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Foundation and Community funds

Foundation Learning Pool

The Foundation Learning Pool provides funding to support high quality literacy, language, and numeracy programmes. It supports the Tertiary Education Strategy 2007 – 2012 (TES) priority outcome: increasing literacy and numeracy levels for the workforce.

The Foundation Learning Pool funding framework is undergoing review in 2009. All investment from 2010 onwards will be based on a revised funding framework. The Foundation Learning Pool has been refocused towards stronger literacy and numeracy learning gain.
The fund has been renamed ‘Intensive Literacy and Numeracy’ and is being directed to learners with low level literacy and numeracy skills.

 Funding can only be used for delivering Foundation Learning Pool programmes agreed between the tertiary education organisation (TEO) and the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

Foundation Learning Pool programmes

Intensive programmes

Intensive Foundation Learning Pool programmes provide fully funded intensive learning opportunities in literacy, language and numeracy in a variety of contexts that include family literacy and resettlement. These programmes are for learners with low literacy, language, or numeracy skills who would be unlikely to access other forms of learning.

These programmes will:

  1. contribute to the tertiary education system in line with the directions articulated in the TES
  2. align with the Literacy, Language, and Numeracy Action Plan 2008-2012 (PDF, 373 Kb).

Condition TRA015: Tertiary education organisations receiving Intensive Foundation Learning Pool funding must do all the following:

  • Engage appropriately qualified and experienced educators
  • Deliver any intensive programmes for a minimum of 50 hours over a ten week programme duration, or eight to ten hours a week for a longer duration
  • Provide a learning environment that is responsive and flexible to meet the physical, cultural and learning needs of learners
  • Ensure that learners and other stakeholders are fully informed about all the following:
    • The TEO's Foundation Learning Pool programmes
    • The TEO's disciplinary and complaints procedures
    • The TEO's policies relating to holding learners’ personal information and learners’ rights to review this information.
  • Develop individual learning plans for funded learners
  • Provide Foundation Learning Pool programmes at no cost to learners
  • Use funding approved for Family Literacy programmes for adult education only
  • Use the funding to best achieve the targets agreed with the Tertiary Education Commission.

Intensive Foundation Learning Pool targets

Rule TRA016: Tertiary education organisation receiving Intensive Foundation Learning Pool funding must achieve the following targets:

  • The majority of learners enrolled in the programmes are from the target group approved by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)
  • The number of learners and the average number of hours and weeks of foundation learning assistance per learner are maintained at the same levels as approved by the TEC, for a minimum of 75% of the duration of the programme(s)
  • Use an established process to identify the literacy or numeracy learning gains and outcomes for funded learners.

Intensive Foundation Learning Pool learner eligibility

Rule TRA017: For a tertiary education organisation to receive Intensive Foundation Learning Pool funding, learners must have low levels of literacy and/or numeracy, considered as below level three of the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALL).

Enhanced programmes

Enhanced Foundation Learning Pool programmes provide additional funding to support learners in certificate level Student Achievement Component programmes within PTEs and some targeted training programmes to increase their literacy, language and numeracy skills during the course of their programme of study.

These programmes will:

  1. contribute to the tertiary education system in line with the directions articulated in the TES
  2. align with the Literacy, Language, and Numeracy Action Plan 2008-2012 (PDF, 373 Kb).

Condition TRA017: Tertiary education organisations receiving Enhanced Foundation Learning Pool funding must:

  • Engage appropriately qualified and experienced educators
  • Provide a learning environment that is responsive and flexible to meet the physical, cultural and learning needs of learners
  • Ensure that learners and other stakeholders are fully informed about all the following:
    • The TEO's Foundation Learning Pool programmes
    • The TEO's disciplinary and complaints procedures
    • The TEO's policies relating to holding learners’ personal information and learners’ rights to review this information.
  • Develop individual learning plans for funded learners
  • Provide Foundation Learning Pool programmes at no cost to learners
  • Use the funding to best achieve the targets agreed with the Tertiary Education Commission.

Enhanced Foundation Learning Pool targets

Rule TRA018: Tertiary education organisation receiving Enhanced Foundation Learning Pool funding must achieve the following targets:

  • The number of learners and the average number of weeks of foundation learning assistance per learner are maintained at the same levels as approved by the TEC, for a minimum of 75% of the duration of the programme(s)
  • Use an established process to identify the literacy or numeracy learning gains and outcomes for funded learners.

Reporting

Changes to reporting on 2009 programmes

TEOs will report on, and be monitored against, the project-specific delivery commitments agreed during engagement with the TEC.

The reporting requirement for 2009 programmes has been changed. A single report is required by 31 December 2009. The mid-year report (previously due by 1 July 2009) is no longer required.

The 2009 Foundation Learning Pool Report (Excel, 35 Kb) needs to be completed by 31 December 2009, for the programme(s) offered by your organisation that receive Foundation Learning Pool funding.

Instructions on how to fill out the sections of the template are included in the Foundation Learning Pool Final Report.

Email the completed report to servicecentre@tec.govt.nz by 31 December 2009.

If you have any questions please contact the TEC Service Centre on 0800 601 301.

Reporting on 2008 programmes

The Foundation Learning Pool Report (Excel, 35 Kb) needs to be completed by 15 February 2009, for the programme(s) offered by your organisation that receive Foundation Learning Pool funding.

Instructions on how to fill out the sections of the template are included in the Foundation Learning Pool Final Report.

Email to servicecentre@tec.govt.nz by 15 February 2009.

If you have any questions please contact the TEC Service Centre on 0800 601 301. 

Monitoring

The TEC monitors delivery of Foundation Learning Pool programmes through:

  • number of learners enrolled on the programme
  • number of weeks and hours learners attend the programme
  • individual learning plans.
  • learning gains made by the learners
  • inclusion of target group (Intensive Programmes only).

Payments

The TEC will pay TEOs in five percentage-based instalments for amounts up to but not exceeding the amount(s) specified in the confirmation of funding letter.

Payments for 2009 are scheduled as follows:

  • 15 January 2009 (30%)
  • 15 April 2009 (20%)
  • 3 August 2009 (20%)
  • 3 November 2009 (10%)
  • 15 February 2010 (20%)

Embedded literacy and numeracy in certificate level courses at institutes of technology and polytechnics

During 2009 and 2010, institutes of technology and polytechnics; and wananga, will have additional funding to help meet costs associated with delivering embedded literacy and numeracy in SAC-funded courses.

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