Post by blackbeard on Jan 12, 2009 11:18:08 GMT
sent to all ACO Training officers
Level 1
We have so far received requests for well in excess of 500 level 1 participant packs.
These requests are received and processed here - but the fulfilment (the collation of the packs and the sending out) is carried out by Good Form.
Although we are able to turn over the processing of the forms within 48 hours we have encountered delays in the fulfilment.
Having visited Good Form and also spoken to Colourstream the workbook publishing company, I am assured that all outstanding requests will be expedited in the early part of next week.
Even so there remain two problems:-
We have “run out” of the participant disc (The Umpires Assistant).
The initial order for this resource was for 300 copies –with the expectation that if it proved to be accurate and useful (which to a great extent it has) we would be able to source and buy more copies.
Unfortunately, this has not proved to be the case. It is not clear why, but the Production Company (RSL Media) have thus far proved to be un - contactable since before Christmas.
I am actively looking into this and the alternatives available to us, but at the moment I have nothing further to report.
I have sent a copy of the Umpires Assistant to each of you under separate cover along with a copy of the Tutor disc and exam (It’s Your call) and a copy of the Participant work book and I would be grateful if you could keep that copy for yourselves for the time being –although of course you are free to use it in any way you wish.
The “Umpires Assistants” that Good Form were given were sent out on a “First come first serve basis” – so I can only apologise if your participants are the unlucky ones who did not receive them in their packs.
2. Good Form having been ‘let down’ by their own suppliers of the plastic boxes have been thus far unable to supply them as part of the participant packs. I received a message from them yesterday which reads in part, as follows:
“Our original supplier has let us down for the boxes for the ECB level 1 and 2, however I have sourced another firm, who has supplied us with a sample of a similar box, which I have now received , this box is far superior then the sample you approved, thicker grade, also includes a handle and better clip, we can go with exactly the same design, which will look excellent once printed etc, they can also supply the level one boxes and level 2 boxes within 21 days.
As soon as we receive the boxes, they will be forwarded to you -the idea being that the participants can have them for keeping all resources together.
It is immensely frustrating that we seem constantly to be playing ”catch up” and I am only too well aware of the fact that we have promised much, delivered not so much, to deadlines that have been only variably met to say the least.
Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing and with the benefit of hindsight and working through this experience for the first time, I appreciate that the whole operation could and should be streamlined to make it easier for everybody. What I would like to do in the future, if you agree, is to collate the Level 1 and Level 2 resources during the early summer and then have an appropriate number of participant packs delivered to each of the County Education Officers who themselves would then manage the administration and distribution of packs in plenty of time for all Courses in the following year.
Despite the delays and teething problems, I hope you think that the Course material is worth having and represents sensible evolution from GL6. Nevertheless it is certainly not perfect nor ‘error free’ so I am also keen to get your feedback in due course so that any mistakes can be eliminated from both paperwork and discs and to ensure that the overall presentation is in the most user friendly form. For example, it has already been put to me that the workbook should have an index, be page numbered and sub - divided by module, all good and valid points that can be easily facilitated.
Level 2
As you know, we are underway with the tutor training for Level 2 and running the first regional courses for both umpires and scorers in the next three months.
You will also know that in the Newsletter I wrote:
“Any prospective level 2 Umpire wishing to attend a course should apply in the first instance to his/her County Education Officer.”
We have places for 115 Umpires and 36 scorers on these first courses and I am anxious to send out invitations to prospective participants, (particularly for those courses highlighted in bold).
Therefore please may I ask that you forward any nominations to me as soon as is possible and practicable?
Again, we are playing ‘catch up’ and managing the process in a somewhat haphazard style. Because it is likely that I will receive more nominations than I have places, I must ask you to be circumspect in the first instance and to nominate only those umpires and scorers whom you think would most benefit from a Level 2 Course immediately. There are no criteria laid down at this stage, so all I can do is ask you to trust your judgement and perhaps nominate with an order preference.
The new ACO Board met for the first time yesterday and endorsed the formation of an Education Committee which through its terms of reference will have responsibility for making these decisions when it is convened –but that does not help in the immediate future. Therefore I have asked the present Level 2 Education Task Force (who are also the lead tutors) to act in this capacity for the time being.
Just to remind you, the courses are running as follows:
Umpires
South & West and London & East. Jan 31st + Feb 1st at Dummer
Midlands and North Feb 7th + Feb 8th at Loughborough
South & West Mar 14th +15th at Bristol
London & East Mar 21st +22nd at Lords.
Midlands Mar 14th + 21st at Stratford
North Mar 28th + Apr 4th at Leeds
Wales Apr 4th + 5th at Cardiff
Scorers
North Jan 31st + Feb 1st at Leeds
Midlands Feb 21st + 22nd at Derby
South Mar 14th +15th at Teddington
I shall write again next week with details of the forthcoming tutor training course and the assessors’ courses that are running in April. Also with details of a meeting that I would like to hold with all education officers (or as many as are able to attend) in the Spring. Obviously it is going to be difficult to find a date and venue that will suit everyone but I will be giving it a go, so if you are inclined to offer any advice as to which day of the week (Saturday?) and where (Midlands, Derby?), I would be pleased to consider it.
Level 1
We have so far received requests for well in excess of 500 level 1 participant packs.
These requests are received and processed here - but the fulfilment (the collation of the packs and the sending out) is carried out by Good Form.
Although we are able to turn over the processing of the forms within 48 hours we have encountered delays in the fulfilment.
Having visited Good Form and also spoken to Colourstream the workbook publishing company, I am assured that all outstanding requests will be expedited in the early part of next week.
Even so there remain two problems:-
We have “run out” of the participant disc (The Umpires Assistant).
The initial order for this resource was for 300 copies –with the expectation that if it proved to be accurate and useful (which to a great extent it has) we would be able to source and buy more copies.
Unfortunately, this has not proved to be the case. It is not clear why, but the Production Company (RSL Media) have thus far proved to be un - contactable since before Christmas.
I am actively looking into this and the alternatives available to us, but at the moment I have nothing further to report.
I have sent a copy of the Umpires Assistant to each of you under separate cover along with a copy of the Tutor disc and exam (It’s Your call) and a copy of the Participant work book and I would be grateful if you could keep that copy for yourselves for the time being –although of course you are free to use it in any way you wish.
The “Umpires Assistants” that Good Form were given were sent out on a “First come first serve basis” – so I can only apologise if your participants are the unlucky ones who did not receive them in their packs.
2. Good Form having been ‘let down’ by their own suppliers of the plastic boxes have been thus far unable to supply them as part of the participant packs. I received a message from them yesterday which reads in part, as follows:
“Our original supplier has let us down for the boxes for the ECB level 1 and 2, however I have sourced another firm, who has supplied us with a sample of a similar box, which I have now received , this box is far superior then the sample you approved, thicker grade, also includes a handle and better clip, we can go with exactly the same design, which will look excellent once printed etc, they can also supply the level one boxes and level 2 boxes within 21 days.
As soon as we receive the boxes, they will be forwarded to you -the idea being that the participants can have them for keeping all resources together.
It is immensely frustrating that we seem constantly to be playing ”catch up” and I am only too well aware of the fact that we have promised much, delivered not so much, to deadlines that have been only variably met to say the least.
Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing and with the benefit of hindsight and working through this experience for the first time, I appreciate that the whole operation could and should be streamlined to make it easier for everybody. What I would like to do in the future, if you agree, is to collate the Level 1 and Level 2 resources during the early summer and then have an appropriate number of participant packs delivered to each of the County Education Officers who themselves would then manage the administration and distribution of packs in plenty of time for all Courses in the following year.
Despite the delays and teething problems, I hope you think that the Course material is worth having and represents sensible evolution from GL6. Nevertheless it is certainly not perfect nor ‘error free’ so I am also keen to get your feedback in due course so that any mistakes can be eliminated from both paperwork and discs and to ensure that the overall presentation is in the most user friendly form. For example, it has already been put to me that the workbook should have an index, be page numbered and sub - divided by module, all good and valid points that can be easily facilitated.
Level 2
As you know, we are underway with the tutor training for Level 2 and running the first regional courses for both umpires and scorers in the next three months.
You will also know that in the Newsletter I wrote:
“Any prospective level 2 Umpire wishing to attend a course should apply in the first instance to his/her County Education Officer.”
We have places for 115 Umpires and 36 scorers on these first courses and I am anxious to send out invitations to prospective participants, (particularly for those courses highlighted in bold).
Therefore please may I ask that you forward any nominations to me as soon as is possible and practicable?
Again, we are playing ‘catch up’ and managing the process in a somewhat haphazard style. Because it is likely that I will receive more nominations than I have places, I must ask you to be circumspect in the first instance and to nominate only those umpires and scorers whom you think would most benefit from a Level 2 Course immediately. There are no criteria laid down at this stage, so all I can do is ask you to trust your judgement and perhaps nominate with an order preference.
The new ACO Board met for the first time yesterday and endorsed the formation of an Education Committee which through its terms of reference will have responsibility for making these decisions when it is convened –but that does not help in the immediate future. Therefore I have asked the present Level 2 Education Task Force (who are also the lead tutors) to act in this capacity for the time being.
Just to remind you, the courses are running as follows:
Umpires
South & West and London & East. Jan 31st + Feb 1st at Dummer
Midlands and North Feb 7th + Feb 8th at Loughborough
South & West Mar 14th +15th at Bristol
London & East Mar 21st +22nd at Lords.
Midlands Mar 14th + 21st at Stratford
North Mar 28th + Apr 4th at Leeds
Wales Apr 4th + 5th at Cardiff
Scorers
North Jan 31st + Feb 1st at Leeds
Midlands Feb 21st + 22nd at Derby
South Mar 14th +15th at Teddington
I shall write again next week with details of the forthcoming tutor training course and the assessors’ courses that are running in April. Also with details of a meeting that I would like to hold with all education officers (or as many as are able to attend) in the Spring. Obviously it is going to be difficult to find a date and venue that will suit everyone but I will be giving it a go, so if you are inclined to offer any advice as to which day of the week (Saturday?) and where (Midlands, Derby?), I would be pleased to consider it.