• Police Constables - A 2-year programme with approximately 35 weeks of supporting learning materials; IPLDP (Initial Police Learning and Development Programme). Mandatory Qualification - Diploma in Policing (see below)
• Police Community Support Officers - approximately 10 weeks of direct learning normally completed over a period between 6 months and 1 year; PCSO National Learning Programme. Non-mandatory Qualification - Certificate in Policing (see below)
• Special Constables - approximately 3.5 weeks of direct learning taken over varying timescales. This programme takes Student Officers to a point where they are fit for accompanied patrol; IL4SC (Initial Learning for the Special Constabulary)

Principal features

The National Curricula for each programme is presented through learning outcomes contained in Module Specifications/Descriptors.

All Initial materials are available free of charge to Home Office forces online via the National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies (NCALT), Managed Learning Environment (MLE).  Forces can choose to use the national materials, locally developed materials or a blend of national and local to meet the outcomes of the programmes.

The Initial Learning curriculum introduces many aspects of other NPIA Learning Programmes at initial/first responder level, some of these include: Professionalising the Investigation Process (PIP) Level 1, Forensics 21, Mental Ill Health, Equality and Human Rights, Search and many more.  By embedding jointly developed materials from other programmes into Initial Learning, we ensure that the Initial learning suite of programmes remain current, contemporary and congruous with advancements across the service.

All Initial Learning materials are maintained and uploaded on a weekly basis and are improved in response to feedback from forces, legislative changes, doctrine development, best practice, strategic directives and other environmental scanning.

The Learning Experience

Each programme utilises a rich blend of delivery methods where Student Officers will experience learning in the classroom and the workplace, as well as involving the people and communities they will be serving, through local community placement and engagement.

The learning experience is supported by a variety of learning methodologies including: case studies / scenarios, student notes, Quick Notes, Elearning / distance learning, facilitated group discussions, individual and group exercises, practical exercises, presentations, workplace coaching / mentoring, attachments supported role plays, multiple choice questions, knowledge checks and formative assessments.

Many innovative design aspects are incorporated into the Initial learning which have received very positive feedback from users, these include:

• Working in conjunction with Merseyside Police, the NPIA also provide the full suite of initial learning student notes in audio MP3 format. This format has benefits for all students, but more specifically those with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, enabling forces to provide reasonable adjustment in these circumstances.
• Quick Notes are abridged versions of the full Student Notes for each Initial Learning programme.  They provide key definitions, references and diagrams relating to each programme and are available as an on-line consolidation / reference tool or in a printed bound A5 pocket sized booklet.

To ensure that Student Officers are fully equipped to deal with the challenges of modern day policing, support, advice and guidance through the initial programmes is provided locally through Force Trainers, operational Tutors, operational Line Managers and Supervisors.

Delivery & Quality Assurance

The national implementation and delivery of the Initial Learning programmes is quality assured via "The Quality Assurance Scheme for Training, Learning and Development in the Police Service" (PSQA).

For IPLDP, forces are also required to evidence compliance with 9 additional criteria. These criteria aim to maintain the ethos and principles of IPLDP as a national programme and further enhance the quality of delivery.

Initial Qualification and Assessment

IPLDP
From January 2010 the Diploma in Policing for IPLDP was introduced as the minimum national qualification.  This 10 unit qualification is available under Ofqual's Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) and is administered through the main national Awarding Bodies.
As well as completing the Diploma in Policing qualification forces must also ensure that the mandatory outcomes detailed in the national IPLDP curriculum are fully achieved.
PCSO
From June 2010 the non-mandatory Certificate in Policing qualification for PCSOs was introduced.  This is a 6 unit qualification and is available under Ofqual's Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) and is administered through the main national Awarding Bodies. The PCSO qualification has four QCF units which are common with the IPLDP qualification.  This provides opportunities for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for those PCSOs wishing to become Police Constables.
As well as completing the Certificate in Policing qualification, forces should also ensure that the core outcomes of the national PCSO programme are achieved in order that they are compliant with the national curriculum for PCSOs.
IL4SC
At present there are no formal qualifications associated with the Initial Learning for the Special Constabulary, however in order to be IL4SC compliant, forces should ensure that the learning outcomes from the national curriculum are achieved.

Pre-Entry to Policing

A number of initiatives are currently underway to support the development of Pre-Join schemes to the service.  For further information click on the following link Pre-Join.

For more information about any of the above please contact IPLDP@npia.pnn.police.uk