If you want to learn more about creating great driving lessons then you should consider becoming familiar with the DVSA driving syllabus.
Who is this Syllabus for? This Syllabus is for the learner (provisional or full licence holders) and the trainer
All references in this syllabus to ‘trainer’ include approved driving instructors (ADIs) and any competent, qualified person supporting the learner. Anybody wishing to conduct training in any element of this Syllabus must make sure that they meet all legal requirements.
How to use this Syllabus The Syllabus is divided into four units.
Unit 1 Prepare a vehicle and its occupants for a journey
Unit 2 Guide and control a vehicle
Unit 3 Drive a vehicle in accordance with The Highway Code
Unit 4 Drive safely and efficiently
However, the underpinning research indicates that the process of learning to drive safely and responsibly needs to be approached in a joined-up way if it is to be successful.
Therefore it is important that drivers and trainers do not see these units as ‘boxes’ that can be ‘ticked-off’ one- by-one and in isolation. The route taken through the material by each learner may differ.
It is important that learners and trainers all understand that a driver can only be said to be competent when they understand how the content of the units fits together. In developing the National Standard for Driving the DVSA has made the assumption that further improvements in road-safety will follow if newly qualified drivers can develop a greater awareness of the risks associated with driving, learn to actively reflect on their own driving performance and take steps to improve where they see areas that require further development
To support these objectives the DVSA believes that the learning-to-drive process should be ‘client-centred’. This means that there should be an emphasis on transferring ownership of the learning process to the client at the earliest possible stage.
You may also want to consider finding out more about the Goals for Driver Education and I will go into more details in a later blog.
Being familiar with the both the DVSA syllabus and the Goals for Driver Education, is essential for being able to deliver great driving lessons.
Let me give you some insight about one of the units as it is about, what we all tend to focus on when delivering driver training.
Unit 2, states that the driver should be able to guide and control their vehicle safely and responsibly, taking into account road, traffic and weather conditions. This unit is based on the understanding that driving is a complex task; it involves taking in a large amount of information and responding to it appropriately.
To be able to do this a driver must be able to constantly scan the world around them, understand what is happening and identify possible hazards and risks. A key part of being able to manage this complexity is the ability to master basic driving skills, such as steering and coordinating the use of controls, so that the driver does not have to think about doing them.
Acquiring these skills will provide a driver with the basic blocks on which they can then build. It is important, therefore, that the client works through any factors or issues that are getting in the way of their learning. It is also important that they get as much supervised practice as they reasonably can. Accompanying drivers can play a vital part in this process.
Each unit is presented in the following way:
· Unit aim – gives an indication of the areas to be covered and why this is important in the lifelong learning-to-drive process · Learning outcomes – provides a brief overview of what the learning outcome will be as a result of studying the unit · What you need to be able to do – to demonstrate that you have achieved the learning outcomes · What you need to know and understand – to enable you to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes.
If you want to learn more about the DVSA Driving Syllabus, then you can download the syllabus by following the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-and-small-van-driving-syllabus, Download the syllabus by following this link
Supporting documentation
The syllabus is based on the ‘National Standard for driving cars and light vans (category B)’, available at www.gov.uk/dvsa/driving-standards.
Trainers should also refer to the ‘National standard for driver and rider training’, also available at www.gov.uk/dvsa/driving-standards.
Detailed information can also be obtained from the following publications · Department for Transport – The Official Highway Code (Revised 2007 edition) (TSO, 2007) ISBN: 9780115528149 (also available as an e-book or mobile phone application) · Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency – The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – The Essential Skills (TSO, 2010) ISBN: 9780115531347 · Department for Transport – Know Your Traffic Signs (Fifth edition 2007) (TS0, 2007) ISBN: 9780115528552
To book your place Part 3 & Standards Check Zoom Workshop Monday October 2nd – Graham Hooper Coaching, Mentoring and Training Blog
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