Agenda item

Debbie Scarborough – Adult and Community Learning Service Manager, introduced the information report on the Adult and Community Learning Service, before receiving questions from the Committee, including:

In December 20019, Ofsted gave the service a ‘good’ rating. What was being done to improve to ‘outstanding’?

It was accepted that bridging the gap between ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ was a significant challenge. Ofsted had identified three areas for the service to focus on:

1.    Inconsistency in addressing grammar, spelling and punctuation. This was being addressed through additional training for staff.

2.    Data capture for how people progressed between classed and achieved their goals. The service’s data systems were due for renewal in the next six months

3.    Support and challenge from officers and Members. Officers were working hard to provide this additional support together with the new Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Youth Services.

What was the reason for the disparity between learners in the north of the Borough versus the south of the Borough?

Two thirds of learners were form the south of the Borough. This was likely due to the fact that the area had a proportionately higher number of lower skilled or unemployed residents, who were attempting to upskill with the aim of further job prospects or career development. Learners in the north tended to be an older group that chose take up more courses focussing on personal or social development, particularly during retirement. In addition, this older group were often less comfortable using online meeting tools, and so numbers had fallen during the pandemic.

How did the service measure achievement or numbers versus statistical neighbours?

The service worked with peers across London to compile annual self-assessment reports which include details of achievement. Current pass rates within Hillingdon for the last year were approximately 90%, despite the impact of the pandemic.  Numbers were harder to accurately compare, due to differences in population or funding. It was highlighted that Hillingdon had the third lowest funding in West London.

How was the service working to address potential reductions in fee funding?

Risks had been identified, such as EU learners being unable to complete settlement forms post-Brexit. To address this, forms had been simplified and support was available to help residents complete the paperwork successfully.

Older residents less comfortable with online tools had been disproportionally affected by the pandemic, through an inability to attend classes in person and a reluctance to join them online. The service was therefore instigating additional digital skills paths in order to reach these learners. It was expected that there would be a large reduction in funding through fee income, potentially due to the pandemic.

What provision was in place for those residents with disabilities or mental health issues, particularly during the pandemic?

The service had introduced an optional wellbeing self-assessment health self-assessment for learners, which was to be refined and moved to an online form. Completion of this online assessment had proven popular, likely due to the additional privacy afforded to learners. Once received, the team was well placed to provide support and target interventions, where necessary.

Tutors had received additional training on how to support those with learning difficulties to learn online, while overtures were being made to parents and carers on how to help their dependants to learn online through use of equipment or online meetings.

What additional funds were available through the Government, the Mayor of London, or the Council?

The GLA had recently granted an additional £100k for courses focussing on employment due to increased threat of redundancy due to the pandemic. However, the funding came with the caveat that qualifications were required, and so the service was trying to balance this requirement with the needs of residents.

£25k had recently been given for new equipment, with £77k approved for remainder of equipment, with the aim of increasing lending stock of chromebooks and laptops, among other resources. At times, procuring sufficient equipment from suppliers was difficult, due to overall marketplace demand.

Government funding levels were allocated to different boroughs based on historical figures, and had not been reived in many years. The GLA could potentially be reviewing funding in the future. It was highlighted that the service had been overdelivering against funding targets for the past 3 years to meet demand and make a case for increased funding.

Members discussed whether the topic should be selected as the Committee’s next review.

Some Members were opposed, and considered that as the service had been rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted, and had adapted to the pandemic well, it was therefore felt that a review into the service was premature or unneeded. On the matter of additional funding for the HACL, it was suggested that Cabinet could plug any gaps in funding during the pandemic. Instead, it was suggested that Youth Services should be the subject to the next review.

Other Members suggested that the topic should be selected, and highlighted some of the areas such a review could focus on, including how the service was focussing on re-training or preparing residents to re-enter employment following loss of employment due to Covid-19, the impact of increased demand, a review of current courses and potential for new courses, cultural diversity within learner groups and how the service was engaging with ethnic minorities, and how the service was helping the public to manage stress and mental health within its cohorts. 

The matter was put to a vote, and it was agreed that the topic be selected as the Committee’s next review, by a vote of 6 to 2. (Councillor Morgan did not vote on the item due to a loss of connection during discussion.)

RESOLVED: 

1.    That the report be noted; and

2.    That the Hillingdon Adult and Community Learning service be selected as the Committee’s next review topic.

1.    s next review topic.