Gifted&Talented

YouthAgency
Elder House, Milton Keynes, MK9 1LR
Tel: 01908 673677




Points to remember when dealing with course providers whoever they are!

While we take care to list established course providers it is impossible to constantly check every detail. Before committing yourself in financial terms to any course - short or long - the following basic questions are worth asking,

  • Insurance provision. What protection cover has been arranged by the course provider in case of personal injury, theft, damage or loss?

  • Status of teaching/lecturing staff. Are all the teaching/lecturing staff qualified teachers? Do they all have a department of Education and Employment registration number. Are all the teaching/lecturing staff graduates? Possession of a degree is not a sure sign of teaching/lecturing ability, it is however a guide to the professional background of those presenting courses.

  • Health and Safety policy. This is about ‘what if?’ situations. How carefully has the provider considered the issues of caring for other people. Do they ensure that all electrical equipment has been tested and meets standard safety requirements? Are courses run with safety in mind? How is this evidenced? Who is responsible if an accident happens, what procedures exist to ensure speedy medical attention?

  • Are any of the staff qualified in First Aid? If not who is the nearest First Aid qualified person. It may be that if the course is residential that a member of the Study Centre - Hostel is the nominated person. It is wise to check!

  • Does the organisation have a review/appraisal form as a standard part of their organisational performance review? If things are not as you would wish them to be who do you talk to?

  • If the course is cancelled - do you get all of your money back? If you have to cancel do you get all your money back or is there a cancellation deadline?

  • Talk to someone who has used the provider before. Any successful provider will have clients who will be pleased to talk about their experiences with them - if not, why not?


Email: youthagency@rmplc.co.uk

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