Agenda item

The Service Manager - Adult & Community Learning presented the report on Hillingdon Adult and Community Learning (HACL) Self-Assessment which summarised the effectiveness of the service provided to residents by HCAL during the 2021 -21 academic year.

Annually, HCAL was required by the Department for Education (DfE), to produce a Self-Assessment Report (SAR) summarising the quality of the education provided to residents as a result of public funding. The report had been shared with the Cabinet Member for Families, Education and Wellbeing prior to being submitted to the DfE and Committee. The SAR outlined the areas of strengths, key improvements, the impact of what the service did and how money was spent. It was highlighted that 85% of learners were women who lived in the south of the Borough and the most disadvantaged people were targeted. The impacts of the covid pandemic were explained to the Committee and it was noted that older and vulnerable people with disabilities had found it particularly challenging to adapt to online resources.

Further information on the breakdown of course attendance and age groups of students would be provided to Members. It was noted that it was difficult to collect specific information due to GDPR restrictions however, on average, most learners ranged from 28 to 60. The eldest learner pre pandemic was 100 and elder learners mostly did non accredited courses. It was explained that the reason why students stopped courses was due to different circumstances and general life changes

During Member questions, it was highlighted that people with low basic and digital skills were targeted and digital inclusion was high on the list of priorities. There was a course available for students that delivered these essential skills. 

It was recognised that the recommendations from the previous Resident, Education and Environmental Services Policy Overview Committee’s review of HCAL had helped the service. The review had allowed the team to identify what worked well and reinforced the need for accountability, the review had led to a rebranding of some of the services provided and generally increased awareness and engagement with Members and the public. It was confirmed that the Council was working on the recommendation to create a robust bid to the Greater London Authority for additional funding and data was being collated.

During Member questions, it was noted that staff and volunteers were encouraged to attend mental health courses to increase professional development. In previous years, HCAL had received funding which enabled staff to be paid and mental health and domestic abuse training had been delivered.

Although there were employability related training interventions for people with learning disabilities, employment was still an area of challenge and work was being done to develop relationships. There was a jobs board that was updated regularly, close liaison with representatives from the Job Centre Plus, online careers fayres both in person and virtually, strong links with the national careers service, workshops had been arranged and employability was embedded into all courses. It was explained that there had been a number of students that had trained as teaching assistants however obtaining work experience was challenging in the current circumstances due to pandemic restrictions and the financial pressures.

The Committee considered that there were many strengths of the service and concluded that HCAL provided a good service that had risen to the challenges of covid. Members commended officers for their work in growing the offer and supporting vulnerable residents.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

1.    reviewed and noted the report; and

2.    provided support and challenge to the service manager as a result of that oversight.