The NCSALL Persistence Study identifies four types of strategies that education providers can use to encourage learners to persist: Information-gathering strategies: the more providers know about their learners, the more programmes can respond to the needs of learners. Support strategies: including pastoral support; child care facilities; help with transportation; referral procedure for using external agencies. Operational strategies: including extended opening hours; flexible and drop-in and off-site classes; improving access to ICT. Programmatic strategies: including the curriculum changes; recruiting students in innovative ways; redesigning tutor training; redesigning student and tutor orientation. From:" 'Motivating Skills for Life learners to persist, progress and achieve', A literature review." NCSALL is an American organisation: the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy.

This progression activity introduces a number of strategic issues that you can explore either individually or with colleagues:

• What do we mean by learner progression?
• Developing the expertise of learners and teachers to enhance progression.
• A curriculum that supports progression.
• Data to support and evidence progression.
• Partnership approaches to support progression.
• Strategic action to support learner progression.

The outcomes of your discussions can form the starting point towards developing a whole organisational approach to supporting learner progression as part of your quality improvement strategy.

The activity tools are designed to be used flexibly. We encourage you to reach a common understanding of the term ‘learner progression’ with your colleagues. You may wish to involve learners in these early discussions and then explore the theme or themes that are a priority for your organisation. Use the ‘Strategic action to support learner progression’ theme to plan your next steps.

• Familiarise yourself with the content of this resource. Use the link below to explore the interactive version of the activity.
• Download the cards to produce a paper version of the resource.
• Read through the guidance document and try out the approaches with peers. You may also like to read the Supporting learner progression: Exploring progression booklet which contains new guidance on the theme of Progression and on how to get the most out of this activity.
• The activity cards mention the Unique Learner Number (ULN) and Managing Information Across Partners. For up-to-date information on both of these areas, use these embedded links and also refer to the Focus on Progression booklet.

Explore the Stick with it! resource for managers, practitioners and learners. This can be accessed from www.stickwithit.org.uk. You can also access the 'Motivating Skills for Life learners to persist, progress and achieve' literature review from the resources section of the Stickwithit! web link.