Thought of the week:
The Personal Development Curriculum is also embedded into the 12 week intensive skills training via the ‘Thought of the week’.
The ‘thought of the week’ provides an opportunity for apprentices to learn about a wide variety of topics, all of which enhance their personal development and are delivered by different members of the core team, depending on specialism and experience. The session usually runs on Wednesday mornings from 10 30 - 10 45, taking a variety of forms including presentations, workshops, discussions, videos, podcasts and tasks.
Here are the main themes explored during these sessions on a sequential basis, to embed prior learning and provide key updates:
Safeguarding
Extra-curricular & alumni opportunities
British values
Careers Information And Guidance (CIAG)
This structure is followed across the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms but the resources are updated accordingly based on current needs and risks. The ‘thought of the week’ sessions are integrated into the FAC 12 week core training curriculum.
N/B Thought of the Week is front-ended to leave time in the final weeks of the programme for apprentices to focus on their final projects and presentations, when the workload may increase.
Week |
Thought of the Week Theme |
Learning Outcome |
Resources |
Lead |
Delivery Date 2024 |
1 |
Safeguarding and Prevent |
- Outline different types of abuse |
|
|
|
- Outline categories of extremism and push/pull factors for radicalisation
- Provide information and stats on Incel culture
- Get learners to reflect on different safeguarding scenarios
- Outline general safety practises
- Provide safeguarding concerns process
- Importance of pronouns and misgendering | ‣
‣
| Anna | Monday 9th September (Induction) |
| 1 | Psychological safety | - To understand FAC values, British values and the culture of psychological safety we seek to embed and to assess learners’ understanding via a Safeguarding and Prevent Quiz. | ‣
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PfW0jqZOa2vzRgmfY5IIFttZHelfRZg2wDTsKl6OaWs/edit | Alex/ Anna | Weds 11th September |
| 2 | Giving Feedback Effectively | -To create/share their Manuals of Me
To understand how to give and receive feedback
To practice delivering feedback with each other effectively | Healthy Working Relationships/ Manuals of Me / Giving and Receiving Feedback | @Anonymous | Weds 18th September
10 30 - 11 15 |
| 3 | Extra-curricular and learning opportunities | -To understand the wide range of extra-curricular and learning opportunities over the course of the FAC apprenticeship and how to take part
- To share thoughts and findings from learning opportunities completed and discuss with other apprentices | Week 3 - Extra Curricular Learning Opportunities | Alex (slides to be updated) | Weds 25th September |
| 4 | CIAG - Career paths and freelance work | To understand the broad range of career paths available to apprentices after completing the L4 programmes in both front and back end roles
- To learn about freelance opportunities to boost CVs and increase sector experience
- To understand the options available after completing the L4 programmes in terms of higher education and further study | https://www.notion.so/foundersandcoders/Professional-progression-CIAG-7a3c713bf582457fb0f7d5717df8aff4 | Tavie | Weds 2nd October |
| 5 | Extra-curricular and learning opportunities 2 | -To understand the wide range of extra-curricular and learning opportunities over the course of the FAC apprenticeship and how to take part
-To share thoughts and findings from learning opportunities completed and discuss with other apprentices | ‣ | @Anonymous (slides to be updated with AWS workshop) | Weds 9th October |
| 6 | Diversity in Tech | To learn about the current power imbalances in the technology sector and understand the part we can play in promoting diversity | ‣ | Tavie | Weds 16th October |
| 7 | Safeguarding - Digital and financial wellbeing | To understand the importance of taking steps to promote digital and financial wellbeing and how this can be done effectively while completing the apprenticeship | ‣ | Tavie | Weds 23rd October |
| 8 | Healthy Working Relationships: Feedback | - To understand how to establish healthy personal and professional relationships by sharing feedback with one another | NA | @Anonymous | Weds 30th October |
| Reading Week | | | | | Weds 6th November |
| 9 | Object Oriented Programming | - An introduction into Object Orientated Programmes and how this | ‣ | senior dev @Anonymous | Weds 13th November |
| 10 | Conflict Resolution | - To identify best working practice with conflict resolution, including deescalating any conflicts that may arise within working relationships | ‣ | @Anonymous | Weds 20th November |
| 11 | Apprenticeship Training EPA | - To outline expectations for the rest of the apprenticeship programme, including the end point assessment process, off the job training sessions, and the portfolio and project report. | ‣ | @Anonymous -this is slightly different for DevOps apprentices | Weds 27th November |
| 12 | Misinformation, Disinformation and the threat to Democracy | - To explore how conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation are a potential threat to democracy and possible solutions | ‣ | @Anonymous | Weds 4th December |
| 13 | CIAG - Presentation Feedback | - All learners receive group feedback from their presentations for the IHP, including strengths and areas for development before the TFB presentation
- To practice how to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders | ‣ | Alex (with support from core team) | Weds 11th December |
Learners continue to receive Safeguarding and Prevent updates via our Discord channels: ‘Local risks’ and receive monthly newsletters from the Community Lead to stay up to date with any activities or events taking place