NIACE has been commissioned by learning disability charity, Mencap, to undertake research into learning provision for adults with learning disabilities. Despite significant policy
Protestors take part in a day of action against cuts to teaching of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). The protests included a mass teach-in at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, as well as rallies and marches across the country. A 20,000-name petition was delivered to 10 Downing Street, with campaigners warning that non-English speakers will be ‘caught in a trap of low-wage, insecure work’. A spokesman for the Action for ESOL campaign said: ‘This disastrous policy will leave many people without the opportunity to learn English. It contradicts every statement the government has made about the importance of migrants learning English.’
Learning champions get more than 100,000 adults learning
INFORMAL ADULT LEARNING In less than 18 months, 2,000 community learning champions have encouraged more than 100,000 people – 70 per cent of them unemployed – to take up learning in some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities, according to a report published to mark the end of the programme. The Community Learning Champions
Support Programme was funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and delivered by NIACE, unionlearn, the Workers’ Educational Association and Martin Yarnit Associates. Since its launch in October 2009, it has funded 50 projects across the country to give volunteers the necessary skills and support to promote learning in their homes, workplaces and communities. Although the national support programme has come to an end, the government is to examine the future role of Community Learning Champions in its review of informal adult and community learning. John Hayes, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said the government was passionate about informal adult and community learning’s contribution to civil society, personal development and support for families.
‘The achievements of projects like the Community Learning Champions are proof that our ambition of building a Big Society can be realised,’ Mr Hayes said. The report calls on local and national government to recognise the contribution of community learning champions, particularly in encouraging and enabling people to take part in informal adult community provision, and recommends that the national support programme be supported and maintained. The report also proposes that informal adult and community learning budget- holders – whether colleges, local authorities or voluntary-sector bodies – should plan to mainstream community learning champions as part of the future shape of local learning services, as brokers, information and guidance advisers, learning mentors, organisers of provision and trainee tutors.
Budget-holders, it says, should seek to develop adequate support for community learning champions, including continuing professional development programmes that enable progression to employment within the sector, such as learning support, teaching assistance, initial teacher training, and information, advice and guidance.
developments and research regarding young people there has been little focus on adults. Recent legislative changes – in particular the dissolution of the Learning and Skills Council and the creation of the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People’s Learning Agency – could mean a significant number of adults with learning disabilities are missing out on opportunities to take part in learning. The research, which is due to be completed by the end of June 2011, will examine the number of people with a learning disability accessing post-16 provision; the types of provision being accessed; the length of time spent in provision and learners’ aims post-further education; and details of recent changes to FE provision and the numbers of learners this has impacted upon. As part of the research NIACE will analyse national data as well as undertaking more detailed work with major providers in a number of local authority areas. Up to six local authorities areas are being sought to take part in the research. To register an interest or for more information contact:
fiona.aldridge@
niace.org.uk.
“
QUOTE UNQUOTE This government is a
huge supporter of informal adult and community learning. We are passionate about its contribution to civil society, personal development and support for families. The achievements of projects like the Community Learning Champions are proof that our ambition of building a Big Society can be realised.
John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning
” APRIL 2011 ADULTS LEARNING 5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32