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The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) is providing employers and teachers with guidance on changes to further education teacher training qualifications.

In January 2013 LSIS released the findings of its review of further education teacher and training qualifications,  which it conducted at the request of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)  in the report Further Education and Skills in England: New Qualifications for Teachers and Trainers: Phase Two - Findings Report (LSIS, 2013).

Having now completed the development work for new qualifications, LSIS has produced a guide for employers and practitioners, Teaching and Training Qualifications for the Further Education and Skills Sector in England (2013), which explains the changes to regulations for teachers in the further education and skills sector in England, and  introduces the new teaching qualifications.

Employer membership groups and other stakeholders from the FE and Skills sector worked closely with LSIS on the development of the guidance. Stella Turner, Head of Qualifications and Delivery at AELP said: "AELP has worked closely with LSIS on the development of the employers and practitioners guide which I am confident our members will find extremely useful in helping them understand the changes to the qualifications and regulations for teachers/ trainers working in the post 16 education and skills sector."

Senior National Education Official of UCU Dan Taubman, said: "I think this guide will be incredibly useful for both employers and lecturers who want to get a FE teaching qualification.
 
"In the new climate of de-regulation for the FE workforce this guide and the very clear information it contains is an indispensable guide to everything you would want to know about sector teaching qualifications but didn't know where to look."

The new qualifications include three generic initial teacher training qualifications a Level 3 Award in Education and Training, a Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training, and a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. Specialist qualifications are also available at Level 5 for those teaching English (Literacy), ESOL, mathematics and disabled learners.
 
LSIS chief executive, Rob Wye, said: "The new qualifications have evolved following consultation with the sector and will benefit the workforce of tomorrow. In line with the recent report from the Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching and Learning the revised qualifications emphasise the need for FE teachers to be both professionally experienced within their area of expertise and suitably equipped to teach.

"LSIS is very proud to have been chosen to help develop these qualifications, which are part of our legacy for the sector."

Individuals who hold existing teaching qualifications or who are currently partway through their study do not need to undertake the new qualifications or to change courses. Awarding organisations and universities are now developing the new qualifications using the technical guidance developed by LSIS, which will be introduced from September 2013.