Introduction to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Learner Health and Safety

The Learning and Skills Act 2000 requires the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to secure proper facilities for education and training and this includes ensuring that facilities used for activities funded by the LSC are of sufficient quality to meet the needs of learners.

The LSC learner health, safety and welfare policy confirms that the LSC will seek assurance from those it funds that suitable and sufficient arrangements have been made before a learner starts to learn and continue to be made throughout his or her learning experience for health, safety, and welfare.

In LSC terms, a learner is an individual receiving training and support on LSC funded programmes. The term includes “employees”, “trainees”, “clients”, and “pupils or students”. The LSC recognises that “one size does not fit all” and will take account of the risk to learners to target its resources accordingly – higher risks will demand a higher level of assurance, lower risks less so.

The LSC is committed to working with others. The LSC has established collaborative partnerships to support good practice in the promotion of safe learners, and to help develop common, nationwide arrangements ensuring consistency and reducing duplication and unnecessary red tape.

The LSC approach to learner health and safety is implemented by the regional and National Employer Service (NES) health and safety managers. There are clear lines of accountability from the Chief Executive, with overall responsibility for learner health and safety, down to individual accountability.

The health, safety and welfare of learners is a fundamental value of the Learning and Skills Council. All learners are entitled to learning that takes place in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. In addition, we consider that safe learning is essential to maximise learners’ experience and achievement.

We expect all those we fund to fully meet their legal obligations and will seek assurance that they have suitable and sufficient arrangements for learner health and safety. We will take appropriate actions when standards are not met.

We consider health and safety to be an integral part of quality. Those we fund are expected to have in place an effective health and safety management system and demonstrate continuous improvement.