Become an approved learning environment in the South West
As a learning environment, you have the opportunity to guide and shape our future primary care workforce.
As the NHS transforms to bring care closer to communities through the 10-Year Health Plan, approved learning environments play a vital role in preparing aspiring GPs and multi-professional primary care learners with the skills and confidence to deliver excellent patient care.
Becoming an approved learning environment allows you to attract and retain high-quality staff. Integrating training can drive excellence across your multidisciplinary teams so they are equipped to meet the evolving needs of your community.
As a learning environment, you have the opportunity to lead the way in primary care training. Increasing your training capacity allows you to strengthen your legacy, continuously enhance patient care and foster a culture of continuous learning so your multidisciplinary teams are equipped to meet the evolving needs of your community.
You are needed now more than ever to shape the future of primary care.
Dr Tom Farmer, a GP in Bristol, said: “I’ve always enjoyed being involved with medical education, so becoming a GP trainer felt like a natural next step. I liked the idea of sharing my experiences in primary care and hoped it would give me a fresh challenge and add more variety to my working week. It’s about guiding, supporting and learning together. It adds variety to the working week and reminds you why you went into general practice in the first place.”
The benefits of becoming an approved learning environment
Becoming an approved learning environment allows you to:
- attract and retain high-quality staff
- create a culture of continuous learning across your team
- guide excellence across your multidisciplinary teams
- contribute directly to solving primary care workforce challenges
- shape the future of primary care training in your community
Resident doctors and healthcare learners bring fresh perspectives, additional clinical capacity and specialist skills from recent rotations. Many practices find that hosting learners improves team morale and identifies opportunities for practice improvements.
Approval process
We have simplified the approval process to make it easier for practices and Primary Care Networks (PCN) to get started. Instead of multiple separate approvals for different learner groups, a single approval covers your organisation for all multi-professional learners.
Approval can be granted to:
- individual GP practices
- Primary Care Networks (PCN footprint)
This streamlined approach reduces the number of approval visits and audits required whilst ensuring high-quality learning experiences for all learners.
Watch our video to hear from practices and stakeholders about their experience of the approval process.
[Button: application process for becoming an approved learning environment
Support at every step
Your local Training Hub provides comprehensive support throughout the approval process. They will help you:
- understand the requirements
- complete your application
- prepare for the approval panel visit
- address any areas for improvement
Hear from primary care GP educators working in an approved learning environments
Interested in becoming an approved learning environment but want to know more about how it works in practice? Read our case studies to discover the benefits for you, your service and patients.
Further information
Find out more about the requirements for becoming an approved learning environment in the South West below:
- applying to become an approved learning environment
- resources and guidance for becoming an approved learning environment
- approved learning environment frequently asked questions
- guidance on maintaining your approved learning environment status
Contact us
If you have any questions about becoming an approved learning environment, email the Training Hub Quality team at england.traininghubquality.sw@nhs.net
Local Training Hubs
Local contacts:
- Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire: bnssg.training.hub@nhs.net
- Bath Swindon and Wiltshire: bswicb.traininghub@nhs.net
- Cornwall: kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net
- Devon: devon.traininghub@nhs.net
- Gloucestershire: glccg.pcwc@nhs.net
- Somerset: somersetlmc.office@nhs.net
- Please note Dorset Training Hub is currently aligned to the South East for this work.
Applying to become an approved learning environment
Becoming an approved learning environment, also known as the learning organisation approval process, is more achievable than many think. The approval process typically takes around 6 months from start to finish. Your Training Hub will support you throughout, helping coordinate the application and connecting you with the right people.
Overview
The learning organisation approval process offers a streamlined route for Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GP practices in the South West to become approved settings for multi-professional healthcare learners.
This unified approach brings together NHS England, NMC, GMC and Advanced Education Institution audits into a single process, reducing the number of reapproval visits and audits required. The process is aligned with the NHS England Quality Framework and its six domains:
- learning environment and culture
- educational governance and leadership
- supporting and empowering learners
- supporting and empowering educators
- developing and implementing curricula and assessments
- developing a sustainable workforce
What you need to demonstrate
To gain approval, you must show that you have:
- governance and infrastructure to provide safe, high-quality learner experiences
- knowledge of learner contract requirements (working time directives, leave entitlements)
- appropriate clinical and educational supervision arrangements
- support from your wider team including practice managers, receptionists, and other clinical staff
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: identify your learners
Consider which learners you currently host or wish to host. This includes learners who attract tariff or trainer grant. The types of learners will inform who needs to be involved in the approval process.
Step 2: nominate a link contact
Identify a PCN Education Lead, Clinical Director or PCN Manager to coordinate the process. Arrange an informal meeting with your local Training Hub Quality Lead to clarify requirements.
Step 3: complete the application form
Your link contact will complete the Learning Organisation application form, requesting input from component practices and supervisors. Consider:
- drafting initial responses
- asking practice managers and supervisors to contribute
- highlighting strengths, achievements and areas of challenge
Step 4: submit your application
Submit your completed application to your local Training Hub. Suggest preferred dates for an approval panel visit.
Step 5: panel visit preparation
Your local Training Hub will support you in organising and arranging a panel visit. This will include preparing the following in advance of the visit:
The Training Hub will convene a panel representing your learners, which may include:
- Training Hub quality representative or clinical lead
- approved education institutions representative
- School of Primary Care Associate Dean
- relevant trainers (Educational or Clinical Supervisors)
- learner representatives (where possible)
Step 6: attend the approval panel visit
This 2-4 hour meeting can be held in person, virtually or as a hybrid. It replaces the previous half-day practice reapproval meetings. Consider who should represent your organisation, including lead supervisors for each learner group and practice managers.
Step 7: receive feedback
The panel chair will provide brief feedback including a recommendation on approval.
Step 8: formal decision
The panel lead submits a report to the NHS England South West Quality Assurance Group for Primary Care Learning Organisations, who make the formal approval decision. Any required actions will be detailed with appropriate timeframes.
Approval
Once approved, you can begin hosting learners and will engage with ongoing quality processes. If there are significant changes to your organisation or the learners you want to host, please send information of the change through the online change form where you will be contacted regarding any additional steps you may need to make to facilitate this. You will also be required to complete an Annual Return through the NHSE SW Annual return process when requested.
Resources and guidance for approved learning environments
Access the guidance documents, forms and resources you need to apply for and maintain your approved learning environment status.
Guidance documents
Application materials
Guidance for maintaining your approved learning environment status
Once approved, you will engage with ongoing quality monitoring to ensure continued high standards for learners.
| Annual returns | Potential timeline |
| Following your Learning Organisation approval you will need to engage with the Annual Returns process. This process is currently in development and details will be published when they are confirmed. | To be completed annually |
| Training Hub Business Coordinator sends out the online Annual Return Form for the Learning Organisations to complete. Learning Organisations will be given 4 weeks to complete the form. | November |
| Annual Review of Learning Organisations day. To include representation from the WT&E Quality team, Training Hubs and AEI’s. This day will be an opportunity to share best practice and discuss the Learning Organisations. | March – April |
Ongoing quality monitoring
Assurance is monitored through:
- The Learning Organisation Annual Return
- quality panels
- National Student Survey (NSS)
- National Training Survey (NTS)
- National Education and Training Survey (NETS)
- approved education institution processes
If any areas for improvement are identified during reviews, these will be clearly recorded and reported back to you with:
- an action owner
- a timeframe for completion
Concerns are managed through the processes outlined in the Quality Framework.
Contact us
Contact your local Training Hub or email england.traininghubquality.sw@nhs.net