Cycling Instructor Training Organisations (ITOs)

These are the names of the 18 organisation in England who have become an ITO
· Advanced Cycle Training
· BikeRight!
· British Cycling
· CTC
· Cycle Training UK Ltd
· Cycle Training West Midlands (Local Authority consortium)
· Cycle Experience
· Cycle Training East
· Cycling Instructor Ltd
· Devon County Council
· East Region (Local Authority consortium)
· Haddenham Cycle Training
· Life Cycle UK
· Outspoken
· Pedal Ready
· Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
· Wiltshire County Council

Today the Department for Transport has notified those organisations who were successful in becoming an accredited Instructor Training Organisation (ITO)
(Cycle Training UK is included I'm pleased to say)

Only ITOs will be able to accredit National Standard cyling instructors.
Any one wishing to have a NSI number will need to join an ITO

All instructors will shortly be receiving a letter from the DfT inviting them to join an ITO
(CTUK will shortly be contacting instructors too)

The next posts will contain information provided by the DfT to explain to the sector about ITOs.

Q: What are Instructor Training Organisations?
A: ITOs will be the only bodies recognised by Government as providing
training for National Standard Instructor Trainers, Instructors and
Assistant Instructors (collectively known as “instructors” throughout this
document). Only instructors trained by ITOs will be issued with
National Standard Instructor numbers which identify them as providing
cycle training that meets the National Standard.

Q: How will the quality of instructor training be ensured?
A: All ITOs have been through an extensive application process to assess
their ability to deliver National Standard instructor training. ITO’s training and
management processes will be periodically scrutinised by DfT in the future to
ensure maintenance of standards.. Any ITO unable to demonstrate that it
remains able to deliver on all aspects required of an ITO will no longer be
recognised by DfT.

Q: Will new instructors trained by ITOs need to be an employee or
member of that organisation to retain their National Standard Instructor
status?
A. No. However, all instructors, including existing National Standard
instructors will need to register with an ITO. This does not need to be with the
ITO that trained the instructor - it could be any ITO. At a minimum this will
enable ITOs to provide an independent verification of the instructor’s National
Standard status, and allow access to continuing professional development
opportunities. ITO may also offer other services to instructors. It will be up to
ITOs whether they charge a fee to registered instructors, and the level of that
fee.

Q: Will ITOs charge for membership?
A: It will be up to the individual ITO to decide whether they wish to charge for
their membership services.
**
Q. What will happen if an instructor does not register with an ITO?**
A. It is a decision for individual instructors to register with an ITO or not.
However, only instructors registered with an ITO will be eligible to deliver
Bikeability training (via a registered Bikeability scheme). Only Bikeability
training is eligible for DfT cycle training grants paid to local authorities and
School Sports Partnerships.
**
Q. What if instructors feel they are being over-charged by ITOs?**
A. There will be 18 ITOs, providing a wide choice for instructors, and
reducing the risk of high registration fees. However, DfT will informally
monitor fees and assess potential impacts on instructors.
**
Q: Is there a requirement for a minimum number of hours of
continuing professional development (CPD)?**
A: ITOs will be required to offer instructors registered with them the
opportunity to undertake a minimum of three hours CPD per annum. ITOs will
also be required to provide members with updates to the National Standard.

Q: And what types of activity will qualify as CPD?
A: It will be up to the ITO to decide what CPD they will offer. But this
could include refresher training, opportunities to share best practice
and specialist training courses.

Q: Will ITOs be able to refuse to take on members?
A: It is up to individual ITOs to decide on their criteria for membership.

Q: When will there be another opportunity to apply to be an ITO?
A: There is no set timetable. However: the DfT will review the need and
timing of any future application process on a regular basis.
**
Q: Will ITOs be reviewed/audited/inspected?**
The Department will take steps to ensure quality is maintained. The timing
and form of any inspection or review of individual ITOs will considered based
on feedback from the assessment process, and any other information relevant
to the delivery of high-quality instructor training.

Q: Does the Department intend on only recognising ITOs that appeal to
particular niche markets?
A: No, this is not the Department’s intention. Providing services to a niche
market is not part of the assessment process. Of course if an individual ITO
wishes to promote its services to a specific market then there is nothing
stopping it doing so.

Instructors
**
Q: What does it mean to be registered with an ITO?**
A: The full relationship between an ITO and any National Standard instructors
registered to it will vary according to what is agreeable to both parties.
However, registered trainers should have access to continuous professional
development opportunities, updates to the National Standard for cycle training
and other services that the ITO chooses to provide. Trainers do not have to
be employed by the ITO in order to be registered with them.

Q: So, as an instructor, I will have to belong to an ITO in order to
carry on training to the National Standard?
A: No. But if you want to be eligible to train for Local Authorities and
School Sports Partnerships on courses funded by a DfT cycle training
grant then you will need to become registered with a recognised ITO.
This is to ensure that training being delivered by DfT grant is of the
quality expected.
.**
Q: What are the benefits of being registered with an ITO?**
A: Individual benefits will need to be agreed between the ITO and instructor.
However, as a minimum, registered trainers should have access to
continuous professional development opportunities and updates to the
National Standard for cycle training. Only instructors who are registered with
an ITO will be able to deliver Bikeability training and receive a DfT cycle
training grant.
**
Q: What will it cost to register with an ITO?**
A: It will be for individual ITO’s to decide whether they want to charge, and
if so how much.
**
Q: As an instructor, can I register with more than one ITO?**
A: Yes.

Q: Will being registered with a particular ITO constrain who freelance
instructors can work for?
A: No. Freelance instructors should be able to work for whichever training
organisation they wish.
**
Q: Can I move from one ITO to another?**
A: Yes. All ITO’s will have to have a process for allowing instructors who
have not been trained by them to register. Any criteria
that they wish to impose will be their decision.
**
Q: Do I have to register with a local ITO?**
A: No, you can register with any ITO.

Can you give a quick potted history and interpretation of these regulations, David? I mean who was after them and why, what it means in practice, etc.?

Oliver, this is all about quality control of the cycle training sector and is a better framework for ensuring Cycle Training is repected and professionalised than the ad hoc system that preceded.

Prior to today organisations able to accredit cycling instructor were called Instructor Training Providors (ITPs). Once instructors became fully accredited they had no link to their ITP, there was no obligation to undergo upkeep training or any professional development (CPD). There was little monitoring either of instructors or ITPs.

Now Instructors must do annual CPD. They will be in touch with their ITO and remain appraised of developments within the sector. They can be de-registered if they do not do this. ITO will offer a variety of services an instructor would find useful (Insurance, teaching resources, technical information, CPD training etc.)

ITOs will be inspected and will need to keep showing the Dft that they meet certain outcomes in terms of the quality of their instructor training. The ITOs will also form an expert group and inform the Govornment when it makes decisions around the National Standard syllabus and cycle training delivery.

This plan was set up by the previous govornment and continued by the current one which does suggest that they are taking National Standard cycle training seriously.

Good stuff, that's what I thought must be behind it. I'd heard about it before but wasn't sure that there was this continuity.

Which organisations have been accredited as an Instructor Training Organisation?

These are the names of the 18 organisation in Enland who have become an ITO
· Advanced Cycle Training
· BikeRight!
· British Cycling
· CTC
· Cycle Training UK Ltd
· Cycle Training West Midlands (Local Authority consortium)
· Cycle Experience
· Cycle Training East
· Cycling Instructor Ltd
· Cycling Solutions
· Devon County Council
· East Region (Local Authority consortium)
· Haddenham Cycle Training
· Life Cycle UK
· Outspoken
· Pedal Ready
· Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
· Wiltshire County Council

Does this mean that Instructor Training courses (leading to provisional accreditation) can only be run by ITOs?

Currently only ITPs can accredit National Standard instructors.
Now only ITOs will be able to do this.
(ITPs have 6 months grace before their status is completely removed)

Looks good as it takes things up a notch in terms of professional standards people can refer to.

Question about someone who, like me, has done the training course and delivered training under supervision but not yet accredited (sure there's more in this situ than just myself*)... will these folks be getting a letter about this? Or is it back to square one, meaning training need to be undertaken again if/when joining an ITO in the future?

*TBH, it's been long enough for me that I'm guessing my window to get accredited has expired.

not back to square one at all RHB.
There is a further 6 months to get yourself accredited. ITPs will continue for a further 6 months. Se get in touch with them to arrange your post course assessments

Nice one. Further complicated that I'm no longer in West Mids where I did my training... I'll do some digging to find out who/how I can get accredited in Manc. Bikeright maybe? Anyone else?

Looking forward to using CTUK as my ITO.

Is this a cycle trainer tax?

How so festus?

I suspect that membership will be free for many ITOs. (It will be for CTUK)
You or the organisation that employs will pay for some services which you would pay for anyway (For professional development, insurance, first aid training, other resources)

all good on the affiliation , should be able to con someone, I mean have the CPD paid for by work.

CTUK's ito website is up and they are taking preliminary registration for members.

www.cycletraininguk-ito.co.uk

Thanks, Fausto

Great thread skydancer.

I work for an ITP (not now an ITO) and this is the sort of information to communicate to our local instructors.

How so festus?

I suspect that membership will be free for many ITOs. (It will be for CTUK)
You or the organisation that employs will pay for some services which you would pay for anyway (For professional development, insurance, first aid training, other resources)

There IS the potential for ITO's to charge for this registration. If you don't work for one...
Though I am VERY interested in the professional development side of things.

There IS the potential for ITO's to charge for this registration. If you don't work for one...

So find one which doesn't charge - it's your choice, non? Oh to the glory of the free market!

Going over this from the perspective of some of our freelance instructors. To continue working for the local authority and doing Bikeability in school they have to join an ITO. This will be free in most cases.

But the CPD is compulsory. Will the authority pay for this? Or will they have to foot the bill? Say for example you do a relatively small amount of work, this may be uneconomical?

Will this end up favouring those that treat Instructing as a full time job? Will the part time Instructors be disadvantaged.

Just thinking out loud. Thoughts?

I imagine that in some cases the LA / scheme organiser will cover the CPD needs for in-house and contracted instructors whether part time or not.

Freelance instructors are in effect working for themselves running a busines offering their services to clients. As with any other profession it is the responsibility of any individual to ensure that their skill set is up to date and developing. It is perhaps a luxury to have an organisation pay for your skills development.

The best ones will pay for their staff to recieve free top up training as you might expect,
CTC have just informed me today that I am automatically registered with them for my ITO, we can be with 2 at once.
also
where on earth do we get our official full accreditation code, it aint on the certificate or under my listings either??

jason, You should have recieved your NSI number from the DfT in a letter when you became accredited