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Valuing People
The Impact of the Strategy on Adult Learning
The Government White Paper sets out ambitious plans for improving the lives of people with learning disabilities and emphasises the need for a fundamental shift in attitude on the part of a range of public services and the wider community for this to happen. Valuing People provides a clear direction and creates clear objectives for all agencies working with people with learning disabilities. The objectives, developed from the consultation process, reflect the partnership approach which is central to Valuing People and clarify the Government’s expectations of all local agencies providing help to people with learning disabilities and their carers: social services, health, education, employment, housing, the Benefits Agency, transport and leisure services. Local voluntary groups and independent service providers also need to be part of the partnership.
The publication of the White Paper coincides with the most significant and far reaching reform ever enacted to post-16 learning in this country – the creation of the Learning and Skills Council [LSC]. The LSC will be a leading agent of change in realising the Government’s vision of a learning society, with partnership working seen as one of the key ways of achieving it . As effective partnerships are central to both Valuing People and the reform to post-16 learning, it is essential for adult learning providers to ensure that the needs of people with learning disabilities are addressed within current and future partnership arrangements.
The White Paper proposes to establish Learning Disability Partnership Boards in all local authority areas by October 2001, which will operate within the overall framework provided by Local Strategic Partnerships [LSPs]. These Boards will also be required to submit updated Joint Investment Plans setting out their plans for implementing the White Paper.
The Learning and Skills Act 2000 established Local Lifelong Learning Partnerships with a key role to promote learning and ensure it meets the needs of local communities. In order to implement the Government’s objectives within the White Paper, strategic planning within adult learning will need to ensure:-
 | effective mechanisms are in place so that the views of people with learning disabilities and their carers are heard by providers and the LSC. |
| local agencies operating within local strategic partnership frameworks establish firm links with each other in order to ensure local planning of provision for learners with learning disabilities is consistent and learner centred. |
| adult learning providers are represented on Learning Disability Partnership Boards. |
| local strategic partnerships take account of Government targets and performance indicators set out in the White Paper for services for people with learning disabilities. |
| Strategic planning takes account of legislation relevant to learners with learning disabilities eg The Human Rights Act 1998, Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. |
The White Paper acknowledges that many people with learning disabilities access further education, Local Education Authority adult and community education and work based training and the need to strengthen these links further at national level. Based on the Government’s objectives within the White Paper, adult learning providers will need to ensure:-
| learners with learning disabilities are fully and actively involved in all decisions affecting their learning. |
| representation of learners with learning disabilities within adult learning providers’ consultative forums/student groups. |
| self advocacy is a key component of the curriculum offered to people with learning disabilities. Developing links/partnership arrangements with the independent advocacy services proposed in the White Paper will ensure consistency and extend choice for people with learning disabilities. |
| learning opportunities address the needs of learners with learning disabilities from minority ethnic communities. |
| courses offering training for employment take account of the proposed modernisation of the Supported Employment Programme. |
| information presented to learners’ is available in accessible format for learners with learning disabilities. |
The White Paper highlights other key areas where improvements need to happen for people with learning disabilities. One which presents opportunities for adult learning providers is health education for people with learning disabilities. The Government’s objectives propose the development of a health service designed around their individual needs. Adult learning providers may wish to consider how their curriculum for learners with learning disabilities could support this, e.g. courses/classes in health education, developing partnerships with health care providers.
Another key area relates to supporting carers. Adult learning providers can present opportunities for carers to develop interests outside their caring role. NIACE has been offering Learners’ Awards for Carers for several years and has documented the benefits for family carers.
An estimated 75% of people working in the social care and health workforce are unqualified. The Government has set out general workforce strategies for health and social care staff which include developing a knowledge based approach. These opportunities will be promoted through the Local Lifelong Learning Partnerships and will impact on adult learning providers.
The White Paper contains proposals that should be welcomed by adult learning providers. It sets out the Government’s commitment to improving life chances for people with learning disabilities. It proposes how this commitment will be met by working closely with local councils, the health service, voluntary organisations and most importantly people with learning disabilities and their families/carers.
Adult learning providers have an important role to play in responding to the Government’s objectives and delivering the vision set out in the document to enable people with learning disabilities to live full and independent lives.
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Related Links:
| Valuing People and Post-16 Education - New Guidelines |
| Education and Valuing People (PDF file) |
| A NIACE Summary of the Valuing People Report (PDF file) |
| Full Text of White Paper on DoH Website (PDF file) |
| A NIACE Summary of the Implementation Guidance Circular |
| What does the Implementation Guidance Circular mean for adult learning? |
| A NIACE Briefing Sheet: Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century |
| A NIACE Briefing Sheet: Valuing People: Briefing paper for Learning Disability Partnership Boards |
