Glossary of Terms

1. ALI/Ofsted
   The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) and Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) are government agencies who inspect those providers of training who receive any public funds for that training provision. They produce inspection reports/grades which they make publicly available through their websites:
   Adult Learning Inspectorate Website
   Ofsted Website
   
   

• How effective are teaching, training and learning?
• How are achievement and learning affected by resources?
• How effective are the assessment and monitoring of learning?
• How well do the programmes and courses meet the needs and interests of learners?
• How well are learners guided and supported?
• How effective are leadership and management in raising achievement and supporting all learners?

1. Click here to search for Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) inspection findings
   Click here to search for Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) inspection findings
   
   
3. CoVEs
   Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) are specialist areas of vocational provision, usually with close links to colleges and business. They focus on enhancing the skills and careers of those already in work, the employability of new entrants to the labour market and the employment prospects of those seeking work. Centres of Vocational Excellence Website
   
   
4. Mentoring and coaching
   Not all types of training involve courses. Tapping into the knowledge of other workers in your own organisation or in a similar organisation can be the right solution in some circumstances. Find out more about this approach at the Business.gov website
   
   
5. Types of qualifications
   There are work-related (vocational) and academic courses, practical courses and theoretical courses. Some lead to a qualification, some to accreditation of another sort. In either case, the accreditation should provide you with an assurance that your employee has not just attended the training but has achieved the learning specified. Further information on qualifications is available from Learndirect: Learndirect Website
   
   

• Information technology
• Working with numbers
• Working with others
• Problem solving
• Improving your own learning and performance

1. The government generally provides funding for the attainment of key skills. In addition, funding has been made available through the Union Learning Fund for the development of union learning reps. These employees encourage staff who might otherwise be reluctant to admit to skills gaps to brush up their essential skills. Find out more on the Union Learning Fund Website
   
   
2. Skills gaps
   Skills gaps are the difference between the supply of and the demand for specific skills. In companies, skills gaps are the extent to which employers feel their employees' existing skills are not enough to meet current business aims.
   
   
3. Training Needs Analysis (TNA)
   A Training Needs Analysis is an effective way to identify any gap between the skills your business needs and those your employees have. Find out more about this approach at the Business.gov website
   
   
4. Training provider/provision
   Training provider is a general term used to refer to the whole range of institutions and organisations who provide training and development to individuals and companies. It encompasses colleges of further education, work-based learning trainers and training companies of any size and type. The training provision offered by providers can be anything from one-day courses/seminars to 3-year diplomas and degrees.