SUMMARY/PURPOSE
1.
The Isle of Wight Council is required to submit an
Adult and Community Learning Plan for 2005/6 as an update to the three year
development plan approved by the Learning and Skills Council for Hampshire and
the Isle of Wight in June 2004 in order to access funding to deliver Adult and
Community Learning Programmes.
BACKGROUND
2.
From 1st April 2001 the funding for Adult
Learning moved from the Isle of Wight Council to the Learning and Skills
Council for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and Adult and Community Learning
Plans have been submitted and approved annually since that date.
3.
Funding was guaranteed until July 2003 at the previous
level prior to the proposal to introduce formula funding from 2003/4. The
national Learning and Skills Council have again decided not to move to formula
funding in 2005/6 but to allocate funding at a similar level to 2004/5
excluding any inflationary element subject to submission in the prescribed
format of an Adult and Community Learning Plan for 2005/6 as an update to the
three year Development Plan.
4.
The key elements of the plan are:-
·
Overview
·
Funding assumptions
·
Data
·
Curriculum
·
Quality
·
Information advice and guidance
·
Equality and diversity
·
Fees
·
Risks
5.
The Key changes for 2005/06 are:-
·
Progressing changes to the curriculum to meet LSC
priorities
·
Development of ACL fee policy and introduction of fees
on programmes previously fully fee remitted
·
Improvements to provision of Information, Advice and Guidance
for learners
·
Improvements to initial and ongoing assessment of
learners
·
Building on the success of Neighbourhood Learning in
Ventnor in other Island Communities
·
Developing additional arts based family learning
opportunities through the Creative Partnerships
Project
·
Delivery of the E Learning and E Guides Action Plans
·
Improving the skills base of ACL tutors through lesson
observation, training and provision of support materials
·
ACL Service to work towards the Matrix standard for
Information, Advice and Guidance
6. In the 2005/6 Adult and Community
Learning Plan the Council plans to deliver the Family Learning and Family
Literacy, Language and Numeracy Programme directly through the ACL Family
Learning Service and to contract with the Isle of Wight College Adult Education
Department for the ‘Personal Development’ programme. Social inclusion, widening
participation and regeneration programmes are planned to be delivered by IWC
Arts Unit, Workers Education Association (WEA), Platform One and IW College
Learning Opportunities Department. The proposed programmes may be subject to
review following confirmed allocation of LSC funding for 2005/6. Additional
community providers may be engaged during the year if additional funding
streams are available.
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
7.
The Adult and Community Learning Plan 2005/6 supports
the key objectives of the following strategies:
Community
Strategy
·
Developing Learning and Skills
Cultural
Strategy
·
Encourage Lifelong Learning, Healthy Lifestyles and Social
Cohesion
Corporate
Plan
·
Raising education standards and promoting Lifelong
Learning
·
Improving health, housing and the quality of life for
all
Cultural
and Leisure Services Service Plan
·
Provide people with opportunities to realise the full potential
of their creative skills
·
Reinforce neighbourhood networks through their sense
of identity to achieve common goals
·
Ensure that every individual on the Island has the
opportunity to participate fully in Island life.
·
Encourage participation in cultural activities as a
constructive use of leisure time and as an alternative to boredom and
anti-social behaviour.
·
Encourage the uptake of physically and/or mentally
stimulating activities as a route to staying healthy and providing a foundation
for a full and active life.
Learning
and Skills Council
·
To improve the basic skills of 2.25 million adults by
2010
·
To reduce by at least 40% the number of adults in the
workforce who lack an NVQ level 2 or equivalent by 2010
·
To support the safeguard for ‘Learning for Personal
Development’
CONSULTATION
8.
Consultation on the Isle of Wight Council Adult and
Community Learning Plan is ongoing throughout the year. Specifically it has
been undertaken with:-
·
Isle of Wight Learning Partnership Management Board
·
Isle of Wight Learning Partnership Adult and Community
Learning Strategy Group
·
Officers of the Learning and Skills Council Hampshire
and Isle of Wight
·
Isle of Wight Council Learning Providers Group
·
Cultural and Leisure Services Senior Management Team
Consultation
has ensured the key objectives of the Adult and Community learning Plan are
reflected in the current Isle of Wight Learning Partnership Business Plan and
Basic Skills Plan and support local priorities. Consultation with the Adult and
Community Learning Strategy Group, Learning Providers Group and Cultural and
Leisure Services Senior management Team ensures learning provision is not
duplicated and opportunities for partnership working are developed.
Consultation with officers of the Learning and Skills Council Hampshire and
Isle of Wight ensure the Adult and Community Learning Plan is supporting their
strategic objectives. Additional consultation undertaken with the Isle of Wight
College supports continuing partnership working and curriculum development.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET
IMPLICATIONS
9.
The provisional allocation for the Isle of Wight
Council for 2005/6 from the Learning and Skills Council Hampshire and Isle of
Wight is £260798 with revenue and PSA1 funding from the Isle of Wight Council
at the current level of £181797.
During
the initial planning meeting with the Learning and Skills Council the need for
additional funding in particular to support the infrastructure necessary to
deliver the quality of provision and to develop the successful Family Learning
and First Steps programmes was again identified. Additional funding from the
Learning and Skills Council is unlikely in 2005/6. Following the planned
inspection of the Adult and Community Learning Programme in the summer term
there maybe a need to rationalise the planned delivery programme to enable
delivery of the post inspection action plan.
LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
10.
The requirements for an Adult and Community Learning Plan
for 2005/6 in the prescribed format in order to attract funding is a
contractual requirement of the Learning and Skills Council.
OPTIONS
11.
The Isle of Wight Council is required under the
Learning and Skills Act 2000 to secure Adult and Community Learning Provision
in the Isle of Wight in agreement with the Local Learning + Skills Council. The
options therefore relate to agreeing the proposed plan and delivery programme
or recommending revisions to be discussed with the Local Learning + Skills
Council.
EVALUATION/RISK
MANAGEMENT
12.
The main risks to delivery of the Adult and Community
Learning Plan 2005/6 relate to:-
·
Withdrawal of key providers on delivery of ACL
Programmes
·
Loss of key members of staff
·
ALI inspection of Adult and Community Learning unsatisfactory
·
Insufficient funding to develop Family Literacy,
Language and Numeracy Programmes and meet PSA targets
·
Learner numbers and outreach locations may be reduced
as a result of the revised fee policy
·
Limited availability of qualified tutors
·
Limited availability of new providers
13.
½ termly reports are required from all contracted
providers with formal termly contract review meetings held which enables early
identification of potential problems. A flexible approach is necessary to
enable the planned programmes to be revised as necessary.
|
RECOMMENDATIONS
14.
That the Isle of Wight Adult and Community Learning
Plan for 2005/6 be recommended to the Full Council for approval.
|
BACKGROUND
PAPERS
15.
·
Isle of Wight Council Adult and Community Learning 3
year Development Plan 2004/7
·
Learning and Skills Council Guidance on Adult Learning
Plans
·
Adult and Community Learning Self Assessment Report
2005
·
Adult and Community Learning E Learning Strategy and Action
Plan 2005
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
16. Appendix 1 – Learner Numbers Summary
Appendix
2 – Learners by Area of Learning (FTE/Actuals)
Appendix 3 – Geographical spread of learners
Appendix 4 – Fee policy
Appendix 5 – Glossary of terms
Appendix
6 – Delivery Plan
Note:
The above Appendices are included within the Adult Learning Plan. The Adult
Learning Plan has been circulated to Members of the Executive only, it can be
viewed at the Councils website :iwight.com
Contact
Point : Jo Treagus
Adult
and Community Learning Manager
Tel:
(01983) 823823
Email:
[email protected]
|
JOHN METCALFE
Head of Cultural and Leisure Services
|
GORDON
KENDALL
Portfolio Holder for Adult and Community Services
|