Student Policy for Family Mediation Foundation Training
National Family Mediation (NFM) aims to ensure all students can study and perform to the best of their ability, in a safe and comfortable learning environment. NFM recognises that each student is an individual and will be treated with respect.
On occasions, it is necessary to review an individual’s ability to study and is able to cope with the demands of the course and whether a student is fit to continue with their studies.
NFM acknowledges that students can encounter circumstances that negatively impact their studies, and/or performance in assessments/observation of live practice.
The student should make every effort to ensure that they are fit to study throughout the period the training and that they are able to undertake assessments – written and practical within the timeframe of the course they have been allocated to.
If the student feels that there are personal circumstances that are affecting them adversely, it is their responsibility to seek timely help either by contacting the trainer or directly to NFM Training Support. Personal Circumstances are those that are beyond a student’s control, and have a notable impact on the ability to attend, perform in, or complete assessments.
NFM may request personal circumstances evidence and it can use its discretion dependent on the circumstances.
NFM acknowledges that as a result of implementing this policy it will receive personal data of a confidential and sensitive nature and shall ensure that all such data is handled, processed and stored accordingly.
Student Policy – Procedure
Pre entry :
It is the responsibility of prospective students to disclose any needs related to their mental or physical health at application point. This information does not normally adversely affect any offer of a place.
NFM will aim to make reasonable adjustments in consideration of each student’s learning needs so they meet a competency or standard, however adjustments cannot be made if adjustments affect the competency or standard itself. Therefore, a decision will need to be made before a student starts a course, and at relevant points within the programme, as to whether they will be able to meet all the competencies of the course.
Where appropriate NFM will ask the student to work with the allocated trainer to organise a study plan.
Stage 2 – Emerging Concerns
This applies where emerging concerns about a student’s achievement has been raised as a result of work submitted during Module 1.
The trainer will request assignment re-submissions for the student to be able to achieve the Pass Grade. Students are limited to a maximum of two re-submissions.
Emerging concerns can also be during the observed practical assessment during Module 2.
The student must achieve a Pass Grade for the Statement of Child Arrangements and achieve a required level of observed mediator skills.
At this stage discussions with the student will involve establishing whether reasonable adjustments can be put in place to enable the student to continue the course.
Stage 3- Continuing and No Progress Concerns
This applies where concerns about a student’s continuing low achievement and lack of progress has been raised as a result of work submitted during Module 3 and/or during the observed practical assessment during Module 4.
The student must achieve a Pass Grade for the Memorandum of Understanding and the Open Financial Statement and achieve a required level of observed mediator skills.
If a student fails to achieve the required Pass Grade due to documented mitigating personal circumstances, the initial attempt may be disregarded. Discussions will involve clarifying the trainer feedback and a re-submission will be permitted. A fresh attempt will be allowed. Only 1 re-submission is permitted.
During the discussion, support options will be considered however it will not be possible for students to automatically transfer to an alternative course delivery at a later date.
Should the student wish to transfer to a future delivery the full course fee would have to be charged.
Certificate of Completion
NFM realises that failure to achieve the FMT Certificate of Completion would be disappointing for a student, however, the FMT course is approved by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) and they are subject to standards imposed by the Family Mediation Standards Board. All students must therefore achieve the required standard of skills and understanding.
A Certificate of Completion will be issued if all the evidence from the student meets the required grades.
However, the Certificate might not be issued:
- If the student has failed to attend, and participate in, the live training sessions or complete the online learning materials fully.
- If the student has failed to produce written assignments and relevant mediation documents to the required standard and to demonstrate their understanding and skill against the FMC Professional Standards Competencies.
- If the student does not wish to
If the Certificate of Completion has to be withheld, the NFM Training Team will work with the student to provide advice as to what is needed to progress their mediation career, if that is what the student wants.
Important Notes for Students
Students need to participate fully in the FMT course and take responsibility for their own learning.
It is the responsibility of the student to raise any questions or describe any lack of understanding having worked through the online materials and handouts fully.
You are responsible for ensuring that you are available for all necessary live training sessions which are formally assessed.
You are expected to carefully check the dates and times of assessment submissions.
Failure to submit work will mean the Module will not be achieved. All Modules must achieve a Pass Grade in order for the course to be fully signed off.
Students are responsible in keeping their assignment work safe. It is the student’s responsibility to make a back-up of their work.
If the student fails to submit and assessed work, this results in a Grade 0 (zero). Failing to submit work, without good cause, can lead to failing the Module, and in most cases, a requirement to withdraw from the course.
If the student submits work that does not make the Grade the trainer will give clear feedback for a resubmission. Re-assessment will be made once the student has revisited the relevant learning materials/handouts/live training notes.
If the student’s work is identified as plagiarised this can result in a Grade of 0 (zero) for the assessment and, depending on the severity, failure of the entire Module or even the entire course.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
NFM course materials (online and offline) are copyright protected. This includes all content unless otherwise noted. The contents may not be copied and republished in any format, whole or in part. This includes (for example, but not limited to) copying text, copying pictures or video, copying images for use in commercial purposes, copying review content (narrative, video or pictures), or copying any other content.
All material is the intellectual property of NFM. Material is made available purely for the benefit of NFM’s individual students for their own personal use throughout the NFM course.
During the student’s use of the NFM Training website, NFM gathers ‘industry standard’ data from the student, which includes: user name (email address) and IP address. Our server maintains a log of your access including time of logon, activity and log off. This data is used by the trainer so they know of student online activity and their progress.
By default each student’s email address is visible to others within the same learning group. Each student can edit their profile to hide the email address if they wish.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about courses provided by NFM please contact us via the website or email TrainingSupport@nfm.org.uk. One of our managers will contact you within 10 working days (excepting periods of closure, normally Christmas and bank holidays).
The manager will investigate your complaint and aim to provide a satisfactory way forward within a further 10 working days.
Rights & Responsibilities of NFM
NFM understands that as a client of NFM you expect the website to be online and available at all times. However, we can make no guarantees as to the ‘up time’ of the site as this is beyond our control. For example, routing, server, Internet, hardware and software problems completely beyond our control may occur. We host with a commercial company that guarantees (to us) 99.9%+ up time in order to minimise down time but accept no responsibility if the site goes offline.