Professional Development Programme for Advanced Practitioners: 2021 – 2022

#APConnect Exciting News!

The team at touchconsulting Ltd is delighted to announce that we will be hosting #APConnect Year 4 on behalf of the Education and Training Foundation. We know for many of you the Summer break is nearly here, but we wanted to give you plenty of time so you can figure out which pathway is best suited to you, and to your colleagues.

#APConnect is organised by touchconsulting Ltd on behalf of The Education and Training Foundation (ETF). This year, the ETF have asked us to support 585 unique engagements, by which they mean 585 discrete individuals who have directly benefited from #APConnect.   ⭐️It doesn’t matter if you have been on #APConnect before, you can still apply to one or more pathway⭐️  We still hope to make every pathway of the programme available to anyone who wants to apply, even if we have already counted your engagement in our monitoring, but, mindful of how far we can also stretch our energies and resources, we can’t guarantee this.

 

So what’s the #APConnect offer this year?

This year the programme is offering the following fully subsidised exciting pathways:

• Constellations B & C with ATS support & Equalities Mentoring: 150 places!  *** Applications now open***
• Advanced Practice modules including a new in-house : 75 places  ***Bookings now open*** 
• Practitioner Led FE Professional Learning including grant funding:  30 places  ***Applications now open***  
• Train the Trainers in FE Professional Learning: 25 places  ***NEW for this year***
• National Conference, Friday 25 March 2022: 200 places  ***Save the Date***

Join us on Wednesday 16 June, 4.30 – 5.30 at the #APConnect: Keeping the Lights On! live-stream launch to find out more.

 

Communities of Practice (CoP)  – Constellations

The Constellations are a fully subsidised, cutting edge professional learning programme open to those in AP-type roles. After the success of last year, this year’s programme will be totally online. Applications for the 150 places across Constellations B & C are now open and close on Wednesday 30 June 2021.  

Constellation Pathways
There are two Constellation pathways: Constellation C and Constellation B (yes, you read it right, no Constellation A😆).

Constellation B is for new and new-to-APConnect APs and for people who are on their journey to becoming an AP. It is structured, with online modules to complete and lots of support from the Constellation facilitators. No-one’s potential is limited and you have access to Constellation C opportunities, such as Festival Fridays.

Constellation C is for relatively experienced APs, including those who have been on the programme before. Constellation C is a festival of co-learning, with the intention of amplifying and sharing AP practice. Last year APs organised events, blogged, podcasted, became writers for TES and even started a radio station! We’ll help you find your voice and we’ll bring you together with other APs who will inspire and support you. This year Cs will also get priority access to the new Practitioner-Led FE Professional Learning pathway including grant funding. 

We are recruiting now to Constellations B and C. Apply here:

Closing date: Wed 30 June 2021, 5pm

 

Equalities Mentoring

We are delighted to be offering our impactful Equalities Mentoring programme for a second time, in partnership with the BAMEEd Network and EQtraining. This offers a blend of one-to-one mentoring and equalities-positive workshops. Find out more here and please indicate on your Constellations application form if you wish to be involved.

 

ATS and QTLS Support

We offer meaningful support for ATS, in partnership with the PDN ATS Staffroom. Last year’s participants really valued this peer space, with additional support from Constellations facilitators experienced in ATS. We didn’t have anyone undertaking QTLS last year, but if that’s you we will be sure to set up something similar. This is why we ask you about QTLS/ATS on the application form.

 

CPD Pathway

Building on last year’s success, we will continue offering differentiated CPD for new and experienced practitioners operating in Advanced Practitioner (AP)-type roles. So here goes:

If you are an experienced AP we are confident one, if not all, of the ‘Advanced Practice’ modules will catch your eye! All three are online modules: pre-module activities, online live session/s and a follow up webinar, kicking off in July! All modules are fully subsidised by the Education and Training Foundation.

Deepening your Thinking Environment Practices  – Advanced Practice ***Book here***

For those APs who have some experience of practising the Thinking Environment, first introduced on day one of ETF’s  ‘Developing APs’ 3-day CPD, this is a must. Designed and delivered by Lou Mycroft and Bryony Croft, this online module will focus on practising the facilitation of applications such as thinking pairs, dialogue, timed talk, thinking rounds and time to think councils – with lots of opportunities to practise, practise, practise!

Developmental Observations – Advanced Practice ***Book here***

For APs keen to re-examine observations through formative, and not performative, lens – this is a must. This popular module is designed and delivered by Professor Matt O’Leary and Joanne Miles exploring expansive and practical ways of using observations developmentally. There is a big focus on developing the coaching beliefs, behaviours and skills underpinning such an approach.

Leading AP Teams – Advance Practice ***Book here***

For managers leading AP-type teams this is a must. This module focuses on how to create and sustain the conditions for AP teams to thrive; exploring your vision, resources and skills investment in APs. It is delivered by Joanne Miles and Professor Matt O’Leary.

 

Looking to develop your AP team? Looking to develop your managers?

Because #APConnect has expanded significantly in Year 4, we are staggering our application process. Watch out for: 

• Practitioner Led FE Professional Learning  ***Applications now open***    Launching 7 July 2021
• Train the Trainers in FE Professional Learning  ***NEW for this year***    Launching autumn term 
• Thoroughly Thinking Environment programmes (the ‘Basics’)   ***NEW for this year as an inhouse programme*** 

Limited places. Register your interest by dropping alison@touchconsulting.net a line.

 

What else?

National Conference

And finally we are delighted to be hosting our national AP Conference on Friday 25 March 2022. Do pop the date in your diary. This will be a face-to-face event (fingers crossed) but we will go online if we need to. Browse our awesome March 2020 Spark(l)ing Constellations conference here.

 

In the meantime…

Do follow the twitter handle @touchconsulting and #APConnect for updates and as always, if you have any queries about any of the programme pathways, please contact Joss Kang joss@touchconsulting.net or on Twitter @josskang or @loumycroft

Graphic by pen@penmendonca.com