National Probation Service

In 2005 we offered Basic Skills sessions for Community Service Workers (CSWs) at Probation Centres in Swindon, Trowbridge and Salisbury.

All CSWs took part in an Induction to Community Service which incorporated a Basic Skills Taster course jointly delivered by a Learning Curve Basic Skills tutor and a Community Service Supervisor. During the day they were encouraged to join the optional weekly Basic Skills sessions, known as the "Learning Hour", as part of their order. CSWs who joined classes had the opportunity to follow a programme of learning negotiated with their tutor and mapped to the core curriculum. They could also take nationally recognised qualifications such as the National Literacy Test.

Learning Curve was also piloting the qualification “Profile of Achievement” at the Trowbridge centre. This qualification was designed to recognise achievement in many different fields at various levels through negotiated targets and reviews and the creation of a portfolio of evidence.