Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service

Who are we?

• • Small committed service situated within Customer Services and Libraries

• Contracted by the Skills Funding Agency to deliver informal adult learning opportunities to local communities

What do we do?

• Commission and deliver informal adult and family learning

• Courses delivered in Community venues

• Courses range from 1 to 60 hours

• Main areas of delivery are ICT, Art and Preparation for Life and Work (including Family Learning)

Adult Learning

• Subcontracted to 21 providers

• 4 Colleges, Voluntary and Community Sector, Libraries, Herts Music Service

• 15,208 Enrolments• 11,841 Learners

Family Learning• Direct Delivery of

Family Learning• Targeted provision • Schools and Children’s

Centres• 3,370 enrolments• 2,817 learners• 352 achieved

qualifications

Who we deliver to….

• 39% of delivery in the Top 50 most deprived wards in Hertfordshire

• 16% BME learners

• 26% are aged over 60

• 16% are learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities

• 3.4 % have mental health problems

What learners say……

• Better than cigarettes, anti-depressants and drink!

• I learnt how to keep safe and keep my partner safe when we are out’

• Thanks to your help, I got the job I wanted which I could not have done before these lessons

Project work• Community Learning

Champions• Self-organised learning

groups• Sustainability/green

projects• Civic engagement• Courses in residential

homes

Funding and Targets

• 2011-12 HAFLS received £2.7 million

• Target 13,248 learners

• 15% of the budget for management costs

• 85% of the budget covers commissioned provision and the direct delivery Family Learning Team

Ofsted –November 2008

• “The council’s strategy to develop provision to meet the needs and interests of the most vulnerable communities across Hertfordshire is very effective.”

• Service graded “satisfactory” overall

• Family Learning, Equality and Diversity and Capacity to improve graded “Good”

Current Developments in Informal Adult and Community Learning

• National Budget protected until 2015

• National Review of Adult Safeguarded Learning as part of the reform of Further Education

• New Vision for IACL

• Piloting of Community Learning Trusts

• More accountability to local communities

Purpose of Government Supported Community Learning

• Maximise access to community learning for adults, bringing new opportunities and improving lives, whatever people’s circumstances.

• Promote social renewal by bringing local communities together to experience the joy of learning and the pride that comes with achievement.

• Maximise the impact of community learning on the social and economic well-being of individuals, families and communities

Future Developments

What might this new vision for informal adult and community learning

look like in Hertfordshire?