Informal Adult and Community Learning Consultation Seminars

[Background] [Aims and Audience] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions]

These seminars are designed to support the Government’s review of Informal Adult and Community Learning (IACL), which is an integral part of the wider consultation across a range of areas in New Challenges, New Chances - Next Steps in Implementing the Further Education Reform Programme in August 2011.

New Challenges, New Chances sets out proposals for taking forward the strategy for further education and skills published in Skills for Sustainable Growth and Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth in November 2010. New Challenges, New Chances contains one overall consultation and two more detailed consultations focusing on Further Education loans and informal adult and community learning respectively.

Background

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) invests £210 million per year in IACL through the Adult Safeguarded Learning budget. Skills for Sustainable Growth announced the protection of this budget in the Government’s 2010 spending review settlement, subject to a review of BIS-funded IACL in order to maximise its role in: 

• supporting relevant Government policy objectives, such as building the Big Society
• motivating people from disadvantaged groups to learn and progress, including to further learning and employment.

In line with the Government’s localism agenda, the IACL consultation also asks important questions about how to achieve an appropriate balance between national policy objectives and local planning and decision-making.

As part of the review, NIACE is conducting a survey to gather the views of learners and would-be learners who have an interest in informal adult and community learning. You can find the survey at http://www.niace.org.uk/current-work/the-iacl-review.

NIACE has produced materials and tools to help teachers gather the views of learners and other individuals, available http://www.niace.org.uk/current-work/the-iacl-review

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Aims and Audience

At these events we will discuss key aspects of the IACL consultation, set in the wider context of the FE Reform Programme, and encourage engagement with all aspects of the New Challenges, New Chances consultation.

The events will enable adult learning providers and other organisations with an interest in this area of learning to meet with BIS representatives and colleagues from the field. You will find out more about the aims of the wider consultation across the whole FE Reform Programme as well as taking part in discussions on key aspects of the detailed IACL consultation that will support you and other participants to shape, share and refine views to inform your consultation response.

The event objectives are to:

• set the IACL review in the context of the broader FE Reform Programme;
• brief stakeholders on the Government's vision for IACL and content of the consultation;
• provide opportunities for participants to consider the future vision for IACL, debate the issues
  and share ideas to inform their consultation responses;
• encourage participants to respond to the consultations;
• introduce the online survey and materials developed to encourage and support learners and would-be learners to have their say about the future of Informal Adult and Community Learning.

These consultation seminars will be relevant to all organisations who provide or have an interest in Informal Adult and Community Learning, including:

• FE colleges
• Local authorities
• Voluntary and community sector organisations
• Trade unions
• Training providers
• Funding and support agencies
• Representative organisations.

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Programme

10:45  Arrival and registration (tea/coffee available)

11:00  Welcome and introduction
           Jane Ward, Programme Manager, NIACE

11:10  Introduction to New Challenges, New Chances and the IACL consultation
          Liz Lawson, BIS

11:30  Round table discussions
          Three consultation challenges and questions

12:30  Feedback activity – solutions
          Jane Ward, Programme Manager, NIACE

12:40  The individual and group consultation

13:00  Lunch – informal networking and discussion

13:45  Welcome back, activity introduction
           Jane Ward, Programme Manager, NIACE

13:50  Round table discussions
          Three consultation challenges and questions

14:50  Feedback activity – solutions
          Jane Ward, Programme Manager, NIACE

15:05  Next steps
          Liz Lawson, BIS

15:15  Tea and depart

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Event Information

Arrival and registration is at 10:45am for a 11:00am start. The event will end at 3:15pm.

Event fee per person: £0 (includes sandwich lunch, tea/coffee).

Only online application forms will be processed.

Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed online application forms (one online application form per person).

Video cameras may be in use at this event. If you do not wish to be photographed or appear on the video outputs please indicate this on the application form and make yourself known at registration.

Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions.

If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact: events@niace.org.uk

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Application Conditions

Event: Wednesday 14 September 2011, London

Event: Monday 19 September 2011, Leicester

Event: Wednesday 21 September 2011, Stockport

Closing date: Wednesday 7 September 2011

Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event.

A 15 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille.

Places are to be reserved online – scroll up and click on Apply Now.

Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted.

Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail.

Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be e-mailed out one week before the event.

NIACE reserves the right to reject applicants who are not from the target audience list.

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