We have collected FAQs to support you to make your application for the ETF #APConnect Skylark Pathway: Practitioner Led Professional Learning. The deadline for applications for round 2 is 10am, Monday 18 October 2021 (N.B Deadline extended). You can locate the guidance and application form here. We look forward to receiving your application. Good luck.
Q: When will the grant of £3k be paid?
A: It will be paid in two instalments on the achievement of milestones as follows:
*Providers can only claim against costs they have incurred by the grant claim date.
Q: What can the 3k grant be spent on? (Supporting notes for Q13 of the application form)
A: The grant payment is designed to facilitate successful engagement with the ETF’s #APConnect Skylark Pathway: Practitioner Led Professional Learning by contributing to the following costs:
- The cost of reducing the Project team’s teaching timetable so they can undertake the Skylark CPD and run professional learning events for a minimum of 50 practitioners. Professional learning events must consist of:
- a series (minimum 3) of online Ideas Rooms/action learning sets and
- a minimum of two AP-led Networks**: one in the autumn term (Oct – Dec 21) and one in the spring term (Jan – Mar 22)
**AP-led networks can include Knowledge Exchange activity e.g.: #FESwapShop
- Administrative costs of the Project Lead who will support team members, monitor/support attendance at Skylark online PD event/s, and complete a monthly report for touchconsulting Ltd.
- Payment to part-time/ sessional/fractional staff who may be asked to work beyond their contracts to attend specific events organised by the Skylark lead and team.
- The travel costs of the Project Lead and team members to arrange/run in-person and online professional learning events
- Other appropriate costs as agreed with touchconsulting Ltd.
Each successful project lead will submit a budget forecast as part of the Skylark CPD.
Q: Are there any restrictions on grant spend?
A: The Grant may not be used for capital expenditure.
The grant may not be used for any marketing and communication spend. The project team can spend time on marketing and communications activity but expenditure for external marketing experts/software is not permitted.
Q: Who will be paid the grant if there is more than one organisation in the partnership?
A: The lead organisation (as per the application submission) will be paid the grant and it is their responsibility to distribute it to partners as per the budget forecast and subsequent activity.
Q: We do not have a team of four APs. Can we still apply?
A: DfE key performance indicators mean you must have a team of 4 APs to be eligible. However for smaller organisations we can accept 3 APs. One AP will be designated the Project Lead. Ideally s/he will be part of Constellation C of the 2021-2022 #APConnect programme. We strongly encourage that the other 3 (or 2 if a small organisation) are new to the 2021-2022 #APConnect programme wherever possible.
You could also consider partnering with another organisation to make up the numbers. Or another option is to include a manager who has responsibility for teaching and learning as part of the Skylark AP team. S/he must attend the Skylark CPD Module 1 and support the professional learning programme.
Q: How much time shall we budget for the Skylark CPD?
A: Approx. 1.5 days for each of your Skylark team. Each of your Skylark team must participate in the CPD. The CPD will be online so there will be no travel costs.
Q: What are the reporting arrangements?
A: Each project lead will provide data returns in a monthly report to touchconsulting Ltd which illustrates the progress of programme key activities, progress on milestones, a risk register, budget update against forecast and attendance data. Please make sure you budget for this time.
Q: We have a Skylark team which comprises a project lead (an AP already on Constellation C) and 3 further APs. Two of these are on Constellation B. Is this allowed?
A: Yes, but we strongly encourage that you identify individuals who are new to #APConnect during 2021-2022 for your Skylark team as they will count towards project KPIs.
All your Skylark team will participate in the compulsory Skylark professional development sessions and be involved in planning and running some of the Skylark events. If you don’t know their names at this point explain this in the application form.
Rationale: the DfE is keen the AP programme reaches as many people as possible. It’s a delicate balance as many organisations do not have large AP-type teams.
Q: What are the dates for the Skylark CPD that our Skylark AP team is expected to participate in?
Please note these dates may be subject to change.
Skylark PD1 (Streamyard) Introduction
- 8am-9, Tuesday 21 September
- 4.30-5.30, Wednesday 22 September
- 4.30-5.30, Thursday 21 October 2021
- 8am-9, Friday 22 October 2021
N.B Choice of four slots – book onto one.
Skylark PD2 (Zoom) Building Communities with a Practice of Care (including facilitating Ideas Rooms and Action Learning Sets)
- Tue 28 September 2021, 10-4.30
- Wed 3 November 2021, 10-4.30
- Wed 17 November 2021, 10-4.30
N.B Choice of three slots – book onto one.
Skylark 3 (asynchronous Wakelet) Creating Networks and Exchanges
- Work at your own pace, as needed.
Q: Question 10 on the application states the ETF wants to know how we plan to support the development of English and ESOL teaching and learning, and/or the embedding of maths and English for vocational teachers. We did want to address other teaching and learning topics as well. Can we?
A: Yes, you can. APs will be supporting a range of teachers from different curriculum areas and disciplines. But ETF do expect to see some of your Skylark events support English and ESOL teaching and/or the embedding of maths/English for vocational teachers.
For example, this could be an Ideas Room/action learning set up for vocational teachers supporting embedding of L1 maths. Or the AP-led network may feature an ESOL pathway where ESOL teachers run mini-workshops sharing ideas, approaches and resources.
Q: Are these Skylark professional development events (i.e. Ideas Room/ALS and AP-led networks) aimed at other advanced practitioners?
A: No. These events, whilst led by APs, are primarily aimed at teaching and learning practitioners from within your organisation and potentially from outside your organisation. You may well attract APs to these events, but this is not their primary purpose.
Joint applications
Q: Word count is tight for organisations submitting a joint application. Is there any flexibility?
A: Double the word count for each question. This enables partner organisation/s to have an equal voice in the application.
Q: Question 10 on the application requires the organisation to briefly explain how their outline Skylark plan fits with their organisation’s/departments strategy and mission. How does this work with joint applications?
A: Partner organisation/s may have different focuses – that is fine. Double the word count so each organisation has a max of 250 words to explain their focus, including how the Skylark programme will support this. We recommend completing the form together, as this will help you generate ideas and approaches.
Q: How do we distribute the 3k funding if the partner organisation has 3 APs and the lead organisation 1 AP?
A: The funding will be paid to the lead organisation. Organisations will need to work out funding allocations at the application stage. See responses to the second question (above) for further detail.