pitchcare TRAINING & education


Sports Turf NVQs at Writtle College


Greg Knight (right) is currently studying for his NVQ Level 3 Sports Turf at Wrile College. Greg says: “Prior to studying for my Level 3 I had already completed my NVQ Level 2 and numerous short courses. The College facilies and the comprehensive knowledge of my tutor meant that Wrile College was an ideal place to study. I would like now to either progress further at College or to gain work experience abroad, my NVQ3 qualificaon will open pathways for me to do this.” Greg’s advice to other students is:


“Don’t hesitate in gaining qualificaons, or furthering your educaon. Our profession needs more highly skilled/qualified people, and Wrile College offers excellent opportunies to gain the theorecal element to our work.”


NPTC (CITY & GUILDS) NVQ LEVEL 2 SPORTS TURF A technical course with praccal content which reflects current industry pracces. It will provide you with the underpinning knowledge necessary for career progression in the turf industry. Course length - One year part-me (one day a week). You will need... To be working in the


industry with at least one year’s experience. You must have access to an assessor in your work place (the College can help arrange this); this will enable you to complete your work-based assessments. You will need a leer of recommendaon from your employer and their agreement to aend the course inducon evening at the start of the course in September. Areas of study: Turf Establishment,


Preparaon of Surfaces for Play, Grass Idenficaon and Turf Maintenance, Health and Safety and Personal Development. A porolio of evidence will be compiled


during the course, demonstrang praccal competence and underpinning knowledge. This is completed both at College and in the workplace. If you take this course you could go on


to... A higher level qualificaon such as the NVQ Level 3 Sports Turf Maintenance, aer which you can progress on to a managerial posion, or find work as, for example, an assistant head groundsman or greenkeeper.


NPTC (CITY & GUILDS) NATIONAL CERTIFICATE HORTICULTURE - SPORTS TURF (LEVEL 2) Also a technical course. Course length - Two years part-me (one day a week). Standard entry is three GCSEs at


Grade D or above to include English and Mathemacs. However, alternave qualificaons or experience will be considered on applicaon. A suitable work placement is also required. Areas of study: Turf Establishment,


Preparaon of Surfaces for Play, Grass Idenficaon and Turf Maintenance, Horcultural Science, Principles of Machinery, Groundsmanship,


Greenkeeping, Idenficaon of Weeds, Pests and Diseases and Tractor Operaon. Units are assessed using a range of


praccal acvies, short answer quesons, assignments and an end of year online test. If you take this course you could go on


to… A higher level qualificaon such as the NVQ Level 3 Sports Turf Maintenance.


NPTC (CITY & GUILDS) NVQ LEVEL 3 SPORTS TURF An advanced level course, which will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to work competently in the industry at supervisor level. This is a highly technical course with praccal content which reflects current industry pracce. Course length - Two years part-me (one day a week). You will need… To be employed or


working towards a supervisory role within the industry and preferably have NVQ Level 2 Sports Turf or an equivalent qualificaon, plus a PA1, PA2 or 6 or be able to sit as necessary to complete the course. IT skills are desirable. Areas of study: Sports Turf


Management, So Landscape Management, Resource Management, Drainage and Irrigaon, Design. A porolio of evidence will be


compiled to show praccal and underpinning knowledge. Assignments and praccal acvies at College and in the workplace will assess competence in the range of acvies. If you take this course you could go on


to… A higher level qualificaon such as the Foundaon degree in Sports Turf.


NPTC (CITY & GUILDS) NATIONAL CERTIFICATE HORTICULTURE - SPORTS TURF (LEVEL 2) This is also a technical course. Standard entry is three GCSEs at


Grade D or above to include English and Mathemacs. However, alternave qualificaons or experience will be considered on applicaon. A suitable work placement is also required. Areas of study: Turf Establishment,


Preparaon of Surfaces for Play, Grass Idenficaon and Turf Maintenance, Horcultural Science, Principles of Machinery, Groundsmanship, Greenkeeping, Idenficaon of Weeds, Pests and Diseases and Tractor Operaon. If you take this course you could go on


to… A higher level qualificaon such as the NVQ Level 3 Sports Turf Maintenance.


TRAINING & education


Training Courses for volunteers or part time groundsmen


There is a naonally available range of short courses, usually lasng one or two days, which focus on the safe use of machinery and equipment. Typically, these include pedestrian and ride-on mowers, strimmers, tractors, chainsaws, brushcuers, and the applicaon of pescides. A cerficate of aendance is usually awarded and there is oen an opon for assessment leading to a Lantra Awards cerficate of achievement (NPTC registraon for pescides courses).


Addionally, Pitchcare offer a


very comprehensive 1-day course, accredited as a Customised Award by Lantra Awards, which gives an introducon to all the most commonly used sports turf equipment. This course has been designed by an experienced groundsman, specifically with the volunteer or part-me groundsman in mind.


Dates and locaons for the 2009 series of General Sports Turf Maintenance courses for winter sports surfaces are as follows:


29 January South of England (Southampton)


12 February West Midlands (Wolverhampton)


19 February South Midlands (St Albans)


26 February North East (Gateshead) North West


TBA


Amenity Horculture, Key Skills and 3 addional occupaonally relevant qualificaons. The NVQ consists of seven units covering a range of sportsturf skills and related pracces. The main objecves of the course are to ensure the development of praccal skills, related background knowledge and health and safety issues and procedures. NVQs are work related,


competence based qualificaons which reflect the skills and knowledge required to do a job effecvely. They are achieved through assessment and training. Assessment is normally through on the job observaon and quesoning in the workplace, but some sessions may take place at college. Trainees produce evidence to


prove that they have the competence to meet the NVQ standards. Generally, to be eligible for an


Apprenceship you must: • Be between 16 and 24 years old • Be employed as a Groundsman/Greenkeeper for more than 30 hours per week


• You must also meet entry requirements in terms of literacy and numeracy. GCSE results aren't an entry requirement, although good GCSE and A levels may be used as proxy or part proxy - the training provider will advise upon this.


Those who have successfully completed their Apprenceship may wish to connue to study for the Advanced Apprenceship (NVQ Level III). FUNDING FOR TRAINING


TRAINING FOR CAREER GROUNDSMEN Those wishing to follow a career as a groundsman or greenkeeper would typically take a vocaonal qualificaon, such as a Modern Apprenceship in Amenity Horculture (Sportsturf), at their local land-based college. The Apprenceship is a


"framework" of qualificaons comprising the NVQ level 2 in


As far as we are aware, funding for short courses on the safe use of sports turf machinery and equipment is not available. However, some local authories may help with funding for safe use of pescides or arboriculture training if they are keen to promote good environmental pracce – contact your local council’s environmental department.


Funding for apprenceships is more readily available and more informaon on this can be found at: hp://www.nptc.org.uk hp://www.traintogain.gov.uk


or contact your local land-based college. hp://www.apprenceships.org.uk


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