Following Health and Safety Working Practices when Using ICT — Open Awards Vocational Foundations for Learning

The Open Awards Entry Level Award in Skills for Further Learning and Employment (Entry 1) is a foundational qualification designed to help you develop essential skills for education and work. This award focuses on building confidence, communication, and basic employability skills. You'll learn how to work with others, follow instructions, and complete simple tasks independently. It's perfect if you're starting your learning journey or need extra support to progress.

This qualification covers key areas like personal development, teamwork, and understanding the world of work. You'll explore your own strengths and interests, practice listening and speaking in group settings, and learn about health and safety in the workplace. By the end, you'll have a clearer idea of your next steps, whether that's further study or employment.

Foundations for Learning is a broad subject that prepares you for life beyond school. This award fits into it by giving you practical, hands-on experience. It's not just about theory; you'll do activities like role-playing job interviews, creating a personal action plan, and working on group projects. These skills are transferable to any future course or job.

• →Personal action planning: Setting simple goals and reviewing your progress.
• →Teamwork: Taking turns, listening to others, and contributing to a group task.
• →Following instructions: Understanding and completing tasks with two or three steps.
• →Health and safety: Identifying common hazards and knowing basic safety rules.
• →Communication: Speaking clearly and listening carefully in everyday situations.

• Award credit for demonstrating appropriate posture when seated at a computer, such as sitting upright with feet flat on the floor.
• Award credit for identifying at least two physical hazards in the immediate ICT environment, such as trailing cables or overloaded sockets.
• Award credit for correctly naming a responsible person (e.g., tutor, assessor, first aider) to contact in case of an ICT-related health or safety issue.

• 💡During practical assessments, verbally or physically highlight one safety check you are performing, such as adjusting screen brightness or clearing desk clutter.
• 💡If unsure about a safety procedure, always refer to the designated safety contact rather than attempting to fix an issue independently.
• 💡Remember that open-ended questions in written assignments should be answered with clear, simple statements referencing both preventive measures and appropriate help sources.
• 💡Tip 1: Keep a simple diary or log of what you do each session. This helps you remember your progress and makes it easier to talk about your achievements during assessment.
• 💡Tip 2: When working in a group, make sure you speak at least once. Even saying 'I agree' or 'Let's try this' shows you're participating.
• 💡Tip 3: For health and safety tasks, always think about what could go wrong before you start. This shows you understand the importance of prevention.

• Believing that ICT equipment poses no physical risks because it does not involve heavy machinery.
• Assuming that help is automatically available without needing to actively seek it out or report a problem.
• Confusing general workplace safety with specific ICT safety, such as overlooking eye strain or repetitive strain injury.
• Misconception: 'This qualification is just about getting a job.' Correction: While it prepares you for employment, it also builds skills for further learning, like confidence and independence.
• Misconception: 'You don't need to study for it; it's too easy.' Correction: Even though it's entry level, you need to actively participate and complete tasks to pass. It's about demonstrating skills, not just knowing facts.
• Misconception: 'Teamwork means you can let others do the work.' Correction: You must contribute your fair share. Assessors look for your individual input, not just the group's result.

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