On the 5th November 2009 AchieveAbility president Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield, hosted the AchieveAbility Inclusive Learning Reception.
The AchieveAbility Network and West London Lifelong Learning Network profiled two collaborative projects at the House of Commons on Thursday 5th November 2009 to address the need for an inclusive educational approach that captures the potential intellectual loss for specific learners.
Barry Sheerman MP informed participants that the AchieveAbility projects were timed to launch with the Government’s new framework that ensures fair entry opportunities for all students into Higher Education (HE).
He said: “I chase the Government as I know policies need to be based on evidence. We have just had a major statement on the future of HE focusing on accessible learning. We need every person in the country to have a fair chance of HE.”
The first project, Inclusive Learning in Practice, is an innovative level 7 Masters 20 credit module, validated by London South Bank University LLU+. It supports teachers’ development of inclusive professional practice working with learner’s diversity and differences. This supports emergent institutional policies for learner retention, achievement and the development of an institutional inclusive strategy.
Shareen Taylor, Head of Assessment and Intervention in an inner London School, commented: “Secondary, primary and colleges are starting to think out of the box. Learning support is now a highly trained profession, particularly through the emergent engagement programmes.”
The second project, Challenging Behaviours, ensures access to educational opportunities for learners that have been in a residential care home, foster home and at later stage pupil referral units (PRU). A Level 4(0) bridging course, delivered through workshops and online resources, is being developed to support learners’ progression to Higher Education and employment.
Debra Kelly, Professor of French and Francophone Literary and Cultural Studies, University of Westminster, said: “My colleagues will say, I had a really good student, they really tried and I didn’t know how to help them. Well, working with AchieveAbility will help to move this forward.”
The modules will be delivered at London South Bank University and the University of Westminster from November 2009.
