A. Learners are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning.

B. The provision of study materials to learners is prompt and timely.

C. Guidance on study skills is provided for all learners.

D. If a significant element of the provision is technology-based, the provider ensures that the learner understands the system requirements.

E. Tutorial support is normally integral to all provision. Where this is not the case, the course material or other provision is capable of achieving its stated outcomes without such support, and the absence of such support is clearly indicated in all publicity and course material.

F. Any tutorial support offered is of sufficient quality to meet the reasonable needs of learners.

Tutors will:
1. have a sound understanding and up-to-date knowledge of their subject;
2. know how learners learn, and help their students to learn how to learn;
3. communicate enthusiasm for the subject, and for learning, to their students;
4. show sensitivity to individual differences in ability and learning styles;
5. understand the special requirements of open and distance learning;
6. communicate clearly, consistently, conscientiously, constructively and quickly with their students;
7. encourage their students at all times;
8. provide feedback on overall progress in relation to the agreed outcome of the course;
9. make effective use of feedback from learners to enhance their own performance as tutors.

G. Access to tutors is on a sufficient, regular and, wherever possible, individual and flexible basis, which is known to both tutors and learners.

H. Appropriate schedules for the submission and return of tutorial assignments are adopted and communicated to learners. Turnaround times are kept to a minimum.

I. All enquiries from learners are handled promptly and sympathetically by a person competent to do so.

J. All learners are encouraged to complete their courses.

Providers are encouraged to investigate cases of withdrawal.

K. Learner progress is monitored on a regular, on-going basis, and learners are provided with prompt, helpful and encouraging comments on their progress in relation to learning expectations and goals.

In particular:
1. Early contact with a learner is initiated by the provider whenever difficulties occur arising from the non-submission of assignments by the appropriate deadline, or the submission of unsatisfactory work.
2. Care is taken to support and encourage learners who submit unsatisfactory work; learning support is only withdrawn after all reasonable efforts have been made to overcome their problems.
3. If the provider has significant doubts that the learner is ready to undertake a particular examination or piece of practical work, the learner is advised of those doubts. In cases where any risk to third parties is involved, the provider must reserve the right to prevent the learner from undertaking that piece of work, and the learner must have been informed of that right prior to enrolment.

L. Resource centres of supplementary materials are made available wherever possible.

M. Peer group interaction and support for distance learners is encouraged and facilitated wherever possible through newsletters, new technologies or other means.