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North
Warwickshire Community Partnership - Education & Life Long Learning
Key
priorities:
To
aid achievement and participation
To
encourage the most effective use of resources
- Target
services to those most in need
- Bring
greater coherence to learning initiatives in the area
- Encourage
collaborative working and sharing of information
- Ensure
sharing of information by partner agencies to identify gaps in
provision and avoid duplication
Education
and Lifelong learning is about providing opportunities for people
of all ages to acquire skills and knowledge. This may be to help
them obtain formal qualifications, the skills for a new job or simply
for the personal satisfaction that learning can bring. It covers
formal education for children from pre-school to school leaving
age; opportunities for older people to learn computer skills and
improving reading skills. It can also include family learning days,
when parents and children can sample a range of activities.
Key
Facts
North
Warwickshire has an above average number of people aged 16-74 without
any qualifications (34.2% compared with the England and Wales average
of 29.1%). Qualification levels for people aged 16-74 are considerably
lower in North Warwickshire than across the rest of the County as
well as being below the national average.
More
than a third of all residents in the wards of Atherstone Central,
Dordon, Polesworth East, Atherstone North, Hurley and Wood End,
Atherstone South / Mancetter, Baddesley and Grendon, Arley and Whitacre
and Hartshill have no qualifications.
Informations
shows that across the county over the five-year period to 2009,
primary school pupil numbers will fall by approximately 1,800 (5%).
However within North Warwickshire pupil numbers are forecast to
fall by almost twice this rate by 350 (9%) over the next five years.
This will have a major impact on local schools. North Warwickshire
has the second lowest proportion of young people choosing to continue
in education or undertake training.
Why
this is a priority
There
are lots of different ways to learn, from beginner level to advanced,
all covering a range of topics. Learning opportunities should be
provided close to where people live or work as travel can be a problem
for some. however, there are a number of challenges, which must
be addressed if progress is to be made in improving the quality
of life for local people.
Locally,
there is a higher than average proportion of people with poor literacy
and numberacy. This lack of essential skills has a knock-on effect
when people want to acquire new skills, such as learning how to
use computers and access the internet. Greater participation in
lifelong learning by raising awareness about local opportunities
will help people to improve their skills and confidence, and address
the issue of people's low expectations.
The
North Warwickshire 14-19 Strategic Area Review, 19+ Strategic Area
Review, Census statistics, and 'Barriers to Learning' research commissioned
by the Theme Group have helped to shape these priorities.
Our
key targets are:
- Deliver
50 advice and information sessions by 2006
- Ensure 20%
of people attending advice and information sessions progress
onto learning provision by 2007
- Encourage
a minimum of 100 people to attend two learning events held in
Summer 2006
- Progress
a minimum of 10% of attendees at the two summer learning events
into learning by 2007
- Increase
the total number of annual enquiries to the Nextstep information
line by 50% by 2008 based on 2005 levels
- Undertake
a survey to identify community need in one locality by May 2006
to inform the development of a multi-agency action plan by 2006
During
2006/07 we will:
Publicity
Sub Group
- Facilitate
the development of a coherent approach to publicising learning
opportunities
- Promote
the benefits of learning in communities through Learning Ambassadors
and Development Workers
- Develop
learning role models to promote learning
- Investigate
new methods of publicising and supporting learning activities
Hard
to Reach Sub Group
- Develop
events to encorage people onto learning
- Promote
and support work with BME groups and ensure links with the North
Warwickshire Race Equality Steering Group
- Support
the development of community learning facilities at schools
to increase the provision of opportunities in localities
Locality
Working Sub Group
- Ensure agencies
work together to make best use of resources when considering
the needs and aspirations within a locality
- Pilot new
approaches to multi agency working
General
Issues
- Further
develop links between schools and partners through University
of the First Age (UFA) and the Children's University
- Strengthen
engagement with the voluntary sector to widen learning opportunities
Over
the next three years we will:
- Improve
people's skills to attract a more diverse range of employers
and an increased spread of employment opportunities
- Investigate
new ways to raise achievement and aspirations, to promote learning
for pleasure
- Continue
to promote learning in all of its forms and the benefits it
can bring to the individual, their family and the wider community
- Develop
holistic solutions through community involvement and intergenerational
learning
- Respond
to emerging legislative changes to secure the best possible
outcome for the residents
Further
information can be obtained from:
- The Community
Learning Plan for North Warwickshire 2005-08
Partnerships
and organisations responsible for this priority include
- The
North Warwickshire Area Community Learning Partnership:
- Citizens
Advice Bureau
- Connexions
Service
- Coventry
and Warwickshire Council for Voluntary Service
- Employment
Training Warwickshire
- Learning
& Skills Council, Coventry and Warwickshire
- Nextstep,
Coventry and Warwickshire
- North
Warwickshire Borough Council
- North
Warwickshire and Hinckley College
- North
Warwickshire Primary Care Trust
- North
Warwickshire schools
- University
of Warwick
- Warwickshire
County Council
- Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust
- Workers'
Educational Association
Update
Good
links developed with Public Health. Linkages discussed between the
Extended Services agenda, the development of Children’s Centres
and the delivery of the Local Area Agreement and the Sustainable
Community Plan.
Date
of next meeting:
- Tuesday
5th February 2007
10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Provisional venue
Atherstone College
Policy: documents
and information
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