Contact: Lionel Paris, Head of Adult and Community Learning; ext. 6848, e-mail; [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report informs the Executive Member of various developments in the County Council's provision of adult learning and the funding relationship with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council. It highlights the changes planned for 2006/2007 and introduces the updated Adult Learning Three-Year Development Plan, 2006/2007 to 2008/2009.

1.2 The report explains the main external influences which are impacting on the service and describes the responses being made. This includes a 7.3% reduction in the overall grant from the Learning and Skills Council.

1.3 The Executive Member is invited to note the report prior to approving the Adult Learning Three-Year Development Plan.

1.4 The Adult Learning Three-Year Development Plan supports all six aims of the Corporate Strategy - Maximising life opportunities by securing high quality learning opportunities through existing and new provision; Stewardship of the environment by enabling local delivery of services in support of sustainable communities; Achieving economic prosperity by ensuring the continuous development of skills, qualifications and individual achievement by learners; Building safe and strong communities by developing effective partnerships locally, regionally and nationally in the planning and delivery of adult learning; Improving services by promoting a culture of continuous improvement throughout the service and ensuring value is added for learners; Developing councillors and staff through access to a professional development programme meeting the needs of staff groups and individuals.

1.5 The Plan supports all five outcomes of Every Child Matters and draws down LSC funding for Family Learning which contributes to the wider implementation of the Change for Children programme and the development of children's centres and extended schools.

1 Background

1.1 The Adult and Community Learning Unit's (ACLU) provision is designed and delivered to meet the respective objectives of the County Council and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The funding available to the ACLU for the delivery of the service is largely received through the annual contract with the local LSC. The County Council's contribution remains at less than 10% of the budget. Provision continues to be secured mainly through funding agreements with a range of organisations including schools, early years and children's centres, voluntary and community organisations, and other County Council services and departments. The ACLU has started some direct delivery of Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy (FLLN) programmes using specialist staff working in local settings.

1.2 The Government's strategic approach for adult learning continues to give priority to the higher achievement of basic skills in order to improve employability, as described in the Secretary of State's Grant Letter for 2006/2007 sent to the Chairman of the LSC on 30 October 2005. The LSC was asked to continue the safeguard for Personal and Community Development Learning (PCDL) but to shift the pattern of learning. Funding for courses which do not lead to national qualifications is being reduced. Colleges, local authorities and other providers are expected to offer a wider range of programmes delivered at full cost to offset the fall in the number of learner places supported by public funding. At the same time, the DfES prospectus Extended Schools - providing opportunities and services for all recognises the delivery of adult and family learning as a core service in the development of both extended schools and children's centres.

1.3 The Adult Learning Inspectorate's report dated 24 February 2006 on the ACLU's provision for adult and community learning identified the following key challenges for the County Council:

· improve the standards of teaching and learning

· extend and develop curriculum leadership

· improve initial assessment and the planning of individual learning

· improve the sharing of good practice

· maintain the good partnerships and widening participation.

1.4 The local LSC has indicated that the County Council will continue to be supported in 2006/2007 through a block grant which includes a number of different elements. Funding for family learning programmes has been increased by nearly 2% (below inflation). Previously, First Step programmes (which link learners to courses leading to level 2 qualifications) have been supported from core funding but from 2006/2007 there will be a separate funding stream outside the safeguarded allocation. This may have a future significance. The core funding has also been reduced. The net impact on the LSC's overall allocation will be an actual reduction of £150,000 (7.3%).

1.5 The local LSC's funding allocations for the period August 2006 to July 2007 and the County Council's contribution are as follows:

1.6 Table 1 : Adult learning budget 2006/2007

2 Adult Learning Three-Year Development Plan 2006/2007 to 2008/2009

2.1 Payment of the LSC's allocations is dependent upon approval of the Plan and agreement on the number of target learners in each category of provision. The information and data are presented in a format set by the LSC. The Plan is accompanied by various appendices, including the following key components:

· Adult and Family Learning Programmes in Hampshire 2006/2007 - a booklet made available to all providers which lists the courses which the ACLU will fund, the level of funding available for different programmes, the essential requirements expected of providers, the fees policy and an invitation to apply for funding.

· Self-Assessment Report (SAR) for 2004/2005 and the Quality Improvement Plan (QuIP) 2006/2007. The SAR is produced in September after the end of each year. The recent inspection focussed on the current report, which was found to be "largely accurate and suitably critical". The QuIP has been updated and responds to various issues raised by the inspectors.

· A Curriculum Strategy, E-Learning Strategy and `Skills for Life' Strategy for 2006/2007

· An Equalities Action Plan for 2006/2007

3 Main changes for 2006/2007

3.1 The ACLU has been charged with maintaining existing partnerships in order to continue to widen participation; increasing specialist support and sharing good practice in order to raise standards in teaching and learning; maintaining the current level of leadership and management; continuing to adapt to the changing national priorities for adult learning - whilst working within a budget reduced in real terms by £200,000. A number of significant changes are planned in response.

3.2 Learner numbers - In response to the reduced funding and in line with the direction given by Government, the support for Personal and Community Development Programmes is being reduced. There will be a planned reduction of 2,450 learners in LSC supported programmes. Community schools and other providers will be encouraged to expand their full-cost programmes and it is hoped that most of these places will continue to be offered. The proposed learner number in each category of learning for 2006/2007 is as follows:

Table 2 : Target learner numbers for LSC-supported programmes

About 5,000 additional learners have engaged in full cost PCDL courses during 2005/2006. It is expected that the total will increase by 1,500 in 2006/2007.

3.3 Curriculum changes - Nationally, the adult curriculum is grouped into 14 subject sectors or areas of learning. Currently, the ACLU supports programmes in 12 subject sectors. However, the number of learners in some sectors is relatively small. Developments expected post-inspection include the improvement of curriculum support, co-ordination and the sharing of good practice within the subject categories. After wide consultation with the network of providers, it is proposed that the curriculum offer will be contained within 6 subject sectors as follows:

· health, public services and care

· information and communications technology

· leisure , travel and tourism

· arts, media and publishing

· languages, literature and culture

· preparation for life and work

Part-time Subject Sector Specialist posts are being created to provide curriculum leadership for tutors and to deliver quality improvement in each subject sector.

3.4 Provider changes - Small providers are being encouraged to group with others into clusters, so as to reduce the number of funding agreements and consequently the number of data returns, self-assessment reports and monitoring visits.

3.5 Family learning programmes - The ACLU has achieved a significant growth in this area over the past three years. The demand for courses has been in excess of the funding available. To date, participation has been free and targeted at learners with low levels of basic skills. However, many places have been taken by well-qualified parents who could afford to pay a fee. A number of changes are being planned in order to widen participation, to make more effective use of the available resource and improve quality. These include:

· The funding support will be based on an allocation per learner per hour, rather than per session as currently.

· The eligibility criteria for free participation has been widened from pre-level 2 learners to include learners from areas of recognised disadvantage, families within the 12 Communities Project -Better Chances, Better Lives , families from ethnic minority communities, families of asylum seekers, those at risk of exclusion eg through homeless, mental health, drug or alcohol problems, parents/carers needing specialist support/intervention (typically identified through inter-agency working).

· Other parents/carers who are likely to hold level 2 qualifications and be able to contribute financially to the cost, will be asked to pay a fee of £2 per hour (approximately half the hourly rate for PCDL courses).

· The direct delivery of some programmes in Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy by qualified tutors appointed by the ACLU will increase, leading to improved learner achievement. Other providers will be expected to appoint tutors with an adult teaching qualification as a condition of funding for these and other Family Learning programmes.

· The ACLU is working with the Parent Development Team and the Early Education and Childcare Unit to achieve greater coherence and more consistency in the delivery of parenting programmes, particularly within children's centres and extended schools.

3.6 Fees - The fees policy has been revised so that the contribution towards the cost of delivering PCDL courses by learners will increase to 60 - 65%. Hourly charges will range from £3.10 to £4.10. Providers will continue to offer discounts of 25% for those over 60 and 50% for those on low income. The fee bands reflecting historical variations between different areas of the county have been narrowed, as part of a longer term strategy to achieve standard fees. First Steps and Skills for Independent Living and Leisure programmes will continue to be free to targeted learners.

4 Learndirect

5.1 The ACLU has worked in partnership with the Library Service to establish Learndirect provision in Waterlooville Library and Gosport Discovery Centre. This has been funded through a separate contract with the Hampshire and Solent Learning Hub, which has been commissioned to secure provision by the University for Industry. Adults are supported to learn `on-line' from a wide range of interactive learning materials. The University for Industry (UfI) is making radical changes to the national infrastructure supporting and delivering Learndirect. The intermediary learning hubs have been dismantled and the UfI is negotiating contracts directly with large providers. The ACLU has had to invest additional funds in the development and management of the current provision. This has become problematic with the reduced budget for 2006/2007 and there are uncertainties about the future funding arrangements with the UfI. The continuing service and future expansion across the library network has a strategic importance to the Library Service. The ACLU has entered into negotiations with the UfI for a contract under the new arrangements, on behalf of the County Council. Agreement has been reached with the Director that responsibility for managing the new contract will move across to the Recreation and Heritage Department when the current contract ends on 31 July. There is a commitment to grow the provision across libraries and discovery centres and the department is better placed to lead this development. Arrangements are in hand for three staff presently employed by the ACLU to be transferred to the Recreation and Heritage Department. This will achieve a small saving in the ACLU budget, whilst ensuring that the provision continues.

5 Legal implications

None

6 Financial implications

7.1 The financial implications are included in the report.

7 Personnel implications

7.1 Staff already on contract will be paid additional hours to act as 6 Subject Sector Specialists to deliver some of the necessary improvements highlighted in the inspection report. Three posts are transferring to the Recreation and Heritage Department from 1 August 2006. There may be further changes to roles and posts during the year, but all changes will be funded from within the available budget.

8 Impact assessment

8.1 A full race and equality impact assessment has been carried out on the Adult Learning Three-Year Development Plan 2006/2007 to 2008/2009. A copy of the summary report is attached as appendix 1 to this report. The full report has been published on the ACLU's website ( www.hampshireadultlearning.co.uk ). The ACLU has policies and procedures in place which ensure a positive impact and support a fully inclusive service. The report by the Adult Learning Inspectorate confirmed that the ACLU's arrangements for ensuring equality of opportunity are satisfactory and highlighted some good practice. The Adult Learning Development Plan includes an Equalities Action Plan for 2006/2007. Specific improvements are included in the full report of the impact assessment.

9 Crime prevention issues

9.1 The delivery of adult learning on school sites out of school hours ensures a presence, helps deter vandalism and improves security.

10 Views of the Local County Councillor

The report relates to the development of the service across the whole county.

Recommendations

1 That the Executive Member for Education approves the Adult Learning Three-Year Development Plan for 2006/2007 to 2008/2009 and it be presented to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council for funding in 2006/2007.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None.

Appendix 1

Race and Equality Impact Assessment

Summary Report