National Learning Partnerships Network Chair’s introduction I would like to take just a brief moment of your time to introduce myself and explain how the latest developments in the National Learning Partnership Network (NLPN), established on April 2003, could be of benefit to your work in learning and skills development. My name is Michael Bellairs and I took over the post of NLPN Chair in April 2004, having been involved with Learning Partnerships since their inception in 1999. The last 20 years of my career have been spent in education and learning, as a qualified teacher, a training consultant to local businesses and an education & training manager with a local Training & Enterprise Council (TEC) before becoming involved with two northwest Learning Partnerships. Along with the elected members of the NLPN Executive Group I now also represent 104 Learning Partnerships and 9 regional networks. The NLPN is a subscribed membership network with a vision to ‘establish the NLPN as a key strategic partnership for Lifelong Learning’ and an aim to promote at a national level, the local and regional role of learning partnership in future development, implementation and achievement of national initiatives to support the vision’. The regional networks bring together well-established local learning partnerships providing a wide representation of organisations involved in learning and skills development and are well placed to support any national, regional, sub-regional and local strategies. I am well aware of the many national and regional key strategic players and firmly believe that the NLPN can and should work collaboratively with organisations to develop and implement effective regional strategies and local delivery mechanisms; ensuring the achievement of national targets and economic regeneration, particularly in deprived areas and disadvantaged groups. Recent key documents have re-emphasised the position of Learning Partnerships, clarifying their role within the ever-changing learning environment. Within Local Strategic Partnership areas there are local learning partnerships specifically focused on bringing together parties who can promote learning and skills to support community development. …... we must invest in supporting those involved in delivery. (The Department for Education & Skills (DfES) strategy - 21st Century Skills (Realising our Potential – Individuals, Employers, Nation Page 106, Paragraph 7.23) Local LSCs should adhere to the principles ……. to ensure national consistency in the treatment of LPs. In particular…….. that established LPs are the first choice for meeting our obligation to “sustain local partnerships in every area” to promote provider collaboration and maximise the input of learning to local regeneration. (LSC Operational Guidance for local Learning and Skills Councils, covering the period April 2004 to March 2005.) This latter role [Maximising the contribution of learning to local regeneration] will mean that Learning Partnerships will play an important future role in developing learning opportunities in neighbourhood renewal. (The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU) - The Learning Curve, Developing Skills & Knowledge for Neighbourhood Renewal Page 32) In such an ever-changing environment as education and learning I am sure, like myself, you appreciate the many benefits gained from working as effective networks. I, or any of the other regional representatives listed below, would be only to pleased to discuss how the NLPN and your organisation can work together over the next year and more if necessary in order to establish the effective promotion of learning and the further development of collaborative working at regional and sub-regional levels. Representative Learning Partnership Region Mike Bellairs Halton North West Ann Canham Lincs & Rutland East Midlands Jeanette Trafford Durham North East Roy Brown Peterborough Eastern Paul Olver Herefordshire West Midlands Anne Shaw Doncaster Yorks & Humber Brian Payne Buckinghamshire South East Lee Thomas North London London To be advised   South West Or you can contact Susan Smith, NLPN Support, on 07803 932778 or email: susan@spsmith1.f9.co.uk Mike Bellairs Chair Nation Learning Partnership Network Terms of Reference (TOR) NLPN Chair's Feedback Executive Group Meetings Good Practice Guides National Conference (October 2004) Rural Learning Partnership Network