The National Occupational Standards for Learning, Development and Support Services ... (NOS LDSS) provide minimum standards of practice for the work of Learning Mentors, Education Welfare Officers and practitioners supporting children and young people (such as Connexions Personal Advisers in England). The NOS LDSS are underpinned by functional maps, which specifically describe the different roles covered.

The standards have enabled the construction of a national accredited training framework for roles covered by the standards. NVQs at levels 3 and 4 are now available, and a range of foundation degrees and related qualifications are also available or are in the process of being developed. The Learning Mentor Functional Map provides the nationally agreed description of the Learning Mentor role.

The "Ticket to the Future" publication provides in depth information and support in relation to the standards, their genesis and application, and the subsequent accredited training framework. The document has built in hyperlinks which can be followed by pressing the Ctrl and click keys.

"The Ticket to the Future" was produced by members of the Learning Mentor Strand Co-ordinator Peer Support Team and a task group consisting of Learning Mentors from around the country.

The Catalogue of Units within the Occupational Standards can be viewed at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/childrenandfamilies/cat.shtml .

Details of the NVQ provision can be viewed at the awarding body websites:

• Edexcel
• OCR

A range of downloadable documents related to the standards are available below.