Teacher Support and FAQs

As an Awarding Body, we do not employ teachers to deliver our qualifications. We can only make recommendations on teacher qualifications. These are outlined in our Teacher Policy.

View our Teacher Policy

We recommend that all teachers attend at least one training course for each unit or qualification they teach. Teachers can attend any number of training courses if they feel they are beneficial for keeping up to date in their subject area.

Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis, upon submission of the booking request.

You will receive confirmation of your booking request by email once you have submitted your booking. You will receive a letter and an email nearer the time of the training events to confirm the details and venue.

This depends on the event you are attending. For some of our events you will be provided with all of the materials on the day and for others you will receive the handouts in an email. It is important that you read any correspondence thoroughly. If there is a qualification specification for the event you are attending you must bring this with you.

We provide tea/coffee in the morning and afternoon at our free events. We provide tea/coffee and lunch on our paid for events. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know when you complete your online booking.

Events provided in BSL or ISL will be aimed at teachers who already have BSL/ISL skills. Sign language interpreters will not be provided at these events. Deafblind Interpreters will be provided if requested.

For events delivered in English, other communication support will be provided, if requested.

If you require communication support please select the type of support needed in the Submit Booking Request page when booking a place.

Notetakers

A teacher may bring a notetaker along to an event with them. The notetaker must be NRCPD registered. Signature will not cover these costs.

As soon as a place is booked, please email us on training@signature.org.uk providing the name and registration number of the notetaker and who they are making notes for.

Need more information about NRCPD? Please visit www.nrcpd.org.uk.

All our training materials are provided in Arial font at a minimum size of 12.

If Deafblind communication support has been requested, we will automatically provide materials in large print (minimum size 14) on yellow paper. If other formats are required, please email training@signature.org.uk with the preferred format.

If the training course is full, you can put your name on the waiting list. Depending on numbers and demand, we may arrange to put on another training course but we cannot guarantee this. Places are limited so we advise you to book early.

If you can’t find a suitable event on our programme of events we could arrange for one of our trainers to come to your centre to deliver the same training event but to a group within your locality. We would be happy to discuss the possibility of providing training for teachers at your centre. A group of local centres could also take advantage of this arrangement. Please contact training@signature.org.uk for more information.

We are aware that some organisations, such as colleges and schools, have a team of teachers who would benefit from attending our courses. We will be happy to discuss the possibility of providing a course for your organisation at your choice of venue. A group of local approved course providers could also take advantage of this arrangement. Please email us to discuss this in more detail at training@signature.org.uk.

We always welcome feedback and ideas for new training courses. If there is something you think we should offer, please let us know at training@signature.org.uk.

If you wish to cancel a place on any of our events, please contact Training and Support. Please note that places are not transferable to another person from your course provider. A waiting list is in operation and any places that are cancelled will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.

Cancellations by a delegate or course provider

If you are unable to attend the event for any reason, please contact Training and Support by telephone 0191 3831155 or email us at training@signature.org.uk.

Free Places

If you book a place and you are not linked to an approved course provider you will be charged the standard training fee.

If you wish to cancel a free place before the closing date please contact Training and Support as above. Please note that places are not transferable to another person from your course provider, a waiting list will be in operation and any free places that are cancelled will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.

If you cancel a free place after the closing date or if the person booked on the course does not attend on the day of the event you will charged an administration fee of £50 unless medical evidence or details of bereavement are received.

Paid for places

If the delegate’s place is cancelled before the closing date, there will be a charge of £25.

If the delegate’s place is cancelled after the closing date there are no refunds, unless medical evidence or details of bereavement are received.

Cancellations by Signature

If we cancel a training event, any paid for places will be issued with a full refund to the delegate or course provider.