CPD for English teachers and trainers

A suite of courses designed to meet the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of all English practitioners in the Further Education and Training sector.

English CPD graphic

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has a wide range of CPD courses and resources to support maths and English delivery.

Our offer has been carefully designed to provide solutions to concerns around progress in post-16 maths and English attainment and to develop subject specific skills.

The courses are for practitioners at all levels and stages of their development and include:

These can be packaged and delivered in-house and tailored to meet the needs of the organisation, either online or face-to-face.

For an in-house group booking, discounts are available for packages of modules – contact us for details.

Level 5 English and ESOL

These courses are for teachers currently teaching GCSE, Functional Skills or ESOL in the Further Education and Training Sector. They would also be useful for vocational staff delivering T levels with substantial English content.

Courses are delivered online, 2 hours each week over 10 weeks and are also available for delivery in-house.

The cost is £450 per person for an open course – discounts are available for an in-house group booking – contact us for details.

Courses

  • Teaching English GCSE: Develop your Practice (L5 module)
    This Level 5 CPD course will explore and experience how to engage and motivate learners and undertake assessment to build on their prior learning. You will experience digital approaches and other effective practices for leading GCSE English courses.
  • Teaching Functional Skills English (Level 5 module)
    This Level 5 CPD course supports practitioners working with Functional Skills English learners. You will explore and experience how to engage and motivate learners and undertake assessment to build on their prior learning. It is designed to meet the needs of all parts of the sector, including independent training providers, offender learning and adult and community education.
  • Teaching ESOL in the post-16 sector: develop your practice (L5 module)
    This Level 5 CPD course is designed to support participants to become more confident in analysing the English Language needs of their ESOL learners and planning teaching and learning activities to help learners develop their language awareness and the four English language skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Functional Skills

These modules are suitable for teachers currently teaching Functional Skills in the Further Education and Training Sector. They would also be useful for vocational staff supporting the delivery of English.

The modules can be packaged and delivered in-house and tailored to meet the needs of the organisation, either online or face-to-face.

For an in-house group booking, discounts are available for packages of modules – contact us for details.

Courses

  • Developing Speaking and Listening for Functional Skills English
    This course looks at the Functional Skills English content for Speaking, Listening and Communicating to help you understand language requirements at different levels of the exam and why it needs to be taught separately. It will explore examples of practical activities for supporting learners with opportunities to share ideas.
  • Introduction to assessment for learning for English
    This course will support technical and vocational tutors, trainers and assessors to understand that assessment of English GCSEs and Functional Skills is a process of gathering data to better understand the progress of the learner and how to use this data to inform planning that lead to improvements in learning.
  • Assessment in English: knowing your learners’ starting points
    This course considers strategies for identifying gaps, and areas that learners struggle with, to use as a starting point for their learning. English learners tend to be returning learners that don’t wish to sit the qualifications in this subject again. By pinpointing these specific areas of difficulty, we can aim to make their learning experience different for them.
  • Success in speaking and listening
    This interactive course will help you to explore the importance of teaching learners more about the differences between speech and writing so that they can use language purposefully and make informed communicative choices. With a focus on practical activities, and using real samples, you will explore how speaking and listening skills can be used to inform ad improve writing.
  • Words are magnificent: increasing learners’ word building and vocabulary skills
    This interactive course is for you if your learners may have limited vocabulary and this impacts negatively on their performance. You will consider ways to assess your learners’ vocabulary and be introduced to and evaluate, some practical strategies to help your learners develop their vocabulary.
  • Marking, assessing and feeding forward in English
    This course will discuss the importance of effective marking and ways of feeding forward and plenty of opportunities to share ideas will be given. We will then move on to setting accurate and realistic targets for your learners that present sufficient challenges for them with actionable feedback that should help fuel progress.
  • Teaching how to plan and write non-fiction text for GCSE and Functional Skills exams
    This course explores the difference between writing for GCSE and Functional Skills. Also, the process of writing, developing ideas, turning ideas into plans, developing detail and preparing for writing is examined through a range of activities.
  • Using formative assessment for planning English
    This course offers an insight into the effectiveness of using formative assessment techniques when planning for both Functional Skills and GCSE English teaching. Methods for ensuring that impact is measured are covered plus the tracking of learners’ incremental progress and encouraging them to take responsibility for their targets.
  • Giving your ESOL learners the best chance to pass Functional Skills English
    This two part course is for you if you support learners with ESOL needs who are learning Functional Skills English and you want to identify ways to maximise the learners’ chances of passing their assessments.
  • Improving Reading in Functional Skills English
    This course explores some of the key areas of reading that learners on Functional Skills courses find challenging. You will be guided to reflect on examples of common learner errors and consider strategies that could help them to improve.

GCSE

These modules are suitable for teachers currently teaching GCSE in the Further Education and Training Sector. They would also be useful for vocational staff supporting the delivery of English.

The modules can be packaged and delivered in-house and tailored to meet the needs of the organisation, either online or face-to-face.

For an in-house group booking, discounts are available for packages of modules – contact us for details.

Courses

  • To PEE or not to PEE?: helping GCSE learners to write about reading
    This course will explore the crossover between reading and writing and how to help learners to develop the skills of writing about their reading. We will investigate the much used PEED/L approach and consider and try out other strategies for helping learners to succeed in this area of English.
  • Creative writing in GCSE English and the challenges
    This interactive course will explore ways to build learners’ confidence and resilience around creative writing. It explores strategies for supporting learners to see themselves as writers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to spark their creativity and imagination and produce writing which consciously develops theme and narrative perspective.
  • Helping GCSE resit learners to craft and control creative writing
    GCSE English learners need to see themselves as writers who craft, manipulate and control language and structures for effect if they are to be successful in the examination’s creative writing task. This course explores how teachers can support learners to make decisions and control narrative voice, structure and time for effect in their creative writing.
  • Introduction to assessment for learning for English
    This course will support technical and vocational tutors, trainers and assessors to understand that assessment of English GCSEs and Functional Skills is a process of gathering data to better understand the progress of the learner and how to use this data to inform planning that lead to improvements in learning.
  • Assessment in English: knowing your learners’ starting points
    This course considers strategies for identifying gaps, and areas that learners struggle with, to use as a starting point for their learning. English learners tend to be returning learners that don’t wish to sit the qualifications in this subject again. By pinpointing these specific areas of difficulty, we can aim to make their learning experience different for them.
  • Success in speaking and listening
    This interactive course will help you to explore the importance of teaching learners more about the differences between speech and writing so that they can use language purposefully and make informed communicative choices. With a focus on practical activities, and using real samples, you will explore how speaking and listening skills can be used to inform ad improve writing.
  • Words are magnificent: increasing learners’ word building and vocabulary skills
    This interactive course is for you if your learners may have limited vocabulary and this impacts negatively on their performance. You will consider ways to assess your learners’ vocabulary and be introduced to, and evaluate, some practical strategies to help your learners develop their vocabulary.
  • Marking, assessing and feeding forward in English
    This course will discuss the importance of effective marking and ways of feeding forward and plenty of opportunities to share ideas will be given. We will then move onto setting accurate and realistic targets for your learners that present sufficient challenges for them with actionable feedback that should help fuel progress.
  • Teaching how to plan and write non-fiction text for GCSE and Functional Skills exams
    This course explores the difference between writing for GCSE and Functional Skills. Also, the process of writing, developing ideas, turning ideas into plans, developing detail and preparing for writing is examined through a range of activities.
  • Using formative assessment for planning English
    This course offers an insight into the effectiveness of using formative assessment techniques when planning for both Functional Skills and GCSE English teaching. Methods for ensuring that impact is measured are covered plus the tracking of learners’ incremental progress and encouraging them to take responsibility for their targets.

Teaching Learning and Assessment

These modules consider aspects of English as a subject, combined with pedagogical aspects of teaching, learning and assessment. They are suitable for teachers currently teaching GCSE and/or Functional Skills in the Further Education and Training Sector. They would also be useful for vocational staff supporting the delivery of English. 

The modules can be packaged and delivered in-house and tailored to meet the needs of the organisation, either online or face-to-face. 

For an in-house group booking, discounts are available for packages of modules – contact us for details. 

Courses

  • Developing Speaking and Listening for Functional Skills English
    This course looks at the Functional Skills English content for Speaking, Listening and Communicating to help you understand language requirements at different levels of the exam and why it needs to be taught separately. It will explore examples of practical activities for supporting learners with opportunities to share ideas.
  • Introduction to assessment for learning for English
    This course will support technical and vocational tutors, trainers and assessors to understand that assessment of English GCSEs and Functional Skills is a process of gathering data to better understand the progress of the learner and how to use this data to inform planning that lead to improvements in learning.
  • Assessment in English: knowing your learners’ starting points
    This course considers strategies for identifying gaps, and areas that learners struggle with, to use as a starting point for their learning. English learners tend to be returning learners that don’t wish to sit the qualifications in this subject again. By pinpointing these specific areas of difficulty, we can aim to make their learning experience different for them.
  • Success in speaking and listening
    This interactive course will help you to explore the importance of teaching learners more about the differences between speech and writing so that they can use language purposefully and make informed communicative choices. With a focus on practical activities, and using real samples, you will explore how speaking and listening skills can be used to inform ad improve writing.
  • Words are magnificent: increasing learners’ word building and vocabulary skills
    This interactive course is for you if your learners may have limited vocabulary and this impacts negatively on their performance. You will consider ways to assess your learners’ vocabulary and be introduced to, and evaluate, some practical strategies to help your learners develop their vocabulary.
  • Marking, assessing and feeding forward in English
    This course will discuss the importance of effective marking and ways of feeding forward and plenty of opportunities to share ideas will be given. We will then move onto setting accurate and realistic targets for your learners that present sufficient challenge for them with actionable feedback that should help fuel progress.
  • Teaching how to plan and write non-fiction text for GCSE and Functional Skills exams
    This course explores the difference between writing for GCSE and Functional Skills. Also, the process of writing, developing ideas, turning ideas into plans, developing detail and preparing for writing is examined through a range of activities.
  • Using formative assessment for planning English
    This course offers an insight into the effectiveness of using formative assessment techniques when planning for both Functional Skills and GCSE English teaching. Methods for ensuring that impact is measured are covered plus the tracking of learners’ incremental progress and encouraging them to take responsibility for their targets.
  • Giving your ESOL learners the best chance to pass Functional Skills English
    This two part course is for you if you support learners with ESOL needs who are learning Functional Skills English and you want to identify ways to maximise the learners’ chances of passing their assessments.
  • Improving Reading in Functional Skills English
    This course explores some of the key areas of reading that learners on Functional Skills courses find challenging. You will be guided to reflect on examples of common learner errors and consider strategies that could help them to improve.
  • To PEE or not to PEE?: helping GCSE learners to write about reading
    This course will explore the crossover between reading and writing and how to help learners to develop the skills of writing about their reading. We will investigate the much used PEED/L approach and consider and try out other strategies for helping learners to succeed in this area of English.
  • Creative writing in GCSE English and the challenges
    This interactive course will explore ways to build learners’ confidence and resilience around creative writing. It explores strategies for supporting learners to see themselves as writers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to spark their creativity and imagination and produce writing which consciously develops theme and narrative perspective.
  • Helping GCSE resit learners to craft and control creative writing
    GCSE English learners need to see themselves as writers who craft, manipulate and control language and structures for effect if they are to be successful in the examination’s creative writing task. This course explores how teachers can support learners to make decisions and control narrative voice, structure and time for effect in their creative writing.
  • Developing grammar for reading and writing
    This interactive webinar aims to explore how knowledge and skills in grammar can be taught in imaginative ways through the active exploration of everyday and vocational texts.
  • Developing our learners’ phonics skills
    This course explores ways of using phonics to identify and plan for the needs of learners. You will reflect on common errors learners on FS and GCSE English courses make and be guided to explore phonics strategies for improvement.
  • Developing problem-solving, investigative and collaborative approaches to reading
    Post 16 learners often have low self-esteem and resilience when it comes to their reading skills. Many feel that this is an area in which they have already ‘failed’. Teachers also frequently experience a gap between learners’ decoding and comprehension skills.
  • Developing writing: teacher modelling and collaborative writing techniques
    This interactive course will explore a range of strategies and activities designed to support learners during the formative stages of the writing process.
  • Helping post-16 learners to read with understanding and resilience
    This course explores how to develop learners’ active reading skills by explicitly teaching some of the process and problem-solving strategies that proficient readers use automatically e.g. when good readers read, they consider what they are reading and how it fits with what they already know.
  • Integrating English into vocational training
    This interactive course aims to help teachers plan and deliver holistic learning activities that connect English to the learner’s vocational area.
  • Investigating grammar: supporting your learners to understand how texts work
    This interactive course aims to explore how knowledge and skills in grammar can be taught in imaginative ways through the active exploration of everyday and vocational texts.
  • Phonics: an introduction to the key principles of post-16 phonics
    This interactive course offers an introduction to the key ideas and terminology of post-16 phonics. You will explore important guiding principles to apply to your practice to optimise the influence phonics can have on learners.
  • Phonics: strategies for improving reading and writing – coming soon
    To provide participants with an opportunity to share ideas for phonics activities that can be used to help learners to improve their reading or spelling and give teachers the tools to design useful phonics activities to support learners to achieve their goals in reading and spelling, as needed.
  • Planning for deep learning in English
    This course looks at how this knowledge can help to improve curriculum design and planning for deeper learning.
  • Post-16 English learners: how to meet their needs
    This interactive introductory course is designed to help you get a better picture of how your learners’ backgrounds may have influenced their behaviour, motivation and language development.
  • Problem-solving and Creative Thinking in English
    This course explores English learning activities and looks at how they can be maximised to develop learners’ problem solving and creativity skills. This course will shine a spotlight on the skills and demonstrate how to make them explicit to learners.
  • Words are crucial: developing vocabulary for fluency in reading
    This course is for you if you support learners of English Functional Skills and GCSEs (including those with ESOL needs) and you want to identify ways to develop your learners’ fluency in reading.

Motivation and Engagement

These modules focus on approaches to and techniques for motivation and engagement in the English classroom. They are suitable for teachers currently teaching GCSE and/or Functional Skills in the Further Education and Training Sector. They would also be useful for vocational staff supporting the delivery of English.  

The modules can be packaged and delivered in-house and tailored to meet the needs of the organisation, either online or face-to-face. 

For an in-house group booking, discounts are available for packages of modules – contact us for details. 

Courses

  • Overcoming barriers to learning English
    This introductory course explores learners’ attitudes to English learning, in particular, those learners retaking English qualifications. Learners who may already have experienced ‘failure’ and disappointment require approaches that help build confidence and responsibility for learning.
  • Attendance and motivation in English
    This course will explore how to support learners to value English skills and investigate coaching and resilience strategies to support teaching practice and encourage learners to engage.
  • Developing resilience in English
    This course will explore the ideas of resilience in English and explore strategies and their application in teaching and learning.
  • Helping post-16 learners to read with understanding and resilience
    This course explores how to develop learners’ active reading skills by explicitly teaching some of the process and problem-solving strategies that proficient readers use automatically e.g. when good readers read, they consider what they are reading and how it fits with what they already know.

Additional learning support

These modules focus on approaches to support learners with additional learning needs in the English classroom. They are suitable for teachers currently teaching GCSE and/or Functional Skills in the Further Education and Training Sector. They would also be useful for vocational staff supporting the delivery of English. 

These modules can be packaged and delivered in-house and tailored to meet the needs of the organisation, either online or face-to-face.  

For an in-house group booking, discounts are available for packages of modules – contact us for details. 

Courses

Developing effective in class support for your English and Maths learners 

Who is this for: Managers, Lecturers/teachers of English and Maths, Subject specialists, Support workers 

Aim: This session focuses on sharing training resources on how to use support workers effectively in the English and maths classrooms. The aim is to improve the collaboration between support workers and teachers to ensure that the maximum impact can be felt by learners. The aim is to ensure that all delegates leave with an action plan for implementation around how to improve practices in this area. 

The outcomes of the course aims to: 

  • Identify the skills and strategies needed for a support worker to effectively meet learners needs within a maths and English classroom. 
  • Share examples of good practice of collaboration between teachers and support staff. 
  • Provide evidence-based research and case studies around how to manage support workers effectively including how to measure the input and impact this role has on learning. 

Length: 2 hours 

 

Inclusive Formative and Summative Assessment for maths and English 

Who is this for: Managers, lecturers/teachers of English and Maths and subject specialists 

Aim: The session focuses on principles and practice of inclusive assessment in the English and maths classroom 

The outcomes of the course are to: 

  • Explain the core elements of effective formative and summative assessment 
  • Analyse how effective assessment is  underpinned by learning mindsets  
  • Explain effective, inclusive formative assessment in maths and English, in principle and practice 
  • Outline effective, inclusive summative assessment principles and practice 

Length: 2 hours 

 

Inclusive Initial and Diagnostic Assessment for maths and English 

Who is this for: Managers, lecturers/teachers of English and maths and subject specialists 

Aim: The session focuses on the principles and practices of inclusive initial and diagnostic assessment in the English and maths classroom. 

The outcomes of the course are to: 

  • Identify the purpose of initial and diagnostic assessments 
  • State differences between IA and DA 
  • Evaluate a range of IA and DA activities 

Length: 2 hours 

 

Inclusive planning to support neurodiverse learners in the maths and English classroom 

Who is it for: Managers, lecturers/teachers of English and maths and subject specialists. 

Aim: The session focuses on the principles and practice of planning to meet individual learner needs in a maths or English classroom. 

 The outcomes of the course are to: 

  • Identify the foundations of planning and sequencing learning 
  • Identify learniing intentions 
  • Review strategies and dosuments to support the planning process 
  • Identify individual starting points 

 

Supporting neurodiverse learners in the English classroom 

Who is it for: Lecturers/teachers of maths, subject specialists in post 16 settings 

Aim: This webinar focuses on sharing good practice regarding how to provide appropriate maths support for learners with additional needs who are on mainstream vocational provisions. The session aims to support teachers and educators to recognise the range of neurodiversity needs that maybe present in both diagnosed and undiagnosed learners. The aim is to recognise the tapestry of our classrooms and uses the principle message that a better understanding of learners needs will result in more impactful teaching, learning and assessment. With between 30-40% of the population thought to be neurodiverse the evidence is clear that an increased understanding of these needs would result in a more inclusive classroom. 

The outcomes of the course aims to: 

  • Develop practitioners understanding of neurodiverse needs and how to improve the design of teaching and learning in maths to support these learners. 
  • Share strategies which explore how educators might manage neurodiverse behaviours which will promote impactful learning. 
  • Promote and share a body of valid and relevant evidence-based research to enable practitioners to plan for effective learning and delivery. 

Length: 2 hours 

Networks

A national termly English network in which English teachers will have the opportunity to learn about new resources, collaborate and share experiences and ideas, and participate in CPD.

Book for the National English Network

National networks are free of charge.

If you are interested in contributing ideas or a CPD session for a network please contact us.

English for Vocational

This course have been designed to support professionals in a range of settings including vocational teachers, apprenticeship assessors/trainers and learning support staff. 

Prices start from £450 for participation in an open course. 10% discounts are available for SET members and discounts are available for onsite group bookings – contact us for details about group bookings.

Courses

Course

Develop your learners’ English skills in vocational and technical settings
This course will provide participants with a range of strategies and activities to support learners to develop and use their English skills in a range of contexts.

For a full course description and to book, please view the ETF booking website.

Calendar

Upcoming English and Maths CPD training

Upcoming English and Maths CPD training

 

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