responsiveness. We are not tied to academic cycles or set delivery patterns. Employers can talk to us at any time about training and learning programmes. Our longer-term programmes such as apprenticeships and NVQs can be delivered in a pattern and over a timeframe suited to the employer. Our shorter courses run regularly and our modern training centre opens evenings and weekends if employers prefer to train outside of productive hours. As a not-for-profit organisation, we take pride in re-investing our surpluses to the benefit of employers and learners. Come and visit us to see the fantastic accommodation and training facilities we have as a result of that re-investment.

Electrical Training

Posted on March 9, 2010 by admin

Electrical Apprentice

ATG has expanded its Electrical Training area and can now accommodate 36 students on its six-month, full-time programme. With excellent instructor-to-student ratios, ATG Training has a track record of starting apprentices on a career in electrical installation and maintenance. With ATG’s recruitment cycles, there are start dates to suit anyone so applicants need not be constrained by the academic year.

Contact ATG Training to find out how to join this exciting programme.

Young Ladies speak on Childcare Learning & Development Training

Posted on November 23, 2009 by admin

Bianca Stacey, (18) Childcare Learning & Development

      ‘I first heard about ATG because I was sent a letter about an open day so I decided to go along. I chose the childcare course because it looked interesting. I have really enjoyed the course so far and it has been better than expected.

       I really like that you get the experience of being in the childcare setting as well as learning 3 days a week at ATG. Learning in the classroom isn’t boring as we have had fun days (bowling, circus skills) and also people coming in and doing presentations. I find the work quite easy to do but if I get stuck there is always some-one to ask for help.

I’m glad I came to ATG I have learnt a lot and will miss everyone when I leave’

Jenny Rutland, (18) Childcare Learning & Development

‘I first heard about ATG from my friend who came to this college and told me I should have a look and see what they can do for me. I also heard it on the radio and thought it was interesting and so I phoned up and they were really helpful to me. Now I’m here at ATG with a job and nearly finished my NVQ 2.

I have really enjoyed this course so far, it is very different to other colleges I have been to and I still prefer this college. I have met new friends here at ATG and will stay in contact.

I have already done the level 2 at a different college and didn’t find a work placement so I couldn’t finish off my qualifications, so I came to ATG and I studied it again to boost up my knowledge even further and finally found a work placement to finish of my NVQ2 qualification. I am really happy with ATG they really mean what they say when they will help you find a job they never leave you completely on your own to find a job they guide you in the right directions in finding a job for the future.

The atmosphere here at this college is welcoming and friendly, I really recommend it to everyone who is looking to study something further in their career. It’s a good way to meet new friends and to build up your team work skills. Also, here at ATG, they help to practise for an interview and give you feedback on the things that went well and not so well so you can improve for the time you have a real interview so it goes well.

There is nothing bad about this course what so ever and I would really recommend it to everyone’

Record numbers of Apprentices

Posted on October 29, 2009 by admin

Director of Learning and Skills

Success rates for apprenticeships have been increasing each year as the LSC and Ofsted drive providers to raise standards. ATG Training’s success rates for 2008/9 are looking very good, particularly the number of apprentices completing their programmes within the specified time limit. This has been achieved by investment in technology for the assessor teams and a better approach to caseloads and visit frequencies.

I wonder whether the high numbers of completions was influenced by the lack of funding for 2009/10 – providers may have accelerated the programmes of many apprentices to ensure their completions were funded.

Whilst encouraging, the participation in skills for life courses needs to be considered alongside the numbers of Britons who are considered illiterate or innumerate, numbers which are far too high in some areas of the country. There is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that students do not leave compulsory education with less than an acceptable level of literacy and numeracy. It should not be left to FE or work-based learning to develop what 11+ years of schooling has failed to address. Many employers are shocked at the levels of literacy and numeracy among prospective apprentices and the fundamental education that is required before skills-based training can begin.

The Directors Chair

Posted on October 23, 2009 by admin

Director of Commercial Development

I have been out and about recently and one of the conferences I attended was from LSIS (Learning and Skills Improvement Service) normally at conferences I am itching to go at lunch time conscious of the work I have back at the office, however this one I was gripped.

The title was “Embracing Innovation” and being a secret geek that got me all fired up. I realised very early on that even though we are pushing on with our e-strategy, we have still a very long way to go. I started asking myself a lot of questions.

What about students visiting ATG through 2nd Life?
What about letting prospective students ask tough questions about our quality through Facebook?
Why not question why we sit students down in a classroom, is this how they like learning?
Books, Google will have all books EVER printed on-line by next year, WOW.
Our learners have changed, so should we?

Anyway enough blogging, and back to my Blackberry for some bite sized learning experiences.

Matt

Focus on Buckinghamshire – a snapshot

Posted on October 1, 2009 by admin

Carolyn Mumby, Managing Director of specialist employment Law firm ELE and mover and shaker at the online apprenticeship site Jigsawww recently attended the Bacon and Breakfast event at the Future Centre. Carolyn was so impressed with what she saw, she felt moved to write an article about her experiences.

This features on the front page of Jigsawww and the full article can be read here

Health & Safety

Posted on October 1, 2009 by admin

A wry look at Health & Safety

Business Breakfast

Posted on September 24, 2009 by admin

We had a good turn out from interested companies who visited ATG Training to learn more about apprenticeships, funding and employment law.

I was pleased to meet a number of clients. In particular meeting Carolyn Mumby for the first time was a real treat.

Carolyn is a leader of the new website for Apprentices – www.jigsawww.net You can read her posts here

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