Consultation Information - Learner Involvement NOS

A need was identified, in England, through the Government's FE White Paper 2006 "Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances", which stated '.we will extend the successful national scheme of support for learner representatives. And we will strengthen the Staff Student Liaison Officer role (SLO) by asking LLUK to develop standards for this vital role'.

A scoping exercise was completed in April 2008, to explore the requirements on the SLO role across the four nations of the UK and whether there was any desire for the development of NOS. The recommendation was that NOS be developed as they would:

  • professionalise a key support function 
  • provide context for the development of career pathways
  • assist with recruitment and provide a baseline for appraisals in order to improve performance and gain credit for achievements (therefore enhancing job satisfaction)
  • provide the motivation for further learning and skills, inform the content of training and encourage qualification development
  • raise the profile of Learner Voice and the importance of an effective learner engagement strategy
  • encourage the development of student democracy
  • clarify the boundaries of the role, and facilitate a consistent approach and encourage the development of transferable skills beyond the sector and across all four nations, and
  • bring much needed credibility to the role of the SLO (and potentially Learner Support/Involvement).

Key consultation dates

5 January 2009 to 6 February 2009

Face to face UK consultation events will take place during January and February. Consultation workshop event dates are now available for booking. 


5 January 2009 to 6 February 2009

Electronic consultation on the draft National Occupational Standards (links will be available from 5 January). If you would like to participate in the electronic consultation please contact us by email.

More information about the new Learner Involvement NOS is available by clicking the link.