Tailor-Made Learning Solutions

1. Introduction

Tailor-Made Learning Solutions is a qualification development and accreditation service provided by CPCAB to ensure that your unique training programme is recognised and valued by employers, candidates and stakeholders. CPCAB can provide individualised support for the design and development of your Tailor-made Qualification. If you have already designed your training programme we will review your proposal in collaboration with you to ensure that it reflects the high standards demanded by CPCAB and your organisation.

By gaining accreditation by CPCAB, your qualification will have the stamp of approval from a nationally recognised awarding organisation. This accreditation will be a guarantee of the excellence and quality assurance that you offer to your candidates and clients.

Your customised qualifications can be designed flexibly to meet the recognised needs of your service and target learners. The qualification can be designed to your specifications to reflect the competence or knowledge levels required. You can also decide how large your learning chunks need to be - e.g. they can be broken down into small independent units or delivered as one large unit. In this way your learners gain recognition for all of their learning achievements and you can deliver the learning material to fit their demand.

Although it is usual to develop tailor-made qualifications using only the material specifically identified for your needs, it is also possible to develop a qualification which includes an already approved CPCAB qualification as a part of the design. You should be aware that the structure and content of CPCAB’s qualifications that are already on the Qualification and Credit Framework cannot be changed.

2. Qualification structure

A tailor made qualification will normally be written as individual units which together will make up a whole qualification. This enables learners to complete bite sized chunks of learning and to be acknowledged for this achievement. Each individual unit can be assigned a level and title to describe its specific set of learning outcomes and will be identified as either mandatory or optional unit.

Alternatively, a qualification can contain discrete modules or sections all of which are required for successful completion of the qualification.

2.1 Qualification level

Your qualification will be designed by you to meet the level of knowledge and skill needs of the sector subject area that you have identified.

The qualification design will need to indicate the level of knowledge, skills and application required. The context and the nature of the responsibility to be held by the practitioner will also influence the level at which the qualification is positioned.
It is possible to create a qualification where some units are at a different achievement level from others. It may be necessary to facilitate staged progression as a part of the learning process. The majority of the units, in such a case, must be at the achievement level of the qualification concerned. The recommended level descriptors provided by the qualification regulators ‘Ofqual’ will be used as a guide when deciding the level of a qualification.

CPCAB will consider accreditation applications for or provide help with the design of – units/qualifications between level 2 and level 7.

You may find the document Level descriptors for positioning units in the Qualifications and Credit Framework tests and trials useful for further information.

2.2 Qualification size and title

The title of the qualification will clearly indicate the intended purpose of the qualification. For example, a ‘Level 3 - Certificate in Stress Management’ – may be designed for those interested in knowing more about stress management but who will not be working directly as a practitioner.

The qualification nomenclature will reflect the size of the programme:

• An award will be less than 120 notional learning hours
• A certificate will be between 120 and 360 notional learning hours
• A diploma will be above 360 notional learning hours.

CPCAB will not accredit units or qualifications of less than 20 hours of directed study. Notional study includes all tutor contact time, guided individual or group work, individual assignment preparation and completion, assessments and required research. At levels 2 and 3 at least 50% of notional study must be class contact time. At levels 4 to 7, at least 25% of notional time must be class contact time.

The level and the number of notional learning hours will give the applicant an indication of the complexity of the qualification. For example, ‘Level 5 Award’ will indicate that the qualification will expect the candidate to understand and work with complex knowledge (Level 5). However, the duration of the award, i.e. less than 120 notional learning hours - suggests that this may be a small part of a larger programme offering more complex information.

2.3 Learning units

Units will be described in terms of Learning Outcomes(LOs). Each learning outcome will have associated assessment criteria to evidence that the learning outcome has been achieved. Each unit will have relevant assessment methods and marking schemes.

For example:-

Example related assignment
In an essay of xxx words explain the effect of stress on the mind and body

Required content
The essay must:

• show understanding of at least two theories relating to stress management
• include examples of how stress impacts on the human body and possible management of the associated symptoms
• include approaches to preventing stress on one context

Example marking scheme
8 points will be given to this assignment. Learners must gain 5 points to pass the assignment.
3 points awarded for each of two theories and the discussion of those theories.
3 points awarded for examples and discussion of those examples.
2 points awarded for thediscussion of preventative measures.

3. Reference points

Qualification proposals must be supported by vocational or professional standards or by professional recommendations. In addition, proposals must identify clear target groups and evidence of a feasible market for the qualification.

4. Intellectual property

CPCAB retains ownership of the qualification title and specification but you will own the intellectual property rights for your course.

5. Quality Assurance

CPCAB will monitor the standard and quality by regular visits to the centre, use of evaluation questionnaires for tutors and candidates and by Independent Verification of internally assessed work.

CPCAB reserves the right to withdraw approval and accreditation of a tailor made qualification if the teaching and learning processes and/or the quality assurance procedures are not maintained at the standard agreed at the outset.

6. Certification

CPCAB will provide certificates for candidates who are registered and successfully complete the approved programme of learning. The certificate will bear the CPCAB logo as well as the logo of the training provider.

7. Marketing

CPCAB will agree to the use of its logo by the proposer in relation to the specified qualification once the qualification has been approved by CPCAB.

The logo must not be used for purposes other than to refer to the CPCAB approved qualification.

8. Costs

The cost of accreditation of a tailor made qualification will depend on the size, level and complexity of the qualification.

For further information contact us by email to: admin@cpcab.co.uk

Centres running Tailor-Made qualifications