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A framework for achievement

Working closely with other agencies and professionals, we are helping to design a new framework for recognising learning achievements.

The backbone of the framework will be a range of qualifications that genuinely qualify people in particular occupations or signify their competence. It will recognise a wide range of learners’ achievements, help them get back to learning and set them on a journey of personal or professional progress. Together we are building a credit-based learning and qualifications system that will allow learners to measure achievement in smaller steps and keep credits to use later if they so desire.

We are working to ensure that qualifications can be taken in steps that suit individual needs. If a break in learning is needed, people should not have to re-start, repeating what they have already successfully covered. We also want to ensure that in-house training provided by employers can be recognised and contribute towards gaining a nationally recognised qualification.

Aran

‘I don’t have much time to study now. How can I be sure that my NVQ will still be valid when I go back to college in a couple of years’ time?’

Aran was proud to achieve his level 2 childcare NVQ, and enjoyed putting what he had learnt into practice, through a job at a local day-care nursery.

He is working full-time now, and knows that he can continue his education in the future. He plans to have achieved a level 4 NVQ by his mid-20s so that he and his mother can start their own nursery.

QCA’s commitment to making every unit of accredited qualifications count means that Aran can be sure that he will be able to build on his level 2 NVQ and work towards a higher level of qualification at a later date.

He can also rely on the fact that his NVQ is part of the national occupational standards framework, and be confident that QCA regularly reviews existing qualifications to make sure that they meet his needs for relevant knowledge and skills.

When he sets up his own nursery, Aran will use resources from QCA for guidance and ideas about teaching pre-school children. This will make sure that he provides them with the foundation stage skills that will equip them for school and life.

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