LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS TRAINING NEWSLETTER Please note that you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here for a copy of the LP Training Newsletter (PDF - 427K) LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS – OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE FOR LOCAL LSCs FOR 2004-05 The LSC has recently published 'Learning Partnership Operational Guidance for local Learning and Skills Councils 2004-05' which sets out the policy, planning and budgeting arrangements for 2004-05 for Learning Partnerships.   The guidance reflects the recent consultation carried out by the LSC, using research from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and the responses of individuals and organisations.  The background and outcomes of the Review are included in the Guidance.  Please note that you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here for a copy of the LP Operational Guidance 2004-05 (PDF - 44K) LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL GRANT LETTER 2004-05 On 4 December the Secretary of State Charles Clark addressed the Learning and Skills Council at their fourth Annual Conference in London. He used the occasion to formally hand over the LSC’s Grant Letter for 2004-05. This is the first grant letter to the Council since the arrival of the new Chief Executive, Mark Haysom. This grant letter reaffirms the financial resources that the Secretary of State has allocated to the Council for 2004-05 to ensure that the Council gives priority to securing shared Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets, and to continue to deliver the objectives set out in the remit letter of November 2000. Please note that you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here for a copy of the LSC Grant Letter 2004-05 (PDF - 359K) PROGRAMME OF PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT FOR LEARNING PARTNERSHIP MANAGERS DfES and the ODPM’s Neighbourhood Renewal Unit have contracted with The Training Exchange to deliver a Professional Support and Development Programme for Learning Partnership Managers. The programme itself has been designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of a wide variety of individual backgrounds, skills and experience. The training will be delivered at two levels. One programme is for less experienced LP Managers and includes basic management skills training. The other programme is for more experienced managers and is at post graduate level. There will also be a number of regional seminars on a variety of related topics (including Neighbourhood Renewal and Regeneration), available for all who work with LPs. The Training Exchange have contacted all LPs and asked them to express interest in both programmes and seminars. The deadline for reply passed at the end of last month (October). The response was very encouraging considerably exceeding the 25 places available for each programme. Over 80 people expressed interest in Programme One and well over a 100 people in Programme Two with over 120 people showing interest in the seminar programme. All those who expressed interest are being contacted to assess their individual needs in order to allocate places. Due to the overwhelming interest shown, priority on place allocation will be given to LP Managers, who were the intended target area for the training in the first place, but every effort will be made to fill the needs of all other applicants. The first of the seminars on Promotion and the Media have taken place in two regions (South West and Yorks & Humberside) and more are planned for early next year. It is planned that the first programme modules and courses will commence early in January 2004. Modules, courses and seminars will then run until the end of the contracted period of 31 March 2005. GREEN PAPER “Every Child Matters” DfES is carrying out a consultation on the proposals contained in the Children's Green Paper, Every Child Matters. It sets out wide ranging reforms including: an independent Children's Commissioner to champion children's views; a new Director of Children's Services in every local authority; improved information sharing between services; more multi-agency teams based in and around extended schools and Children's Centres; new duties of police, health and others to safeguard children; an integrated inspection framework for children's services overseen by Ofsted; a national campaign to recruit more foster parents; and a workforce reform package to make working with children a more attractive career, and improve the skills and effectiveness of the children's workforce. To contribute to the consultation, download the Green Paper and find other resources visit the website at www.dfes.gov.uk/everychildmatters THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS : DeFRA Select Committee Report The creation of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in June 2001 was significant in that it established for the first time in England a government department with specific responsibility for representing the interests of rural areas. Education is a key public service and one which presents special challenges for providers in rural communities. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee was given the task to examine how Defra works within government to facilitate the effective delivery of education in rural areas. The Committee did find examples of good practice where Defra and the Countryside Agency had offered practical solutions to particular issues for education providers in rural areas. However, the Committee concluded that, in respect of education, Defra has some way to go before it can be considered to be an effective department for rural affairs. Please note that you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here for a copy of the report 'The Delivery of Education in Rural Areas' - Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (PDF - 204K) LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS CONTRIBUTION TO COLLABORATION AND LOCAL REGENERATION The review of Learning Partnerships in 2002-03 identified two core roles for Learning Partnerships: Continuing to promote provider collaboration; and Maximising the contribution of Learning Partnerships to Local Regeneration. Please note that you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here for Collaboration: Learning Partnerships and Stakeholders - A Guide (PDF - 813K) Click here for Learning Partnerships: Maximising the Contribution of Learning to Local Regeneration (PDF - 196K) There are more documents on Learning Partnership Collaboration and Local Regeneration in the Library section of this website under Guidance and Good Practice. CONTACT DETAILS Please can I remind all Learning Partnership Managers and Chairs to check the Partnerships page on this website and inform the Learning Partnerships Team of any amended or new contact details. These should be forwarded to Luisa Sivori, W3b, Moorfoot, or e-mailed to luisa.sivori@dfes.gsi.gov.uk.