FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Failure to submit the Adult Learning Plan 2002/3 to the Local Learning and Skills by the required date of 28th March 2002 may jeopardise the funding of £177,351 which has been provisionally allocated to the Local Education Authority to deliver the adult education programme.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
Under the Learning and Skills Act 2000 the Learning and Skills Council has the primary responsibility for all adult and youth learning. The Act amended the duties of LEAs in the field of adult education.
The Learning and Skills Act 2000 included a legal duty upon the Local Learning and Skills Council to consult ‘any relevant local authority’ (clause 22 (5) b) and to include in its plan a statement about what education and training it would like the LEA to run.
A new duty upon LEAs is set out in clause 23.
‘If a local education authority does not secure the provision of education and training (and connected leisure time occupation) in accordance with the provision included in a plan under clause 22 (3) the Secretary of State may direct the authority to do so.’
‘The authority must act in accordance with the direction, but only if the Council provides it with any financial resources which the authority reasonably requires it to do so.’
OPTIONS
1. To support the Isle of Wight Adult Learning Plan for 2002/03 and recommend its adoption by Full Council
2. To propose amendments to the Isle of Wight Adult Learning Plan for 2002/03 prior to recommending adoption by Full Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Option 1
BACKGROUND PAPERS
Isle of Wight Adult Learning Plan 2000-2002
Learning and Skills Council Guidance on Adult Learning Plans 2002/3
Contact Point: Jo Treagus, F 823823
|
A KAYE Strategic Director Education and Community Development |
P HARRIS Portfolio Holder - Education and Community Development |
ISLE OF WIGHT
ADULT LEARNING PLAN
2002 – 2003
LEA: Isle of Wight
LEA Number : 921
Name and address of LEA contact
officer:
Jo Treagus
Lifelong Learning Officer
Education and Community Development Directorate
Guildhall
High Street
NEWPORT
Isle of Wight PO30 1TY
Telephone: (01983) 823823
Fax: (01983 823841)
E-mail: [email protected]
CONTENTS
Section 1.0 Local Authority Details Page 4
1.1 Name and contact details of
LEA contact officer Page 4
Section 2.0 Introduction Page 4
2.1 Main Aims Page
5
2.2 Purpose Page
5
2.3 Beliefs Page
5
2.4 Aims of Providers Page
6
Section 3.0 Overall
Needs Analysis Page 6
3.1 Needs Analysis Areas of
Provision Page 8
3.2 Consultation Page
10
Section 4.0 Strategic
Objectives Page 10
4.1 Retention Targets Page
10
4.2 Learner Numbers Page
10
4.3 Learning Providers Strategic
Objectives Page
11
4.4 Withdrawal of Provision Page
12
Section 5.0 Coherence
With Other Provision Page
12
5.1 Learning Providers Page
13
Section 6.0 Basic
Skills Page 13
6.1 Community Basic Skills
Project Page
13
6.2 Changing Lives Page
14
6.3 Family Learning Centre Page
14
Section 7.0 Widening
Participation Page 15
7.1 Adult Education Programme Page
15
7.2 Family Learning Page
15
Section 8.0 Learner
Recruitment Page 16
8.1 Table of Planned Learner
Numbers Page
16
8.2 Make up of Adult Population Page
16
Section 9.0 Family
Learning Provision Page
16
9.1 Target numbers for Family
Learning Programme 2002/3 Page
17
Section 10.0 Family
Literacy and/or Numeracy Provision Page
18
Section 11.0 Working
In Partnership Page
19
Section 12.0 Access
to ICT for Learners Page 20
Section 13.0 Fees
and Fees Policies Page
20
Section 14.0 Learner
Support Page
21
Section 15.0 Learning
Support Page
22
Section 16.0 Risk
Analysis Page
22
Section 17.0 Data
Collection and MIS Infrastructure Page
23
Section 18.0 Sub
Contracting Page
23
Section 19.0 Accommodation
Strategy Page 24
Section 20.0 Staffing Page 25
Section 21.0 Accountability
and Governance Page 25
Section 22.0 Audit Page 26
Section 23.0 Quality
Assurance Page
26
Section 24.0 Quality
Awards Page
27
Section 25.0 LSC
Performance Review Page 28
Section 26.0 Equality
and Diversity Page
28
Section 27.0 Disability
Statement Page
29
Section 28.0 Health
and Safety Page
29
Appendices Page 31
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL
ADULT LEARNING PLAN
ACADEMIC YEAR 2002/3
1.0 LOCAL AUTHORITY DETAILS
County Hall
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 1UD
LEA: Isle of Wight
LEA Number: 921
1.1 Name and Contact Details of LEA contact
officer
Jo Treagus
Lifelong Learning
Officer
Tel: 01983 823823
Fax: 01983 823841
E-mail: [email protected]
INTRODUCTION
The Local Education
Authority (LEA) of the Isle of Wight Council is required under the Learning and
Skills Act 2000 to secure Adult and Community Learning provision on the Isle of
Wight in agreement with the Local Learning and Skills Council. The LEA
encompaces the Education and Community Development Directorate which has it’s
headquarters in Newport. Responsibility for Adult and Community Learning lies
jointly between the Assistant Director of Educational Effectiveness and
Lifelong Learning and the Assistant Director of Community Development. They are
assisted by a Lifelong Learning Officer. The Isle of Wight Council do not
provide learning directly and thus have no other staff involved in the
management of Adult and Community Learning.
The LEA has
contracted over the past year for the core provision with two learning
providers, the Isle of Wight College Adult Education Division and the East
Cowes Family Learning Centre. The College provides the leisure programme (old
non schedule 2) and the Family Learning Centre provides primarily literacy and
numeracy and personal development programmes. The College programme is provided
at the main College campus and in community locations across the Island whilst
the Family Learning Programme is provided through local schools.
In addition to the
core provision additional project based programmes aimed at widening
participation, social inclusion and community regeneration are provided through
contracts with the Workers Education Association (WEA), Isle of Wight College Learning Support Unit and Platform
One. It is proposed to continue with this range of provision in the academic
year 2002/3.
2.1 Main Aims
The main aim of the
Isle of Wight Council is :-
·
To improve Island
Life.
To achieve this aim
it has developed seven corporate objectives two of which specifically relate to
education and development.
·
C.2 To raise
standards of achievement, encourage learning and promote opportunities for all.
·
C.3 To develop the knowledge and skills needed
for employment opportunities.
To support the
Council in achieving these objectives the Education and Community Development
Directorate has published a Strategic Plan for the period 2000-2003 detailing
it’s purpose, beliefs and values and setting out it’s key strategic objectives
as shown below.
2.2 Purpose
To secure the highest quality educational, learning and cultural opportunities throughout life for the whole population of the Isle of Wight.
2.3 Beliefs
·
Every individual in
the community should have the opportunity to achieve the very highest that
their potential will allow.
·
Education, learning
and culture should enable the development and strengthening of the community as
well as the individual.
·
Education, learning
and cultural opportunities should be available and accessible to every member
of the community.
·
Services should be
relevant and provided in as effective, efficient and economic a manner as
possible.
The sixty objectives
in the Strategic Plan are linked to one of the four strategic themes of :-
·
Raising Achievement
·
Community Learning
·
Inclusion
·
Best Value
To support the
achievement of these strategic objectives the Adult Learning Plan for 2001-2002
has been published stating it’s three primary objectives :
·
To secure effective
and practical partnership between providers, the community and individuals to
promote and facilitate lifelong learning.
·
To promote and secure
coherent, cost effective and high quality provision.
·
To achieve increased
levels of participation and progression for targeted groups within the
community.
2.4 Aims
of Providers
The aims of the
Learning Providers with whom the Isle of Wight Council contract all contribute
to helping the Council achieve the objectives of the Adult Learning Plan. These
aims are shown below.
Isle
of Wight College
The Isle of Wight College aims
to develop the full potential of each member of the college community through
viable and high quality training.
WEA
The WEA exists primarily to
provide adults with access to experience of organised learning which develops
intellectual understanding, confidence, and social or collective
responsibility.
Family Learning
3.0 OVERALL
NEEDS ANALYSIS
The Adult Learning
Plan for 2000/2002 continued to build on the work of the 1999 Lifelong Learning
Development Plan and supported the priorities of the Local Learning Partnership
business plan 1999-2002. The development of learning opportunities to support
these key priorities within the 2002/3
Adult Learning Plan are summarised below:
·
Widening Participation
The adult basic skills group places the UK near
the bottom of international league tables for developed countries with regard
to adult literacy and numeracy. Addressing the 20% of the population who have
basic skills difficulties is key to enhanced quality of life and community
prosperity. We are working in partnership with the Local Learning Partnership
and the Isle of Wight Basic Skills Network to produce a Basic Skills Action
plan. This plan will support the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills
Council in achieving the objectives within it’s Strategic Plan. We aim to further develop the successful
pilot programme of Basic Skills first
rung provision in partnership with community artists, libraries and museums.
·
Social
Inclusion
The groups least represented in education and
training are those experiencing social exclusion and economic disadvantage. The
national strategy for neighbourhood renewal identifies the need to address
these disparities through engagement with education and improved educational
attainment. By focusing learning opportunities on basic skills and family
learning we intend to improve provision in this area. The WEA programme planned
provides first step education in the socially deprived areas of Ryde, East
Cowes, Newport and Ventnor targeting learners who may be educationally,
socially or economically disadvantaged.
·
Family
Learning
Parents will often return to learning in order
to help their children. A very successful ‘first rung’ family learning
programme is currently provided through the East Cowes Family Learning Centre
and several schools. This programme has resulted in whole families developing
more positive attitudes to learning and individuals progressing through
informal learning to accredited qualifications leading to employment. The
extension of this work is a major element of our future provision.
·
ICT
With increasing access to electronic
communications in everyday life developing, ICT capability is essential for
inclusion and employability. The provision of ICT learning is an important
element in the Local Learning Partnership Business Plan. We aim to provide an
ICT programme which includes music composition through ICT, web page design,
video production and computer graphics.
·
Lifelong Learning
The Island has an
ageing population and research has shown that learning can assist in reducing
social exclusion in the elderly and maintaining health. We currently have a
good representation of the over 60 age group in the general college programme
and this area is a key target for future marketing.
The five priority
areas to be addressed by the Adult Learning Programme support the local needs
identified by the Local Learning Partnership in the recent audits undertaken;
·
Isle of Wight
Managerial and IT Skills Audit.
·
Isle of Wight Skills
Audit
·
Basic Skills Draft
Action Plan
In addition they
support the strategic objectives detailed in the draft Local Strategic Plan
2002-2005 of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council:
·
To make adults more
aware of the availability and benefits of learning.
·
To make learning more
accessible and relevant to adult learners so they can achieve their full
potential.
·
To provide a
comprehensive approach to tackling basic skills needs.
The two core learning
providers with whom the Isle of Wight Council contract have prepared
comprehensive development plans for their area of provision. However both these
plans and the self assessment development plans require additional levels of
funding from the Local Learning and Skills Council if the level of provision is
to be extended.
3.1 Needs Analysis Areas of Provision
Isle of Wight College: -
Analysis of the
cohort of adult learners shows that 75% female, 25% male with the majority aged
between 19 – 59 years and the 60+ age group representing 27% of the total
learners. The main target areas for for
new learners are male students and the retired community.
The Adult Education
programme is determined by consideration of market research and departmental
knowledge. This is based on repeating all full and popular courses. Market research through the local County
Press, suggestions from students, consultation with the general public through
promotional events at major supermarkets, learning events across the Island,
liaison with local libraries has resulted in new course provision and new
locations in the district programme. Retention data has also been analysed to
identify more popular courses.
An audit of the
current outreach programme is being undertaken to identify geographical areas
where there is not currently any provision and to pilot courses in these areas
in the 2002/3 programme.
Research with non
learners and their needs has been undertaken through prospectus distribution,
open days, local media and specific radio advertising.
Ongoing
marketing through the County Press is
enabling the needs of specific target groups to be identified. Students are asked on the end of term
questionnaires whether there are any other courses not currently provided that
they would be interested in.
Family Learning Centre
The Family Learning Centre is sited in East
Cowes as a result of a successful SRB bid in 1999. The bid enabled the school
to appoint 0.4 Manager/Co-ordinator of the Family Learning Centre and the LEA,
subsequently through the Adult Learning Plan funds 0.6 post to develop Family
Learning opportunities across the Island. From 2003 the full costs of this post
will need to be met from the Adult Learning Plan.
Funding from the LEA/Standards Fund enabled the
school to dedicate a classroom to become a Family Learning Centre for a period
of two years. The year 2002-3 is the final year of the SRB funding and a mobile
building has been secured on site as the Family Learning Centre from September
2002.
Specific men and
boys’ activities have been developed as a result of funding awards from BT and
Education Extra. Three days will be run in 2002-3 at Newport Football Club for
men and boys.
Ten primary schools were selected from the 46 on the Island to host the first intensive Family Literacy/Numeracy courses offered by the Family Learning Team – funded through the Adult Learning Plan. The team consists of two teachers and two Learning Support Assistants who work in five schools a week for two years to embed family learning within these schools .
The schools were chosen in consultation with the Assistant Director of Education, the Literacy and Numeracy Consultants and the Education Inspectorate. Criteria for choice of school included SATs result data, school profile, previous work with parents or difficulty with engaging parents. School and Isle of Wight College staff had also identified the need for adult basic skills provision in the areas.
Geographical factors were also taken into account so that each major town on the Island had a school with an intensive course to act as a model for the area. Some schools selected had already received some small scale Family Literacy and/or Numeracy support and had requested more intervention.
Parents, carers and grandparents are all able to attend courses with their children. Learners with disabilities are encouraged to attend and specific equipment/resources are provided as required.
WEA
The personal development courses provided by the WEA
developed out of Health Action Areas in East Cowes and Ryde. There was no provision of first step
education in these socially deprived areas for underrepresented groups,
particularly women. In all cases
courses seek to reach those students who may be educationally, socially or
economically disadvantaged. The programme is now also additionally provided in
Newport and Ventnor.
Project
Provision
The need for first rung Basic Skills and ICT programmes are identified within the business plan of the Local Learning Partnership, The Isle of Wight College Basic Skills Action Plan and the Isle of Wight Council Learning Providers Group.
3.2 Consultation
Consultation on the
Isle of Wight Council Adult Learning Plan has been ongoing throughout the year.
Specifically it has been undertaken with:
·
Local Learning
Partnership Management Group.
·
Local Learning
Partnership Management Board.
·
Officers of the
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council.
·
Isle of Wight Basic
Skills Network.
·
Isle of Wight Family
Learning Network.
·
Isle of Wight Council
Learning Providers Group.
·
Isle of Wight Council
Elected Members.
·
Education and
Community Development Management Team.
4.0
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Strategic objectives
for the Adult and Community Learning Programme relate specifically to
maintaining and improving the retention rates of learners and increasing
learner numbers and developing the programmes provided. Development Plans for
both the Adult Education programme and the Family Learning Programme have been
produced but require additional funding. (See appendix)
4.1 Retention
Targets
Retention targets are set annually with each provider and included within the provider contracts. Targets for 2002/3 will be set in July/August 2002.
|
Name of Provider |
Retention 2000/1 |
Target 2001/2 |
|
Isle of Wight
College |
88% |
90% |
|
Family Learning |
83% |
85% |
|
WEA |
74.5% |
88% |
4.2
Learner Numbers
Targets have been set
with the Learning Providers to increase learner numbers as shown in the
following table.
|
Name of Provider |
Learner Numbers 2001/2 |
Learner Numbers 2002/3 |
|
Isle of Wight
College |
1752 |
1801 |
|
Family Learning |
137 |
207 |
|
WEA |
68 |
85 |
|
New Projects |
235 |
235 |
|
Total |
2192 |
2328 |
4.3 Learning
Provider Strategic Objectives
Isle of Wight College
The aim of Adult
Education is to deliver an efficient curriculum of relevance, opportunity and
quality relating to the interests, need, personal progression and access issues
of adults living on the Isle of Wight.
By increasing the
current provision which will be achieved through detailed analysis of the
results of the market research carried out resulting in the introduction of new
and different courses addressing different areas of interest thus widening participation. New tutors will
be recruited for the new and expanding course base. New venues are planned and
new geographical areas and new areas of provision ie sign language.
The Strategic
objectives for the Adult Education programme relate to geographical expansion,
curriculum delivery and curriculum delivery as detailed in the Adult Education
Development Plan. (See appendix)
Family Learning Centre
The strategic objectives for Family Learning on the Isle of Wight are detailed in the Family Learning Policy (see appendix) and listed below:
·
To offer a range of
family literacy and numeracy courses in schools and community environments.
·
To develop and
deliver family learning courses and workshops in the wider community giving
opportunities for families to learn together in a variety of settings.
·
To develop dedicated
Family Learning Centres within communities which offer a range of courses,
workshops and services.
·
To develop and
deliver parenting support and family programmes.
Retention rates are
traditionally high in this area of work. This is due to the fact that parents
are working with their children and gain in confidence from week to week. Where
retention rates in individual schools are comparatively low, schools have a
history of poor relationships with parents or consistent dedicated space is not
made available to the group.
Retention rates for
Family Learning courses have remained
between 74% and 96% for the last three years. We seek to maintain these
excellent rates. Strategies for schools where retention has been lower than
average include more support for the school staff, through meetings to discuss
ways ahead for parents, celebrating the success of the course more frequently
and reporting back successes achieved by the children in class directly to
parents.
WEA
Continued expansion
of current provision. Retention is
reasonably high at 74.5% and will be improved by better advice and information
to learners, negotiated syllabuses and tailoring of courses to meet demand.
Project Provision
A key objective of
the 2001/2 Adult Learning Plan is to develop coherence across the Local
Authority to develop library, sports, arts and cultural services as part of the
Adult Learning Programme. This work is focused on developing a basic skills
project in partnership with the Isle of Wight College Learning Support Unit
which aims to:
·
To increase
participation and progress in basic skills via non standard education/establishment
methods and utilising venues, skills and resources in a variety of settings.
·
To implement staff
training in basic skills for paid employees and freelance workers who operate
within Isle of Wight Council community settings.
The strategic aims of
the ICT in the Arts programme which is currently being developed are:
·
To develop existing
arts provision and arts training opportunities.
·
To provide accessible
and creative learning opportunities.
·
To provide
alternative, creative implementation of ICT programmes.
·
To encourage and
engage adults in learning opportunities.
Further development
of both these programmes will be a key objective within the 2002/3
programme. Additional funding would
enable a far wider application of this work across the Local Authority with
additional staff accessing basic skills support training. There are also
opportunities to develop family learning provision in work based environments
if funding were to be made available.
4.4 Withdrawal of Provision
There are no plans to
withdraw any areas of provision providing the required level of funding is
available. The provisional allocation
for 2002/3 is insufficient to provide the current programme unless additional
family learning monies are available. Some rationalisation of the programme may
therefore be necessary.
5.0
COHERENCE WITH OTHER PROVISION
The LEA plays a major
role in the Isle of Wight Local Learning Partnership (LLP) with the Assistant
Director for Education and Community Development chairing the management group
and the Chairman of the Education and Community Development Committee holding
the chairmanship of the LLP. The Lifelong Learning Officer of the Council is
also a member of both the management group and the board.
Through its
involvement in the LLP the LEA has ensured that its proposals for adult
learning are fully considered by the LLP following consultation and that
learning provision is part of the plan. The LEA reports progress to the LLP on
a bi-monthly basis with regard to adult learning provision. The implementation
of the Adult Learning Plan is included within the strategic objectives of the
LLP Business Plan.
The LEA promotes
coherence between LSC funded learning opportunities and other local authority
provision through its strategic and service planning procedures. The Education
and Community Development Strategic Plan emphasises the importance of adult and
family learning within the LEA and the links with other local authority plans
and provision.
The Adult and
Community Learning programme is fully consulted with the Local Authority
Learning Providers Group who meet bi-monthly and work together to develop coherent and linked provision. The Lifelong
Learning Officer is a member of both the local Basic Skills Network and Family Learning Network attending regular
meetings and is also a member of the management steering group of the Hampshire
and Isle of Wight Basic Skills Support Unit.
At a national level
the Lifelong Learning Officer attends LEAFEA meetings, NIACE conferences,
Quality Improvement Network meetings, Family Learning Network meetings to
ensure awareness of national initiatives and sharing of best practice.
5.1 Learning
Providers
Liaison over course provision between the adult and community learning providers both on an individual level and at group level helps to prevent duplication. However the providers generally are working in clearly defined learning areas ie family learning, basic skills, community learning, personal development.
Regular meetings of the Isle of Wight Council Learning Providers Group, Basic Skills Network, Family Learning Network ensure all providers are aware of other related provision.
Links are also made between the Family Learning Team and the Out-of-Hours Study Skills Centre/Homework clubs including advice and consultation on bids and delivery.
6.0
BASIC SKILLS
There are two strands
to the basic skills programmes provided within the Adult Learning Plan, the
family literacy and numeracy courses and basic skills sessions provided from
the Family Learning Centre and the Basic Skills project provided in partnership
with the Isle of Wight College Learning Support Unit.
6.1 Community
Basic Skills Project
In order to meet the government’s target of 1,700 learners achieving a level 2 qualification by 2004, the Island needs to attract approximately 4,000 new learners to basic skills activity as not all will wish, or be able to achieve that level in such a short time scale. Therefore to help increase capacity a different approach is being used to attract reluctant or fragile learners. A series of innovative projects have been developed as outlined below. These are envisaged as a first step for learners to re-engage with learning which will ultimately lead to improving their basic skills levels, employment options, other learning or training opportunities and a resulting improvement in all aspects of their lives.
The projects were
planned in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council, Isle of Wight College
Learning Support Unit and Community Solutions and involved use of Council staff
and premises. Staff training is a major element, following the Initial
Certificate in Teaching Basic Skills (City & Guilds 9281) which is
delivered through a partnership between Community Solutions and the Isle of
Wight College. The four strands of the project include:
·
Arts based family learning – a 6 week programme of art activity on a
storytelling theme based at Barton Primary School, Newport. Although the
activities are family based the emphasis is on the parents basic skills
including planned progression.
·
Dinosaur Isle – a 7 week programme of after school activity including a day field
trip. Using the resources at Dinosur Isle the programme again concentrates on
parents basic skills as they focus on an introduction to palaeontology. The course
is targeted at families from St Johns Primary School, Sandown.
·
Botanic Gardens Ventnor – a project aimed at single parents in Ventnor who
will focus on creating a children’s garden. The aim is to give confidence in
basic skills and an opportunity to progress to other horticulture courses on
offer at the gardens or elsewhere.
·
Library Staff Training – 8 staff are currently undertaking the
Initial Certificate in Basic Skills.
This project aims to provide at least one staff member in each library with an
awareness of basic skills support needs leading to planned changes within the
library network which will encourage and support new users with skills below
level 2.
It is planned to
continue and further develop these projects in 2002/3. Target learner numbers
are detailed in the Common Forward Planning Forms submitted in December 2001.
Additional funding would enable a wider range of staff to be trained and
projects to be developed in other council owned/resourced venues eg: museums,
arts centres, sports centres, regeneration projects.
6.2
Changing Lives
The Isle of Wight College has gained LSC funding for a 2 year project to increase capacity and plans to offer 8-10 new basic skills groups across the Island. These groups will be in areas of unmet need and will include small towns and rural locations. For a number of these groups the College will be working with the Council to provide venues. An additional element of this project is the London based training of a lip reading teacher as there is currently no trained personnel on the Island. When qualified this person will be able to offer lip reading classes under the Adult Education Programme.
6.3
Family Learning Centre
Since the inception
of Family Learning at the College 12 years ago and its subsequent move to the
LEA the College has worked in partnership to offer basic skills to parents
enrolled on family learning courses. There are close working links with the
Family Learning Team and joint training activities are offered.
Family Literacy and
Numeracy courses are run in partnership with the Isle of Wight College whose
tutors provide a weekly basic skills session for adults. The provision has been
substantially increased in 2001/2 from 3 primary schools to 10 and is provided
by 20 hours a week of staff time and the cost of staff travelling expenses.
Currently 84 learners are enrolled, 90% of whom are working to Wordpower Level
2 and 10% Level 1. From September 2002 the new Basic Skills qualifications will
be delivered in line with the new core curriculum for literacy and numeracy.
Learners can access accreditation opportunities through
this provision and in the past it has lead to learners
taking up courses in the college and/or local community. In 2000/1 8 learners
on the Family Learning Programme undertook a parent teaching course and
achieved the FEATC Stage 1.
In 2002-3 all courses will be mapped to adult core curriculum where appropriate. Learning Centre Staff are being trained in the adult core curriculum and in addition to this the school’s numeracy co-ordinator is undertaking level 4 training in delivering basic skills to adults. Target Learner numbers on this programme are included in the Common Forward Planning Forms.
7.0
WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Within the Adult Learning Plan for 2002/3 a number of projects are being developed targeted at widening participation, specifically Community Basic Skills, Creative ICT and the WEA personal development programme. These are detailed in earlier sections of the plan. The two core areas of provision, Adult Education and Family Learning are also aiming to introduce initiatives to widen participation in learning.
7.1 Adult Education Programme
Within the Adult Education Development Plan a challenging target to increase adult education enrolments to 3500 over a four year period has been set with 200 new enrolments within 2002/3.
Increasing learner
numbers will be achieved by addressing the gaps in provision. Mapping the
current geographical provision has identified a number of locations not
currently provided with adult education opportunities and new courses are
planned to be introduced in these areas in the 2002/3 programme.
Different course
options are planned with changes to course start and finish times, length of
courses, hours offered per week and type of courses offered. These changes are
in response to
the identified needs
of learners.
The current adult
education programme is being mapped to the more advanced programme provided by
the College to encourage progression of learning from the Adult Education
Programme to more advanced courses that can offer qualifications.
To support students
who have a disability/learning difficulty to access adult education provision a
‘buddy system’ has been introduced whereby a student who needs support may
bring a supporter to the class for whom there is no charge.
7.2 Family
Learning
Family Learning
Provision is currently focused on the course programme at the East Cowes Family
Learning Centre and the Family Literacy and Numeracy programme which has been
extended from three primary schools to ten from September 2001.This two year
programme which included the
appointment of two family learning teachers and two learning support assistants
aims to target 80-100 new parent learners each academic year. Providing sufficient
funding is available the overall programme aims to provide opportunities for
250 learners in 2002/3.
8.0 LEARNER
RECRUITMENT
Within the Adult
Education programme a number of new courses have been marketed during 2001/2
and providing sufficient learners are recruited will be included in 2002/3.
These included Archaeology, Pilates, Yoga, Salsa Dancing and Egyptology.
Marketing is planned to be direct to existing learners , supermarket
distribution, college open evenings, through events such as IW Learning
Festival and IW Garlic Festival. Considerable marketing is undertaken through
the IW County Press several times during the year before the start of courses.
8.1 Table of
Planned Learner Numbers
Learners |
Expected 2001/2 |
Planned 2002/3 |
|
Total no of learners
in ACL |
2192 |
2328 |
|
% Males |
21% |
21% |
|
% With learning difficulties and/or disabilities |
2% |
2% |
|
% From minority ethnic groups |
1.5% |
1.7% |
|
% Aged 60+ |
22% |
22% |
8.2 Make up of Adult Population
|
Total
Population |
%Disabled
and /or ALD |
% Ethnic
Minorities |
% 60+ |
Unemployment
Rate % |
|
100,464 |
7 |
0.7 |
36.5 |
5.8 |
9.0 FAMILY LEARNING PROVISION
This area of provision is a major element of the core adult learning programme and is provided by the Family Learning Team based at East Cowes Family Learning Centre in East Cowes Primary School.
The Family Learning Centre offers local access to learning in an area of social disadvantage in one of the bottom 9 wards on the Island. Accreditation offered is often the first certification acquired by the learners and commencing in 2001/2 the impact on the child in school is to be tracked. The Centre is open to parents/grandparents and carers of children attending East Cowes Primary School and Sea shells Pre-school.
Funds are provided
for childcare for learners and all courses /accreditation is free. In this way
we aim to break down the barriers to learning that have existed for these
adults in the past. The established need for a Family Learning Centre in this
area has been recognised and the LEA are providing a mobile classroom for the
Centre from September 2002 as the school requires that the main classroom
currently used is returned to them. The equipment, resources and furniture
requirements and any upgrade required are included in the funding application
made under the accommodation strategy forwarded to the LSC in December 2001.
Family Learning
Weekend – an annual event on the Island and nationally – offers free
opportunities to families to access facilities and venues, which would normally
involve a charge. The Family Learning Centre co-ordinates and promotes Family
Learning Weekend on the Island. Last year a range of partners included local
leisure centres, museums, community artists, charities and education
department. This major initiative is very successful in raising awareness of
family learning opportunities.
Men and Boys’
Football Days – within the current programme three are offered a year aimed at
boys in year 3 and 4 accompanied by their father, grandfather or other male
relation or carer. This programme is
very successful in attracting male learners traditionally difficult to engage
in learning.
The Family Learning
Co-ordinator post is crucial for the LEA to maintain both the range and quality
of provision. At present the post of Family Learning Consultant is funded 0.4
from Single Regeneration Budget (to manage the FLC) and 0.6 from the Adult
Learning Plan. The SRB funding has one more year to run 2002/3. From 2003 the
full costs of this post will need to be integrated into the Adult Learning
Funding. It is important for the future development of family learning on the
Island for this strategic and operational role to be maintained.
There is little
national staff training in the area of Family Learning at present but the
Centre aims to acquire the BSA Quality Mark in 2002/3 as a development tool.
Learning Centre staff attend national conferences wherever possible to keep up
to date with current thinking and practice.
The Centre funds 50%
of the costs of a Family Skills Adviser
(50% funded by Cowes High School) to support the Family Learning programme and
the needs of learners. The Family Skills Advisor has attended a ‘Train the Trainers’ programme offered by Merton
College and will be able to offer the Island’s first accredited parenting
courses for Family Learning from the summer term 2002. Cowes High School have kindly offered the
use of the pavilion in their grounds to
be used as a Family Learning Centre in the Cowes area. This new resource will
enable additional family learning courses to be provided if funding is
available. Upgrading this facility and providing equipment and resources has
been included in the Accommodation Strategy submitted to the LSC in December
2001.
A small scale follow up project of families on courses 4 years ago is in progress. Evaluation of ongoing programmes is conducted both formally and informally. A Family Learning Network/Forum has recently been set up which meets regularly to discuss quality issues and evaluation practices and develop family learning across the Island.
9.1 Target Numbers For Family Learning Programme 2002/3
Please note the
target numbers are for the integrated family learning programme which also
includes the family literacy and numeracy courses and the SHARE programme. The
numbers are based on funding being available to support the current level of
provision.
Number of
participating adults 250
Number of
participating children (under 18) 180
% of adults and
children with disabilities/ 8%
learning difficulties
% male adults 10%
% of adults and
children from minority 0.5%
ethnic groups
% adults 60+ 8%
% primary school
children 80%
Pre-school children
are also involved in courses either
(In childcare provision
or in early intervention courses
Although the latter
are not planned for 2002-3)
% secondary school
children 20%
10.0 FAMILY LITERACY AND/OR NUMERACY PROVISION
The provision of the family literacy and numeracy programme is fully integrated within the overall family learning programme. Within the 2000/1 Adult Learning Programme the staff costs are funded from the core provision with course materials and childcare funded from Standards Fund. It is intended to continue this funding methodology for 2002/3.
In 2002/3 we will be
in the second year of the two year development programme of literacy and
numeracy courses introduced in ten Island Primary schools. (See section Needs Analysis on choice of primary schools)
The courses follow the Basic Skills Agency model of delivery and are led by two
Family Learning Teachers and two
Family Learning Support Assistants. Each team works in five schools a week
offering 4 hours’ tuition to parents and 1 hour to children in each school.
Parents also access 2 hours of basic skills tuition from Isle of Wight College
tutors on the same day. At present 88
parents are enrolled on these courses with their children.The Family Skills
Advisor (see section 9 above Family Learning)
offers parent support on all the above courses and to schools in the
Cowes area.
The LEA has produced
a Family Learning Policy (see appendix)
which outlines its aims and
objectives in relation to Family Learning and Family Literacy and Numeracy. The courses are currently being mapped to
the Adult Basic Skills Core Curriculum. One of the Family Learning Teachers and
both IW College tutors who deliver the courses are attending national Family
Literacy and Numeracy training in Bath in March 2002 offered by the Basic
Skills Agency.
Additional funding
from 2002 or 2003 would enable continued support to be offered to schools. A
further 10 schools (potentially 100 new families) could be offered Family
Literacy and Family Numeracy courses. The Family Learning Programme has been
developed over five years of delivering this model and has proven by continued
retention and success rates high levels
of learner satisfaction.
The SHARE programme
could be expanded into all Island schools if funding was secured for a
co-ordinator to manage the accreditation of learners. The SHARE programme can
also be delivered at KS2 and KS3 in addition to the current programme running
at KS1. At KS2 and KS3 it would help to address parental involvement for older
children and raising attainment in writing which is a national issue of
concern.
An outline project
proposal has been developed to provide Workplace based Family Learning activities which would provide new
development opportunities for the Island. A local employer has expressed
interest in working in partnership on this project however the funding required
of £10,000 to develop and run an
initial pilot programme is not available within the current Adult
Learning Plan
The Family Learning
Network/Forum recently set up will ensure that a strategic approach to funding
is appropriate for areas and activities. Assessment strategies are currently in
the process of being revised to support the requirements of the new Adult Basic
Skills Core Curriculum.
11.0 WORKING
IN PARTNERSHIP
The overall approach within the Adult Learning Plan is one of partnership. The LEA as a provider that contracts out needs to enable a broad partnership approach to ensure a wide range of learning opportunities are available for learners. The core providers are encouraged through the Learning Provider Group to identify linkages being differing areas of provision.
Partnerships with
local schools and community venues enables a wide range of adult learning
provision by all contracted providers to be accessible in locations across the
Island both in all the major towns and rural
areas.
The Community Basic
Skills project is provided in partnership with the Isle of Wight College and
the Community Sector through Community Solutions, Isle of Wight Council Museums
Service, Isle of Wight County Library Service, Ventnor Botanic Garden,
Community Artists and Local Schools.
Family Learning is
provided through partnership working between the Family Learning Centre, Isle
of Wight College Learning Support Unit and Island Schools. Additional
partnerships are with the WEA through housing courses and working on the
development and piloting of new courses. Partnerships with the Red Cross and
local caterers offer accreditation to parents which can increase their
employability. A partnership between
the Isle of Wight College and East Cowes Primary School has enabled learners to
use the school’s IT suite to study CLAIT.
Partnership working
with the Isle of Wight Library Service is a key development area where staff
have undertaken Basic Skills training which will support the provision of IT
learning opportunities once staff have completed ECDL training.
The main benefit of
partnership working is the diverse range of learning opportunities which can be
accessible for learners. Partnership working also enables the spread of best
practice, improves quality and standards and builds capacity in small
providers.
12.0 ACCESS
TO ICT FOR LEARNERS
All students enrolled on Adult Education courses with the Isle of Wight College whether based at the College Campus or in the District have access to College facilities including the learning resource centre where the majority of computers are based. The centre has considerable specialist software and CD-roms available.
Additional ICT facilities will be available for general public use in all Island Libraries funded by the New Opportunities Fund. All Library staff are currently undergoing training to ECDL standard to enable the provision of user support .
At the Family
Learning Centre both a beginners course and CLAIT are offered to learners. A
laptop is available (provided under the Laptop Initiative from the Basic
Skills Agency) for learners at the
centre to access at any time for individual work. One to one support can be
offered to learners if required. Family Learning teachers working in the ten
schools involved in the family literacy and numeracy programme have negotiated
time in schools IT suites to enable parents to become familiar with using IT.
New IT projects are
included within the current Adult Learning Programme including ‘Keeping up with
the Children’ provided by the WEA and ‘Creative ICT’ provided by Platform One.
It is intended to include these programmes within the 2002/3 Adult Learning
Plan providing funds are available.
13.0 FEES AND FEES POLICIES
The core Adult
Education Programme focuses on the Adult Education programme provided by the
Isle of Wight College who set the level of fees and the fee policy for the
programmes and the Family Learning Centre where provision is free. Project work
provided by the WEA, Platform One and Isle of Wight College Learning Support
Unit are all targeted at widening participation in targeted areas, supporting
personal development and basic skills needs therefore provision is also free.
Details are given below.
Isle of Wight College
Fees are calculated
on course costs, i.e. tutor and accommodation X the hours of the course. Most Adult Education courses are based in
this way on 12 students over a 10
week term, on a cost recovery basis.
Concession rates are
subsidised by the college by a 25% discount and only applies to one course per
term per person and only if they are in receipt of job seeker, family tax
credit, disability benefit or income support.
For a concession rate to be granted proof is required from the learner.
WEA
Tuition in all WEA
courses is free to people who receive a means tested benefit or Jobseeker’s
Allowance, and to their unwaged dependants, although a registration fee of £2
per course may be charged. The current programme provided under the Adult Learning
Plan which aims to widen participation is free to all learners.
Family Learning Centre
Family learning has traditionally been offered free to families as this overcomes barriers to learning and supports the policies of inclusion and widening participation. Schools make a commitment to offering space, some resources, and refreshments for parents, time for teachers and Family Learning staff to liaise and plan.
14.0 LEARNER
SUPPORT
Isle of Wight College Adult Education Programme
Learners on the adult
education programme are able to access if required the support services
available for mainstream provision. The College has an established system of
assessment, referral and individual support for academic, financial and
personal support. A counsellor is on
site Mon-Fri. Support is available for external and internal examinations
subject to assessed need including extra
time, readers, use of word processor etc. Students are entitled to tutorial
support and can access the facilities of the learning resource centre,
including access to IT. Every
reasonable effort is made to cater for the individual needs of students with a
disability and/or learning difficulty.
The Student Guidance
Centre is open every day during office hours and there are frequent Open/Advice
evenings throughout the year. Personal
enquiries are dealt with as soon as practicable and visits are welcomed. Broadsheet material and leaflets are freely
available as are the annually produced prospectuses.
WEA
Learner support for
learners on the WEA provision focuses on addressing the barriers which learners
can face. Support includes the provision of crèche facilities or help with
child care costs, help with other carer costs, help with transport costs and
information and advice pre, during and post course.
Family Learning Centre
Free childcare is offered on all courses. This is essential to
attracting parents to Family Learning courses. It is policy of the Centre to
ask parents to use free entitlement sessions first so that they accept some
responsibility for their childcare provision.
.
Using schools
and other local venues improves access to local training opportunities for
learners.
Accreditation is offered free to learners as part of offering free basic skills accreditation. Where possible, within funding restrictions, we intend to continue to offer all accreditation free.
Information and
guidance sessions are provided by a college tutor at the end of courses. These limited links needs to be
developed and a bid for discretionary
funding for a shared post across three learning centres will be considered.
General
The Isle of Wight
merged with the Hampshire Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) Network in
January 2001 to provide a joint integrated
and more comprehensive service to Island learners. This also enables access to adult learning
opportunities across the Hampshire region as well as locally.
Advice and guidance
literature is available to the public through the Isle of Wight County Library
Network as well as the Education and Community Development Directorate Offices.
The Education ‘site’ on the Council intranet is being developed and offers an
advice and information facility. Advice and guidance literature is available to
the public direct from providers and ongoing marketing and promotion. The Adult
Education programme is planned to be available through the Isle of Wight
College website shortly. All Learning Providers have been actively involved in
the Isle of Wight Learning Festival and All Age Learning Event.
15.0 LEARNING SUPPORT
The Learning Support Assistant at the Family Learning Centre offers one to one support to families and is supported by the Family Skills Advisor who provides support for families regarding behaviour management. All the Learning Support Assistants are past parents themselves who attended Family Learning courses. This gives them a parents’ eye view of courses and enables them to offer practical support and guidance to learners.
The IW College can offer extra support for learners as required. Specific aids for learners are requested and provided on an individual basis and we plan to make course materials available in large text and on tape where appropriate. Although the Adult Education programme does not provide specifically for those with learning difficulties or disabilities support is provided on an individual basis. Development of course materials and aids in alternative formats is to be provided through the additional funding available from the LSC.
16.0 RISK
ANALYSIS
As all provision through
the Adult Learning Plan is provided through contracts with Learning Providers
the key areas mainly relate to insufficient levels of funding to achieve the
planned objectives. This would result in reduced provision and lower student
numbers. The area most at risk from
reduced funding is that of project
provision. This is a priority area however as it targets basic skills needs and
widening participation and tackling social exclusion.
In relation to the
Adult Education programme the
College has a risk analysis plan and external venues which the Adult Education
area hires are under constant review with the College’s Health and Safety
Officer. If a class is threatened with disuse or closure due to a risk with the
allocated accommodation every endeavour will be made to find alternative
accommodation through the local network of accommodation in education and
industry. However for some specialist provision ie woodwork or brickwork this
may not be available.
Lack of funding to
further develop the learning provision is also a risk factor particularly in
respect of the family learning programme which aims to be available in all
Island schools. Lack of dedicated space
in schools for families to work in and temporary accommodation for the Family
Learning Centre limits the opportunities available for learners and restricts
the level of provision. The small family learning staff base is also a risk
factor. The implication of a key staff member leaving could seriously affect
the level of provision.
17.0 DATA
COLLECTION AND MIS INFRASTRUCTURE
As indicated in the funding application submitted in December 2001 the Isle of Wight LEA does not currently have a management information system (MIS) to collect information through Individual Learner Records or the necessary resources to develop a system. Currently the AE1 and AE2 returns are collated manually from information provided from Learning Providers. A basic MIS system to collect and analysis learner information at service level is currently being piloted. An estimate of the cost of implementing a MIS system to collect Individual Learner Records is in the region of £50,000.
Individual Learner Records are not currently maintained for learners on the Adult Education Programme, WEA provision or project provision. A basic Excel database maintains information on family learning in respect individual learners courses undertaken and progression made. In respect of all provision individual information is held relating to name, address, contact numbers, date of birth, ethnic origin, and course details.
18.0 SUB
CONTRACTING
All Adult and Community Learning provision funded under the Adult Learning Plan is subcontracted with no direct provision. The current learning providers with whom the Isle of Wight Council contracts are shown in the table below. Only the Isle of Wight College and the WEA receive additional funding from the Learning and Skills Council.
There are no planned changes in 2002/3 in subcontracted learning providers from the current Adult Learning Plan. A standardised funding agreement agreed annually with each learning provider sets targets for recruitment and retention, identifies the requirements to be complied with in respect of quality assurance and self assessment and the payment schedule
|
Learning Provider |
Type of Organisation |
Provision |
Learner Nos 2002/3 approx |
Approx contract value |
|
Isle of Wight
College |
FE |
Adult Education |
1800 |
50,000 |
|
Isle of Wight
College |
FE |
Basic Skills |
40 |
15,000 |
|
E Cowes Family
Learning Centre |
LEA |
Family Learning Literacy and
Numeracy |
250 |
149,000 |
|
WEA |
Voluntary
Organisation |
Widening
participation |
85 |
10,000 |
|
Platform One |
Non profit making |
Creative ICT |
90 |
15,000 |
|
IWC Arts Unit |
LA |
Creative Arts |
105 |
3,000 |
19.0 ACCOMMODATION
STRATEGY
A copy of the accommodation strategy submitted to the LSC in December 2001 is attached as an appendix. This includes details of the venues used for adult learning provision.
The Isle of Wight
College Adult Education programme is provided from the college campus at
Newport and in the following district locations. A number of additional
locations for the 2002/3 programme are currently being investigated in
Bembridge, Wootton, Bonchurch, Yarmouth and Ventnor.
·
Arreton Community
Centre
·
Bembridge Village
Hall
·
Brighstone Reading
Room
·
Colwell Bay
Smallhorse Farm
·
Cowes Youth Centre
·
Freshwater Fort
Victoria
·
Freshwater small
memorial hall
·
Gurnard WI Hall
·
Haylands Primary
School Ryde
·
Lake Lions Day Centre
·
Lake Middle School
·
Newchurch Church Hall
·
Jubilee Studios
Newport
·
Unity Hall Newport
·
Bishop Lovett Middle
School Ryde
·
Ryde Bridge Club
·
Ryde SEB Club
·
Ryse St Johns Church
Hall
·
Sandown Community
Centre
·
Shanklin Falcon Cross
Hall
The Family Learning
Programme is based in the Family Learning Centre East Cowes Primary School and
the following schools. From 2002/3 additional facilities will be available in
the Pavilion Cowes High School which has been provided by the school for family
learning activities.
·
St Saviours Totland
·
Love Lane Cowes
·
Greenmount Ryde
·
Sandown Primary
·
East Cowes Primary
·
All Saints Freshwater
·
Barton Primary
Newport
·
Oakfield Primary Ryde
·
St Boniface Primary
Ventnor
·
Hunnyhill Primary
Newport
The WEA programme utilises village halls and community venues
as shown below:
·
Middle Schools in
Ryde
·
East Cowes Family
Learning Centre
·
Town Hall, East Cowes
·
Winter Gardens,
Ventnor
·
Unity Hall, Newport
·
Ryde Baptist Church
Hall
20.0
STAFFING
The Isle of Wight Council does not directly provide adult
and community learning and therefore the only staff directly employed to
support adult learning is the post of Lifelong Learning Officer which is a full
time position. However Family Learning and Family Literacy programmes are
delivered under the Adult Learning Plan through a funding agreement with the
Family Learning Centre which is based at East Cowes Primary School. The staff
structure funded from the Adult Learning Plan core provision is detailed below.
FAMILY LEARNING CENTRE STAFF
STRUCTURE
LITERACY AND NUMERACY PROGRAMME
Family Learning Consultant
Family Learning Teacher Family
Learning Teacher
Family Learning Support Assistant Family Learning Support Assistant
Isle of Wight College tutors working in partnership
x two
EAST COWES FAMILY LEARNING CENTRE
Family Learning Consultant
Family Learning Administrative Assistant
Family Learning Support Worker
Family Skills Adviser (50% funded Adult Learning
Plan 50% Cowes High School)
21.0 ACCOUNTABILITY
AND GOVERNANCE
The day to day
monitoring and implementation of the Adult Learning Plan rests with the
Lifelong Learning Officer who reports directly to both the Assistant Director
for Educational Effectiveness and Lifelong Learning and the Assistant Director
for Community Development. This work is overseen by the Education, Community
Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee and the Executive Committee of
the Isle of Wight Council.
22.0 AUDIT
As a Local Authority
the Isle of Wight Council and its officers are required to comply with all
financial regulations and standing orders in accordance with both District and
Local audit requirements. Financial monitoring of the Adult Learning budget is
undertaken by officers within the Education and Community Development Finance
team with monthly reports to the Lifelong Learning Officer.
Regular meetings are
held with officers from the Local Learning and Skills Council and monthly reports are provided on the
activities undertaken.
The Lifelong Learning
Officer attends monthly review meetings with the Learning Providers who are
required to prepare monthly reports on the learning activities provided under
the terms of the funding agreement. Payments are made to providers on
submission of invoices and any required statistical information.
23.0 QUALITY
ASSURANCE
Since the appointment
of the Lifelong Learning Officer considerable work has been undertaken in respect
of introducing Quality Assurance systems and procedures into Adult and
Community Learning.
A comprehensive
Funding Agreement has been developed for all learning providers which clearly
details the requirements of Learning Providers and the Isle of Wight Council.
The agreement ensures learning providers will be able to :-
·
Plan and deliver
adult learning that is effective and complements other local provision.
·
Be supported to build
upon their strengths and continuously improve quality.
·
Be aware of the Isle
of Wight Council’s priorities in planning provision
·
Influence the Isle of
Wight Council’s adult learning policies and advise the Council on needs.
The agreement also
supports the Isle of Wight Council to :-
·
Use its resources
effectively and efficiently.
·
Target resources and
provision towards particular groups of people or areas of need.
·
Engage providers in
planning provision that meets the Isle of Wight Counil’s policies and
priorities.
·
Ensure providers
understand what is expected of them and how the assessment processes will
operate.
·
Effectively monitor
provision.
The funding agreement
requires providers to
·
Set their
organisation’s targets against a range of defined performance indicators.
·
Introduce and
implement procedures in accordance with the Quality Assurance Framework and the
requirements of the Learning and Skills Council.
·
Provide accurate
statistical data within the deadlines designated on the annual schedule of
information and to provide additional information on request to respond to DFES
and LSC requirements.
·
Undertake annual self
assessment against the criteria in the Common Inspection Framework
·
Provide monthly
written reports on provision.
·
Attend monthly
monitoring and review meetings with the Lifelong Learning Officer.
·
Attend ½ termly learning
provider group meetings.
The benefits to
learners result from continuous improvement in service delivery. Feedback from
learners through the self assessment process will support the future
development of the learning programme to meet learners needs. Management
information supports applications for future funding.
Specific initiatives
introduced by learning providers to improve quality are detailed below.
Isle of Wight College
Quality Assurance systems are now being implemented into the Adult Education Provision in line with the main College procedures. A tutor qualification audit is being conducted along with Observation of Teaching and Learning, student surveys and OFSTED inspections.
WEA
Quality systems are embedded in the course provision and monitored and reviewed in line with national and district procedures. This includes student learning report forms (learning outcomes), tutor reports, tutor organiser reports, class visiting, mid and end of course evaluation.
Family Learning Centre
The Share internal verification process is being set up this term. Observation of family learning teachers using the NIACE structure will be implemented this term although initial informal observations have already taken place. Observation of other funded sessions are carried out by the Family Learning Consultant to monitor delivery and quality across the provision. Learner satisfaction reviews are conducted termly in the Family Learning Centre and on the courses. Schools, learners (adult and child), teacher and tutor are all involved in this process. The Self Assessment process has enabled targets to be set for the improvement of the service and to effectively action plan for the future.
24.0 QUALITY
AWARDS
The Education and
Community Development Directorate is currently actively working towards the
Investor in People Award with the inspection visit planned for June 2002.
Isle of Wight College
The Adult Education
area was awarded a Grade 1 when inspected by the LEA inspectors at the
last inspection in 1999. The College also holds the Basic Skills Kite Mark.
Family Learning Centre
The Men and Boys’ remote control car project won a certificate of distinction from Education Extra in 2000. A Reading Millennium Award has just been presented to the Family Learning Support Worker for her project to encourage boys and men to read together. The Family Learning Centre has been nominated for the first IW Learning Festival Awards to be presented in February 2002.
East Cowes Primary
School which includes the Family Learning Centre is working towards a School’s
Curriculum Award, Investors in People
and Healthy School’s Award.
As there is to no national Family Learning Kitemark the Family Learning Centre is actively working towards achieving the Basic Skills Agency Post 16 Quality Kitemark.
25.0 LSC PERFORMANCE REVIEW
A self assessment report of the Isle of Wight Council Adult Learning provision has been carried out and a development plan produced. (see appendix) This identifies the quality of education and training and standards achieved by learners, aspects of leadership and management, health and safety systems. The development plan identifies and sets targets for areas of improvements. Targets to improve retention and learners numbers are included within annual agreements with providers.
26.0 EQUALITY
AND DIVERSITY
The Isle of Wight
Council has a published Equal Opportunities Policy and it is a requirement of
the Funding Agreement that all providers adhere to the policy. All managers
within the Isle of Wight Council have undertaken equality training on a range
of issues. To support the working of the policy the Council has a designated
Chief Officer leading on Equality who manages the Equality Link Group which
comprises representatives of all Directorates. The Lifelong Learning Officer is
the Education and Community Development representative on the Group and has
undertaken considerable training in this field.
Equal Opportunities monitoring of learning provision is integrated within the monthly provider review meetings. All Learning Providers are required to set targets to improve participation among under represented groups within the annual funding agreements. These learner numbers are identified within the learner recruitment information. Details of procedures to ensure equality of opportunity for learners by Learning Providers are shown below.
Isle of Wight College
The College has an
equal opportunities policy, an extract of which is produced in the Isle of
Wight College student diaries. All
full-time and fractional staff are currently undertaking a programme of
staff-development on Equal Opportunities which is compulsory.
WEA
Courses are open to
all adults, but especially support those who may be educationally, socially or
economically disadvantaged. Equal
Opportunities performance is monitored and evaluated within the WEA’s systems
and procedures.
Family Learning Centre
At present all Family
Learning provision is covered by the Council’s equal opportunity statement and
this is offered to all learners at the beginning of courses. A specific statement has been added to the school’s equal opportunity policy which is
relevant to adults attending the school for sessions. A development area for
Family Learning will be to target the small number of ethnic minority families
that we have on the Isle of Wight.
27.0 DISABILITY STATEMENT
The Disability
Statement for Adult Education was revised in December in December 2000 and
adopted by the Education and Community Development Select Committee in December
2000. (see appendix) This statement which covers the core adult education
programme provided by the Isle of Wight College needs to be further revised to
include the Family Learning provision
and project provision.
28.0 HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Isle of Wight Council has comprehensive systems and procedures to ensure all requirements of Health and Safety legislation are met. All Learning Providers receive a copy of the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and Health and Safety Contract Monitoring Policy with the Adult Education Provider Agreement to which they are required to adhere.
As a requirement of the Contract Monitoring Policy all Learning Providers must complete a Contractor Health and Safety Evaluation Form and provide copies of their safety policies and other relevant information. The Council policy also requires that formal Health and Safety contract monitoring is undertaken and this is included within the monthly provider review meetings. Learning Providers are required to undertake risk assessments in respect of both the premises used for adult education and the activities undertaken. Additional information relating to health and safety in respect of the Learning Providers is given below.
Isle of Wight College
The College has a
Health and Safety policy and each student is issued with a copy of an extract
of it on enrolment. The full College Health and Safety Policy is available in
the College Library. Health and Safety is a priority item at tutor seminars and
is re-iterated in tutor handbooks and information and is monitored through
lesson plans and observations.
WEA
The WEA has produced
both a national and district health and safety policy. All premises used for
adult learning are assessed for suitability. Health and Safety information is
given all students at the start of all courses.
Family Learning Centre
Risk assessments are
routinely carried out in the Family Learning Centre with specific activities
taken into account. At present the Family Learning Team are compiling a risk
assessment on all venues used and all activities undertaken. This information
will be shared in the Family Learning Forum to support other providers in the
effective assessment of all family learning activities. School Health and
Safety policies are given to parents at the beginning of courses around the
Island and within the self assessment development plan these are to be
revised to ensure that Family Learning activities are taken into account.
APPENDICES
1.
Isle of Wight College
Adult Education Development Plan
2.
Family Learning
Centre Development Plan
3.
Isle of Wight Council
Family Learning Policy
4.
Accommodation
Strategy
5.
Self Assessment
Report
6.
Disability Statement
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