Recommendations
- The Government, in particular the Department for Education and Skills (formerly the DfEE) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, should encourage more 'alternative' learning providers such as theatres, museums, libraries, galleries to provide learning activities for older people.
- Providers should endeavour to build links with local 'alternative' learning providers and encourage them to provide learning activities for older people.
- The Learning and Skills Council should consider mapping existing learning provision and ensure that provision – and funding - builds on what is already in existence.
- Providers should engage with their local Learning and Skills Council and Learning Partnership to make them aware of the needs of older learners in your area and encourage them to provide funding for later life learning activities.
- Providers should endeavour to build consultation with older people into their provision planning processes.
- The Government and the Learning and Skills Council should consider how it can make more effective use of the media, both to stimulate interest in learning and to make people aware of the learning opportunities available to them.
- The Government and NIACE should consider how the impact of Adult Learners' Week can be increased to 'make it as successful as Red Nose Day'!
- Providers should ensure that on-going quality evaluation is built into all learning activities.
- Local Learning and Skills Councils should consider setting up 'satellites': a single place where people can go for information on the learning opportunities available to them. These could be located in GPs surgeries, libraries, anywhere easily accessible by local people.
- Providers should acknowledge the special issues faced by ethnic minority learners and build support into learning provision accordingly, e.g.: translation services for learners and materials, appropriate staff training etc.
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