Who are we?
Loughborough Encompass Partnership (LEP) offers employment based initial teacher training for primary and early years trainees. The partnership, which was originally established over ten years ago to contribute to the teaching workforce in Loughborough, has subsequently broadened its involvement in schools and settings into other areas of Leicestershire and surrounding authorities. It has a strong track record in terms of TDA data in the employability of its trainees – our statistics are amongst the best in the sector. Many of LEP’s former trainees now work as mentors with our current trainees. Our founding mission statement was ‘To train high quality primary phase teachers by recruiting the highest quality candidates available enabling them to achieve their full potential as newly trained teachers through training involving high quality partnership schools and a high quality central training based programme all under the active management of a committed provider...’ The currency of that aspiration remains.
Our Programme
As on all employment based programmes Encompass’ trainees will spend 80% of the programme as employees within a school or Early Years setting. Trainees will be employed by one of our partner schools where they will be based for two terms – typically the autumn and summer terms. During the spring term trainees will move to another partner school. This second placement is designed to offer a contextual contrast to the employing school in terms of year group, organisational approaches and pupil profile. This second placement is not only a requirement of all Initial Teacher Training Programmes but something we and our trainees view positively. It has the capacity to broaden trainees’ educational perspective and significantly enhance their developing professional practice. Potential trainees who currently work in a school/setting should be aware that LEP will not automatically elect to place you there for your training year. Our approach to selecting an employing school is based on the quality of the school and individual trainee needs. In all cases LEP takes responsibility for arranging placements – trainees do not need to have negotiated with a school prior to application. In addition to the two placements opportunities will also be provided for observational activities in a Special School and a Key Stage 3 ( for primary trainees ) or Key Stage 2( for Early Years trainees ) context.
Central Training
Whilst significant training occurs throughout the school week trainees are required to attend a weekly central training programme. This programme offers opportunities for trainees to enhance their subject and pedagogical knowledge, keep up to date with emerging national curriculum and research developments and benefit from the collaborative learning. The programme is led by an experienced teacher educator and the tutors comprise teachers, ASTs, former trainees, Higher Education tutors and head teachers. The central training programme, as with all other elements of the programme, receives extremely positive feedback from trainees.
