Workforce Development Update

Edition 7: 20 February 2008

Hi everyone,
 
The ASA is undertaking a monitoring review of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) to address any issues arising from its first six months of operation. The first meeting of a new National Plan Review Group, made up of representatives of Workforce Development, the Business Team, School Swimming and Awards recently took place.  This group will conduct a full review of the NPTS based on feedback from the industry and identify actions to develop the plan further.
 
Representatives from Workforce Development presented an update on swimming education including the UK Coaching Framework and UK Coaching Certificate at the Club & County Conference at the weekend, which was well received.  All of the presentations from the conference are available for download on the website under the 'Clubs' tab here.
 
The programme of Expert Witness training has recently been reviewed and enhanced.  Expert Witnesses are an essential part of the assessment process for Level 2 courses – they provide evidence to course tutors, in the form of witness testimony, in relation to agreed practical outcomes undertaken by candidates during a course.  The training is now much more specific with all work, including assessments, taking place in one day.  Four pilot sessions are being hosted at SLM centres the first of which took place recently in Sheffield, delivered by Julie Gibson (with Fiorna Cairns Smith as an attached tutor). This initial pilot received very positive feedback from the 25 or so attendees.  The training is currently going through the final stages of Awarding Body quality assurance before becoming available as an Institute of Swimming Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar when the CPD points will be confirmed.
 
There has been a significant increase in Level 3 course registrations, with 70 seminars planned from March until the end of this year.  The Level 3 Certificate for Coaching Swimming will be delivered across England and also in partnership with Swim Wales.
 
Following the success of the first four Aquatic Fitness endorsed training awards, there will shortly be another to add to the syllabus entitled 'Promoting Aquatic Fitness', aimed at leisure industry workers who wish to expand their knowledge of aquatic fitness and how it can be applied and promoted.   This one day course will cover lifestyle and benefits of exercise; the four water-based activities and customer service skills.  Also on the subject of Aquatic Fitness, the information available on the website has been enhanced and now includes the excellent candidate feedback received so far - click here.
 
There is now a revised statement on the web as to what child protection training courses are ASA approved and acceptable for licensing and Swim 21 purposes - this encourages attendance at the ASA/sports coach UK swimming specific course because of the additional information it provides relating to our sport.  For more information click here.
 
Finally, a new CPD seminar has been added to the IoS Training Directory entitled 'Including Disabled Swimmers - Yes or No?' which aims to give both Level 1 & Level 2 teachers confidence in working with swimmers with disabilities.

See you next time!