Adult Learning and Leisure LSRN Seminar

 

Community based Learning and the Skills Strategy

7 July 2006

Steve Lay

Somerset County Council

Adult Learning & Leisure

• Meeting the needs of learners at entry and level one• The delivery of return to learn courses• Providing local community-based learning opportunities

across Somerset in a wide range of venues at all times of the year

• Providing access to essential skills • Engaging with disaffected and hard to reach learners• Recreational learning• Developing skills within Somerset’s workforce

It is Adult Learning and Leisure’s intention to develop a reputation for excellence in:

Adult Learning & Leisure Vision

• Equality and diversity• Continuous quality improvement• Social inclusion• Community cohesion• Economic regeneration

‘Excellent Learning and Leisure opportunities for everyone’

Adult Learning Inspectorate

• Report published in February 2006• 21 Inspectors – 156 inspector days• 609 learner interviews• 180 visits to centres• 52 partner/external agency interviews• 228 interviews with staff• 206 lessons observed – totalling 93 hours

Inspection outcomes

• Ali ‘Bronze’ Award• Lesson Observations: 55% Outstanding or Good

38% Satisfactory7% Inadequate

• Leadership and Management – Grade 2 (Good)• Equality of Opportunity – Grade 2• Capacity to make further improvements – Grade 2• Community Development – Grade 2• Health, public services and care – Grade 2• Preparation for life and work, contributory grade:

Return to Learn – Grade 2

• Strong strategic leadership• Good management of change• Productive partnership arrangements• Good promotion of equality and diversity• Successful initiatives to widen participation

Key findings:

• Skills for Life – literacy and numeracy• Full Level 2 provision• Employer Engagement – Workforce reform• Family Learning• Personal and Community Development

Learning

Adult Learning and Leisure Priorities

• Vulnerable groups• First steps learning• Community groups• Adults from deprived wards• Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived

Communities (NLDC)

Partnership Development

• One third of users travel less than a mile• Use of over 400 community venues• Significant premises improvements• Extensive use of Somerset Total

Communication

Accessibility

• Disability and Minority Ethnic Workers• 60 Learning Support Workers• 8 Learning Advisers• Impartial information advice and guidance• 10 Widening Participation Project Workers

Equality and Diversity

• Personalised learning programmes• Support for Carers• Health and well-being – fitness and leisure• Partnership for Older People Project• Voluntary and Community Sector enabling

partnerships• LearnDirect partnership with Cultural Service

(Libraries)

‘Independence, Well-being and Choice’

• Family Learning projects with Heritage Service• ESF ESOL project• Economic Regeneration – Train to Gain bid• Workforce Reform• Children and Young Peoples Plan

‘Independence, Well-being and Choice’ – Cont ..

• What next?• Reading the crystal ball• Skills needed for the future?

Conclusion