Workforce Development Update

Edition 5: 21 January 2008

Dear all,
 
Firstly this time around we have a few more items of course feedback:
 
Further comments have been provided on the Aquatic Fitness series of training awards, tutored by Donna Whitlow: 'I liked the practical sessions and learnt a lot from them, both by being a participant and an 'instructor'.  As a tutor I thought that you remained enthusiastic, encouraging and positive throughout. The feedback you gave us was constructive and valid. I enjoyed the course and it has given me more confidence in a group teaching situation,” and 'it was nice to have such an approachable teacher and I felt able to ask you about any queries I had with ease... I am looking forward to using the information gathered from the course to set up my own aqua circuit classes in the near future.'
 
A tutor who ran a UKCC Level 1 course in Manchester earlier this month said, 'using the resources supplied the course has flowed, the discussions within the syllabus have created much debate and a lot of laughs.  We have used both the candidates and a swimming club for the practical, from this the candidates appear to have taken on board the ethos behind the course structure'. This particular course is part of a substantial legacy programme of activities designed to deliver sustainable benefits from the staging of the World Short Course Swimming Championships 2008 in Manchester. Candidates have already attended a Helpers course and will be completing the Level 2 in March.

Two new CPD seminars have been introduced.  A Snorkelling session will provide L2 teachers with the skills to teach snorkelling to children, and Competitive Swimming is the latest in the series of National Plan for Teaching Swimming seminars.

Published on this site is a guide to Approved Centres and negotiated course costs (available to download here). This document explains how the Institute of Swimming fits into the Approved Centre network as an Approved Centre in its own right, with over 100 facilities within its sub-network, all registered with the Awarding Body to deliver ASA qualifications. You may wish to read details of how facilities within the IoS network are able to offer courses to candidates at discounted rates through flexible pricing agreements.

Also recently added to the website is the first edition of a new School Swimming Newsletter, (click here to download) to be published every term.

A total of 43 coaches have now successfully completed the final Level 4 Coach programme.  This ran from January-December 2007 and is one of the last 'old style' qualifications to be delivered.  As a reminder, the current syllabus as listed in the Prospectus and in the Course Syllabuses section contains a listing of all ASA qualifications available to study at present. Delivery and certification of any previous ASA qualifications not contained in these listings has been discontinued, with effect from 31st December 2007.  However, the validity of any previous ASA qualifications remains and holders may progress to the next appropriate stage in the ASA/UKCC qualifications pathway.

That’s all for now, thanks for reading.

If you would like future editions of this update emailed straight to you as soon as they become available, please send your contact details to claire.freeman@swimming.org

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