REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EDUCATION

PART I

ADULT LEARNING PLAN 2002-2003

1. Part 1, Chapter 4 of the County Council's Constitution sets out the range of documents which form the County Council's policy framework, all of which need to be formally adopted by the County Council. One of these is the Adult Learning Plan, and this report seeks the County Council's approval of an Adult Learning Plan for Hampshire covering the period August 2002 to July 2003. Copies of the Adult Learning Plan have been placed in the Members' Rooms.

2. The Plan is required by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in order to secure funding for the County Council's provision for adult and community learning. A draft Plan was submitted to the LSC for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (local LSC) on 28 March 2002. A formal assessment was undertaken by a panel convened by the local LSC on 29 April 2002. The County Education Officer was subsequently informed that the draft Plan had been accepted without the need for any amendment. A report on the Adult Learning Plan was considered by the Education Policy Review Committee on 21 May 2002 and the Executive Member subsequently decided on 23 May to recommend approval of the Plan by the County Council. The main objectives of the Adult Learning Plan are to maintain support for the existing network of adult learning providers during the final year of funding guaranteed by the Secretary of State and to position the service so that continuing funding can be secured after the LSC's introduction of a national funding formula from August 2003.

3. The drafting of the Plan was influenced by two key considerations:

· a "community audit" of local demographic trends, labour market information and existing adult learning activity in the county, which was undertaken to ensure that the planned provision will address the needs of the community effectively.


· a guidance framework set by the LSC which detailed the specific information to be included.

4. The Plan proposes actions in support of six strategic objectives, with appropriate timescales and performance indicators:

· the further development of adult basic skills provision through schools and community organisations


· increased provision for family learning


· extended participation in adult learning


· increased levels of retention and achievement


· support for schools in becoming centres of learning in their communities


· improvements in the performance of the service and the quality of the provision.

5. The Plan also includes a self-assessment report linked to a development plan, showing how perceived areas for improvement will be addressed. There are 19 priority actions for improvement linked to targets and success criteria, which will be monitored by the LSC throughout the year.

6. Learning and Skills Council Funding

The core allocation in support of the Plan amounts to £1.2 million, which is an increase of 6.8% on the current year. In addition, £710,000 has been provided in support of family learning, capital works and equipment and support for the development of a management information system.

RECOMMENDATION:

That approval be given to the Adult Learning Plan 2002/03.

D.G. ALLEN

Executive Member for Education

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