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Commentary - June 2007

As one door closes...

The closure of the Basic Skills Agency was met with sadness in the field but it has paved the way for a new, cradle-to-grave alliance on basic skills, writes PETER LAVENDER

A new alliance offering a real cradle-to-grave partnership on basic skills was launched this month. The Alliance for Lifelong Learning, which will form one of the largest organisations working in basic skills in the country, will concentrate on the needs of all, and builds on the work, reputation and experience of three organisations – NIACE, the Basic Skills Agency (BSA) and Tribal Education Limited.

Created more than 30 years ago as an agency of NIACE, the BSA went through several name changes before emerging as an all-age basic skills agency, funded mainly by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Welsh Assembly Government. It identified, developed and disseminated innovation and knowledge in basic skills teaching and learning as well as managing large-scale contracts, including the Welsh Assembly Government’s Basic Skills Strategy. NIACE has worked with the BSA for many years, in areas like financial literacy and on young adults’ basic skills. When the decision was taken to cease funding the agency NIACE had little hesitation in stepping forward to employ the staff and continue the work. On 1 July the BSA will merge with NIACE, enabling the work to continue, stronger than ever. Understanding what this might mean for everyone in the field is worth reflection.

NIACE, like the BSA, has a strong reputation in literacy, language and numeracy work. Campaigns, such as Quick Reads and ‘Say What You Like’, provide material and motivation for new readers and promote the voices of learners. NIACE’s recent work on supporting teachers and union learning reps around dyslexia is a further way of reaching more and different people who in turn can reach others. Our work on English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) continues apace, providing information to the field, enhancing the materials for citizenship work, and supporting the national ESOL Forum for the DfES. NIACE is also at the heart of making a real difference for those learners who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities when learning literacy, language and numeracy. We are an active consortium member of the National Research and Development Centre (NRDC).

We are also an advocacy body and that means we aim to improve the lot of adult learners wherever they are, whether by improving the quality of provision or the way in which provision reaches new learners and adapts to their requirements. We think we are useful as a critical friend to government. This makes for an uneasy balance between working to support the national strategy and speaking up when we think policy makers or funders may have got it wrong.  Our experience is that most decisions that work against adult learners are unintended. That’s why it’s important to look at things from the learners’ viewpoint where we can, and to be a critical friend, not a carping and grumpy nodding acquaintance. This takes trust, sensitivity and appropriate use of expertise.

And we aren’t alone. Although the BSA name may disappear, a new relationship with Tribal Education Limited to take forward the BSA’s work through both organisations increases our reach and expertise in basic skills. The new Alliance for Lifelong Learning will provide opportunities for enhancing the national Skills for Life strategy and will keep alive the all-age work that the BSA championed. It will mean that we can ensure there are no gaps between phases and the learning is harvested and shared, with Tribal managing the work with children and NIACE with adults. For some new work we will collaborate but sometimes we won’t. That’s what partnership is about: preserving our separateness and identity but combining where there is value to be added by doing so. Together we aim to make a bigger difference in not only the Skills for Life strategy but in supporting the Welsh Assembly Government’s decision to take the BSA work into the administration, and supporting work with schools in England.

So what will we do from now on? The alliance is committed to high-quality basic skills work across the age range. There are enormous tasks ahead. The Government, in responding to Leitch, continues to put functional skills at the heart of the education and training agenda. But there is more to this agenda than Leitch, of course; there is a community development and social justice role for literacy, language and numeracy learning too. In both England and Wales, there are challenges to be met: building the capacity of the workforce, enhancing the achievement of learners, promoting participation and developing creative and flexible resources to make a difference. We think numeracy and maths, intensive learning opportunities and better-quality teaching can make a difference. We won’t do it alone: in partnership with others we can achieve much more. NIACE is up for this.

Peter Lavender is Director for Research, Development and Information, NIACE

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