Informal Adult Learning

[Background] [Aims] [Audience] [Times] [Event Information] [Application Conditions] [Application Form]

Background

The Coalition Government has been in power for over 100 days, consultations have been published and responses will inform policy development. John Hayes Minister of Sate for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, announced the consultation on the future of education and skills in late July. He wanted the launch to be remembered as ‘the day when we take the first steps towards releasing the genie of adult learning, in all its power, from the lamp of excessive state control’. David Cameron recently spoke about the ‘Big Society’ in Liverpool and his wish to encourage people at local level to take more responsibility and do more to help themselves and their neighbours. As yet there has been no comment about what kind of education and what sort of learning will be necessary to support communities to be part of the ‘Big Society’ as power moves away from central government to local communities. What is the role for Informal Adult Learning here?

Why is this event so important and why is it held now?

Local authorities, colleges, third sector and not for profit organisations are all involved in the delivery of Informal Adult Learning. In most local areas these organisations form partnerships to plan and organise delivery. In the future when there will be increasing pressure to deliver more for less, whoever has the responsibility for local plans will need to work productively with partners. It is important that all the individuals and organisations involved in the Informal Adult Learning have an opportunity to contribute to how savings will be made while maintaining the quality of the learning experience.

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Aims

The event will offer an opportunity to hear about new policy development, learn from the innovative Transformation Fund projects and offer an opportunity to discuss how plans for adult learning can accommodate the new policy direction.

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Audience

Heads of Adult Learning, learning providers, MLA sector staff, third sector, learning groups, public sector organisations working in health, care, community cohesion, services for older people, children’s services, workplace learning providers and support agencies, employers, trade unions, Transformation Fund projects, Community Learning Champions and funding bodies including the Skills Funding Agency.

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Times

09:30 Arrival and Registration
13:00 Close of seminar followed by lunch.

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Programme

09:30 Arrival and registration (sandwich lunch, tea/coffee available)

10:00 Welcome and introduction to the day
Chair: Ruth Brook, Head of Service for Adult, Family & Community Learning at Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

10:10 Developing policy for Informal Adult Learning
John Gibson, Senior Policy Adviser, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)

10:40 Discussions on tables: How can we capitalise on current opportunities for informal adult learning
Groups

11:10 Informal Adult Learning – what works? Feedback from the Transformation Fund

11:30 Market Place/ A tour of informal learning projects

12:20 Question Time to panel

12:45 Lunch and market place continued

13:30 Local Authorities: What are you doing now to plan for change?

14:30 Y&H LEAFEA meeting

15:45 Close

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Event Information

• Arrival and registration is at 9:30am for a 10:00am start. The event will end at 3:00pm
• Attendance is free. Exhibitors will receive financial support to participate. A penalty fee of £20 will be charged for non-attendance
• Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed application forms (one form per person)
• Completed and signed application forms must be faxed or posted to NIACE by the closing date. 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
• 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:

 
  NIACE Events Team
  Tel: 0116 204 2833
  Fax: 0116 285 9670
  Minicom: 0116 255 6049 
  E-mail: events@niace.org.uk

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Application Conditions

• Closing Date: Thursday 29 September 2010
• Please note £20 penalty fee of any non-attendance once places have been confirmed
• Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event
• A 10 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille
• NIACE reserves the right to reject applicants who are not from the target audience list

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Application Form

(For people not using the online reservation system above)