Partners - Institute for Learning

What is the Institute for Learning?
The IfL is the professional body for teachers, tutors, trainers and assessors across the Learning and Skills sector. IfL was created by teachers for teachers and is led by its Members’ Council, the majority of which is elected from the membership.

IfL’s Members
By the end of January 2009, IfL had more than 180,000 members, representing the range and diversity of teachers and trainers involved in delivering teaching, training and learning across the FE and Skills sector. Membership is currently free for those teaching or training in the Learning and Skills sector.

Working in Partnership
As a key partner in delivering workforce reform, IfL’s role is to manage the registration process and confer licensed practitioner status. We believe that by working in partnership with a range of organisations we can bring greater benefits to our members.

What are the benefits for members?

• Support for your professional development through Reflect, an online personal learning space
• Support and tools to enable you to gain licensed status (QTLS or ATLS) through Professional Formation
• Events and workshops to support and add to your CPD

Active Participation

• You can contribute to the governance of IfL through the election of Council members or nomination to Council
• Participate in internal and external consultation activities or become a member of a special interest group
• Attend IfL activities, increasing your networking opportunities
• Participate in communities of practice, sharing resources, information and ideas with colleagues

Find out more and register online at: www.ifl.ac.uk

“Who should be doing what - and when?”

• Teachers, trainers and tutors in the Learning and Skills sector should be registered with IfL – online registration through their website www.ifl.ac.uk
• There are four levels of membership (see LLUK website):
  • Affiliate (for those who are not teacher-trained);
  • Associate (for those who teach in a restricted role);
  • Full (for most full-time or substantive part-time teachers, trainers and tutors);
  • Fellow (for those with higher qualifications in Education e.g. M.A. M.Ed.)
• Membership for everyone teaching in LSC institutions is funded by the government.
• CPD requirement is statutory for the sector – 30 hours pro rata per year.
• All members should be logging their CPD, preferably through Reflect, the IfL’s own system, accessed through their website once a password has been issued.
• An on-line declaration of CPD should be made between June 1st and August 31st. This should be completed through the IfL website. The CPD records of members will then be sampled by IfL, to ensure that details have been adequately recorded.
• The recording of CPD can be done without using Reflect, but must still be declared as above.
• Professional Formation is the process by which teachers, tutors and trainers can gain QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) or ATLS (Associate Teacher). There are several ways to undertake Professional Formation; details on the IfL website.

For additional advice and guidance; Judith Roberts, EECETT / IfL Connections Adviser: judith.roberts@acer.ac.uk