Guidance for Delivering Training via Blended Learning

Introduction
Planning a Course
Attendance
Resources
Face-to-face Training
Assessment
Other Considerations
First Aid Qualifications
Key Points - Summary

Introduction

Definitions:

Blended Learning comprises:

Online Distance Learning: e-Learning
Face-to-face: training delivered within the same room (not via the internet)

This policy outlines the requirements for applying the blended learning (part online distance learning, part face-to-face) approach to RLSS UK’s Awards and Qualifications.

Industry experts have agreed on these principles to ensure sufficient face-to-face learning, assessment, and quality assurance when training those who undertake life-saving roles.

Blended learning isn’t for everyone; however, it can offer candidates the flexibility to complete an award or qualification.

The time taken to complete the award or qualification should not be reduced and must remain in line with the relevant Guidance and Syllabus. While flexibility may be beneficial, blended learning must not reduce the time required to take the course.

The employer (if applicable) should provide paid time for the employee to undertake the training. The employee should not be required to take the distance learning element of the course in their ‘own time’.

After completing the online distance learning element, the candidate must attend face-to-face training and be assessed by a suitably qualified RLSS UK Trainer Assessor (TA).

Planning a Course

Trainer Assessors (TAs) must plan their course delivery like any other session and ensure candidates have the appropriate time to complete the distance learning element before attending the face-to-face training.

The course organiser must select the appropriate blended learning course within the RLSS UK Course Management system. After adding candidates to the course and applying for credit/payment, candidates will receive an email confirmation inviting them to complete the online distance learning element via their RLSS UK Account.

All RLSS UK awards and qualifications must be completed within a designated timeframe (for example, Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) should be completed within four weeks). If a candidate is added to a course which concludes outside of the timeframe detailed in the relevant Guidance and Syllabus, the candidate will not receive the invitation to complete the distance learning (for example, if a candidate is added to an EFAW five weeks before the end date of the course, the online distance learning element will not be released until the 4-week timeframe).

All existing requirements of the relevant Guidance and Syllabus will apply unless stated otherwise within this policy.

Attendance

Trainer Assessors (TAs) can track the progress of candidates' blended learning via the RLSS UK Course Management system. Trainer Assessors (TAs) or course organisers will be presented with the following information:

Status
Invited	This status indicates the distance learning element has been sent to the candidate.
In Progress	This informs you that the candidate has engaged in/ started the online distance learning element.
Completed	This is confirmation that the candidate has completed the learning and will be issued a digital certificate of completion.

Trainer Assessors (TAs) or course organisers should monitor the candidates’ progress in the run-up to the face-to-face course and provide any additional support or prompt completion. Failure to successfully complete the online distance learning element before the face-to-face learning will result in the candidate not being accepted to the face-to-face part of the course. This must be highlighted during the enrolment process.

Resources

Candidates must have access to an up-to-date candidate manual, which must be available on the first day of the course. This includes when a candidate books onto a blended-learning course. The Trainer Assessor (TA) or Course Organiser can distribute the physical manual to candidates or use the PDF manual throughout the blended learning.

If PDF manuals are used throughout the distance learning, then physical manuals (if purchased) may need to be issued to the candidate when face-to-face learning occurs.

Trainer Assessors (TAS) must ensure they refer to any associated documents relating specifically to blended learning, e.g., First Aid Essentials—Blended Learning Master Programme.

Face-to-face Training

Although the distance learning element will cover several topics, the face-to-face element is designed only to check knowledge in these areas. This ensures that candidates have retained the information and are fully prepared before being formally assessed.

Assessment

As part of the online distance learning element, candidates will have activities to complete and several questions to answer towards the end of the learning. This doesn’t count towards any part of the ‘final’ assessment and has been designed to check learning. The assessment must continue to be delivered face-to-face in line with the relevant Guidance and Syllabus.

Other Considerations

Several factors can impact a course and bookings. The table below highlights these; however, the entire policy should be considered.

Examples
The candidate did not start the distance learning element.	The candidate cannot attend the face-to-face course. The candidate can be removed from the course, removing access to the online distance learning element. The credit will be reapplied to your RLSS UK Course Management System.
The candidate started but did not complete the distance learning element.	The candidate cannot attend the face-to-face course. The candidate can be removed from the course, removing access to the distance learning element and any progress. The credit will be reapplied to your RLSS UK Course Management System.
The candidate completed the distance learning element but didn’t attend the face-to-face course.	The candidate can be removed from the course, which will remove access to the distance learning element. The candidate will have a digital completion certificate within their personal RLSS UK Account, and this can be used as evidence to rebook another face-to-face course (the qualification must be completed within the timeframe highlighted within the relevant Guidance and Syllabus). The credit will be reapplied to your RLSS UK Course Management System.

First Aid Qualifications

For all First Aid Qualifications (as detailed in the table below), there is a minimum face-to-face (in person, not via the internet) learning time, as stipulated by the First Aid Awarding Organisation Forum and First Aid Quality Partnership. Both the online distance learning element and face-to-face content comply with this stipulation.

Course	Total Qualification Time (TQT)	Minimum Distance Learning Hours*	Minimum Face-to-Face Learning Hours*
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)	6	2	4
First Aid at Work (FAW)	18	6	12
Paediatric First Aid (PFA)	13	6	7**
First Aid at Work Requalification	12	6	6

*Excluding breaks.

**Additional face-to-face time for practical and theoretical assessments (of topics covered online via distance learning) is required to comply with Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Welsh Government Childcare requirements.

No other elements should be delivered remotely when the blended learning approach is selected.

Key Points - Summary

The course organiser selects the appropriate blended learning course within the RLSS UK Course Management System
Once payment has been made, and if within the allocated timeframe, candidates will receive an email confirmation inviting them to complete the online distance learning element via their RLSS UK Account
Candidate completes the face-to-face element of the course (which includes the standard assessment process)
For more information, refer to the relevant Guidance and Syllabus or associated documents related to blended learning.
Only selected RLSS UK Awards & Qualifications (stated above) can follow a blended learning delivery model.