CYCLE EXPERIENCE's INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
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~ Assistant Instructor ~

 
AI vs. NSI
Background reading
Statement of fact
Nat. Standards and Bikeability

Course Content
Course Requirements


Hello and welcome to Cycle Experience ..

Cycle Experience supports local authorities, other public sector bodies and commercial organisations to help get more people cycling, more safely, more often.

Recently ratified by the CTSB (Cycle Training Standards Board)

New 'Assistant Instructor' 2 Day Training Course
Tuesday, 4th August 2009

A new, two day Assistant Instructor course, ratified by the DfT, has just been announced by the CTSB. The course is designed for those with a general interest and enthusiasm for cycling (this may include existing volunteers or young leaders from School Sports Partnerships) to provide support to local National Standard schemes in a professional capacity on Level 1 and Level 2 courses.

Cycle Experience can offer you these courses straightaway. The training will be very useful in bringing your existing assistants up to date with Bikeability and also in attracting new recruits to school based cycle training.  Contact Andrew Dade to discuss the details of booking and running an Assistant Instructor course in your area - alternatively watch this space as we hope to run a course in Cornwall in the spring of 2010.

Cycle Experience is run by people with extensive experience in cycle training and promotion services.  We are all members of the CTC and are Sustrans supporters.  Each of us is committed to the goal of getting more people cycling for the many benefits it brings.  Whether you are looking to encourage cycling to help reduce congestion, improve health, reduce CO2 emissions or meet Travel Plan obligations talk to us as our approach is to do all we can to get more people, cycling more safely, more often.


Dear potential Trainee Assistant Instructor

If you are considering becoming an Assistant National Standards Instructor, hopefully the following will give you some idea of what it entails.  Perhaps you are a parent who has already worked with a local fully fledged National Standards Instructor and enjoyed it so much you now wish to formalize your position but due to your family commitments, are not able to commit to being a Lead Instructor qualified to National Standards (NSI). 

Later on however, if your circumstances change and you wish to take it further it will be possible to upgrade to a fully fledge National Standard Instructor.  A program is currently being developed to bridge the gap, allowing qualified Assistant Instructors to be able to do this without going through the 4 day NSI course.

- The courses generally speaking, tend to run from 09:00 – 16:00 each day for a duration of two days although we are flexible and would
   negotiate alternatives subject to where you will be coming from and problems those particular times might create for you. 

- It covers the theory and a wide range of practical exercises involved in the delivery of Levels 1 and 2 of the National Standards for Cycle
  Training. The course is delivered by our most senior Instructors who have wide experience in training both children and adults, in groups
   and as individuals.

- The course involves a range of teaching methods both to give you the necessary learning experience and keep the course interactive.  Please
   be prepared to join in with all the activities whether they be classroom or road-side based.

 - Prior to any course commencing however we recommend that you to do some background reading, in particular the latest version of the
  Highway Code (HMSO, ISBN: 0115528148) and Cyclecraft by John Franklin (ISBN: 0117037400).

- Fees for 'local-to-you' run courses by local Instructor Trainers are determined on an individual basis and are available on application to Cycle
  Experience
on 0845 434 8451 or email info@CycleExperience.com

- We also recommend that you look at the Bikeability website which holds a lot of useful cycle training information. www.bikeability.org.uk.

By agreeing to attend an Assistant Instructor Training Course you are stating that:

  •  You are medically fit, having no medical or other conditions that may affect taking part in the course
  •  You are aware the course involves riding a bike for a significant period of each day.
  •  You understand that as an Assistant Instructor, you must always work in conjunction with a fully qualified National Standards Instructor.
  •  Lastly but not least, that you are a proficient cyclist yourself to be able to confidently demonstrate what you will be teaching.
  •  - For those of you being sponsored through the course by Cycle Experience or any other organisation then any fee payment arrangements will
       need to be negotiated on an individual basis with the
    organisation
    concerned.

      

     Course Requirements:

  • Be able to cycle competently and confidently and have recent, preferably regular, experience of a variety of modern traffic conditions

  • Be a good team player and able to take direction when working in tandem with a National Standard Instructor

  • Understand principles of safe cycling; be familiar with current theory or be prepared to learn about this

  • Be friendly, tolerant and outgoing and able to empathise with the problems that the clients may experience

  • Possess good organisational skills

  • Be good listeners and have good communication skills

  • Be able to stay calm in all situations

  • Be punctual, reliable and trustworthy

  •  

     

    Course Content:

  • Explanation and development of the National Standards levels

  • Safety and risk assessment training, both static and dynamic

  • Instructor teaching theory and practice, especially the questioning methodology

  • Planning and preparation necessary to be an effective instructor

  • Bike and helmet fitting

  • Basic bike maintenance and adjustment

  • Explanation and demonstration of varying cycle drills for each manoeuvre and each level

  • Peer led simulated training sessions

  • Child protection awareness

  •  


    This is usually covered in a traffic free environment. Those completing Level 1 will be able to demonstrate the skills and understanding to be able to make a trip and undertake activities safely in a motor traffic free environment and as a pre-requisite to a road trip.



    This is covered on quiet roads but with real traffic conditions. Those completing Level 2 will be able to demonstrate the skills and understanding to be able to make a trip safely to school, work or leisure on quiet roads.

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    NB Please be aware that successfully gaining your provisional National Standards accreditation does not mean that you are also Bikeability accredited, for more information please go to the Professional pages of the Bikeability website