A helping hand. A guide to providing our qualifications.

Transcription

1 A helping hand A guide to providing our qualifications

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3 This helpful guide contains all the information you need to provide Signature qualifications.

4 Contents About us Qualifications explained Supporting our course providers Supporting your teachers 4 5 Supporting your learners 6 Getting started Guidance

5 About us Over 30 years experience in promoting excellence in communication with deaf and deafblind people. We are an established awarding body and charity that promotes excellence in communication with deaf and deafblind people. Our work remains as important to us now as it was on the day the charity was established in We have a varied portfolio of 16 nationally recognised and accredited qualifications in deaf and deafblind communication including British Sign Language and Deaf Awareness. 1

6 Qualifications explained All our qualifications are nationally accredited by Ofqual. They start from beginner and progress to professional level, so whether you are looking to provide qualifications for recreation or to offer career routes, we have something that will suit your needs. Our qualifications are made up of units, making them manageable to achieve at each step. Funding Many of our qualifications are eligible for funding. Visit for more details. Credits Credits are awarded for each of our units achieved against the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF). 2

7 Our qualifications Sign Language Level 1 Award in British Sign Language Level 1 Award in Irish Sign Language Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language Level 2 Certificate in Irish Sign Language Level 3 Certificate in British Sign Language Level 3 Certificate in Irish Sign Language Level 6 NVQ Certificate in British Sign Language Level 6 NVQ Certificate in Irish Sign Language Deaf Awareness and Deafblind Communication Level 1 Award in Deaf Awareness and Communication Level 2 Award in Communicating with Deafblind People Level 2 Award in Communicating and Guiding with Deafblind People Level 3 Award in Insights into Communication with Congenitally Deafblind People Communication Support Level 3 Award in Modifying Written English Texts for Deaf People Level 3 Certificate in Communication Support for Deaf Learners Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Translation 3

8 We have over 500 course providers throughout the UK. Supporting our course providers As an approved course provider you will have access to a dedicated area on our website. We have invested a lot into our online management system My Signature, to ensure it is efficient and user friendly. We are always looking for ways to help you, that s why we provide our marketing support pack and can support you with your events. You will have a dedicated customer support officer to answer any questions and offer advice and assistance. They will keep you up-to-date with any changes and new information. 4

9 We provide FREE teacher training for our approved course providers! Supporting your teachers Teachers play a key part in the delivery and standards of our qualifications. We provide teaching aids and qualification specifications. We also offer a comprehensive training programme to support your teachers in their continuing professional development. Our training days are designed to improve results in the classroom. Delivered with communication accessibility in mind, the courses build on your teachers knowledge and skills developing the confidence that achieves high success rates in our qualifications. 5

10 Our Level 1 Award in British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language unit pass rates is consistently over 80%. Supporting your learners We offer a range of study aids in our online shop to support your learners. Our DVDs and online BSL Homework packages are a great way to practise outside the classroom helping your learners achieve high standards and pass rates. Gaining one of our qualifications will improve your learners communication skills to use in their current jobs, improve their employability and can open up a world of opportunity for new careers. 6

11 We are here to offer FREE advice on how your centre can be more accessible to deaf employees and students. Getting started Once you have decided which qualifications you want to deliver, you will need to provide us with some information using our online system. My Signature Is a dedicated section on our website for you, visit From here, you can create and administer your assessments, check your results, update your contact information and access resources. 7

12 Fantastic customer support, prompt replies with clear responses - 5* all the way Customer Service Survey 2013 Assessments You can create, edit and manage your assessments online using our flexible online service. We require just 14 days notice for most of our assessments. Those that are internally assessed can be booked and take place on the same day. Results When you have completed an assessment and sent it for marking, we provide your results within six weeks. We will you when results are ready to download. We work hard to ensure that all our assessment decisions are fair. 8

13 Certificates We enjoy seeing your candidates achieve their qualifications just as much as you do. We issue certificates for candidates when they achieve a full qualification within four weeks of receiving your results. As a course provider, if you are approved to offer only one unit we are happy to issue individual unit certificates on request. All certificates are sent to you directly, meaning you can present the certificates to students in awards evenings or assemblies. 9

14 We are open Monday to Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am pm Guidance Looking for further information? Contact our friendly and efficient customer support team. They are committed to providing high quality support and advice. Outside of our office hours we run an answer phone and text messaging service- leave us a message and we will get back to you. Tel: Text: enquiries@signature.org.uk 10

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16 Signature Mersey House Mandale Business Park Belmont Durham DH1 1TH Tel: Fax: Text: Web: