Welcome to North Forum Staff Support! 

This website aims to prepare front-line non-academic staff in the “gatekeepers to community learning” (colleges and learning centres, job centres, community and voluntary organisations within the North of Scotland) to develop the necessary skills to raise awareness about post-compulsory education within the community and deal with adult learners returning to formal education, possibly after a long break, who may be feeling anxious and unsure of what to expect.

It is vital to ensure that when potential students seek information and advice about further and higher education, they feel comfortable and respected, in the knowledge that your organisation understands their needs and can help accomplish their goals. The delivery of informal guidance and information on further learning opportunities to the community are one of the main roles for non-teaching staff. Adult returners in particular may require information on points other than just curses available, including information that is relevant to their personal circumstances, such as funding or childcare available.

Ultimately, the skills developed with this resource could mean the difference between potential students trying to enter formal education and leaving with a poor impression of your organisation or students crossing the threshold and entering formal education fully committed and fully informed of what to expect and what’s expected of them.

Resources include:

      Know your area
      Courses, progression routes and articulation
      Student Support
      Techniques and Skills
      Marketing and advertising
      Staff development

If you download one or more documents from this resource, we would like to ask you to fill in a feedback form. It only takes a couple of minutes, but your comments will give us the necessary information to improve the service we provide, by helping us to develop this resource according to your needs. If you don't download any documents, we would appreciate your comments about this resource and how it can be improved.

Many thanks for your time!