Role of Learning Partnerships
17 January 2000
Learning Partnerships bring together existing local partnership arrangements covering post-16 and lifelong learning into single strategic bodies. Their development stems from a joint commitment by central government and the representative bodies of the Further Education, Training and Enterprise Council, Careers Service and local government sectors.
Learning Partnerships play a key role in the Government's social inclusion and regeneration agendas. Their key objectives are to widen participation in learning, increase attainment, improve standards and meet the skills challenge.
All 100 local Learning Partnerships include representatives of local education authorities, Training and Enterprise Councils, Further Education sector colleges and careers services. Many have a much wider membership including schools, Higher Education, employers and others with an interest in post-16 learning locally.
Learning Partnerships will have a key role in supporting the Government's reforms of post-16 learning as set out in the White Paper 'Learning to Succeed'. In her speech at the Learning to Succeed Through Partnerships conference on 27 October, Baroness Blackstone outlined two key roles for Learning Partnerships:
- Firstly, they will reach out into local communities and find out what it is that local people really need. They will provide the new local arms of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) with invaluable information on youth, adult and community learning needs and on employer skill needs.
- Secondly, Learning Partnerships will provide a forum for collaboration enabling local providers and others to work together to ensure education and training provision is as efficient and cost-effective as possible. They can ensure that gaps in local provision are filled and that duplication is avoided by co-ordinating local curriculum planning and staff development.
Learning Partnerships know and understand the local conditions that influence the decisions people make. They can identify local solutions to local problems and ensure that everyone, even in the most difficult areas, is encouraged and has the opportunity to participate in learning. They will work closely with Education Business Partnerships to ensure employer involvement in learning is real and effective.
Learning Partnerships and local LSCs will be distinct but complementary. The local LSCs will cover relatively large areas and their work will need to be informed by an understanding of local labour market needs. Learning Partnerships are ideally placed to provide that understanding. Learning Partnerships will continue to be voluntary groupings of education and training providers and users with a more local focus; identifying local needs and representing them to the local LSCs.
Learning Partnerships will also continue to bring coherence and co-ordination to post-16 learning in their areas, to identify local targets which underpin the post-16 National Learning Targets, and make proposals for raising standards and improving the quality of provision in a local learning plan in preparation for the new post 16 arrangements.
LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION
A partnership approach to developing the Learning Gateway model is being taken forward in Wiltshire & Swindon:
- the Careers Service and TEC initially developed an action plan, linking this to the Learning Partnership's objectives;
- the Learning Partnership has taken ownership of the strategy and action plan for Learning Gateway, and has set up a task group to tackle specific elements of the plan;
- the task group involves a broad range of partners including Careers,TEC, Local Authorities, Probation Service, Police, Youth Service;
- specific tasks which the task group is taking forward include:
- developing a joint Learning Gateway database which details the Lifeskills options provided by approved suppliers;
- developing criteria for approved Lifeskills Supplier status and the systems required for vetting and building capacity within the partnership;
- developing an innovative and cost-effective incentive scheme to encourage disengaged young people back into learning;
- a training programme to support the delivery of the Learning Gateway.
In Oxfordshire, the Learning Partnership is looking at the feasibility of introducing a joint database to track young people's inclusion and transition between learning opportunities.
An innovative initiative associated with improving access in Lewisham has been transmitted across other areas within the London South Partnership area. The initiative involves the concept of a 'learning party' - like a Tupperware party but focusing on NVQs.
Northamptonshire Learning Partnership has developed a leaflet for post-16 students outlining the support available to them for learning, pulling together all the options available to young people from the partners in the area in terms of funding and other support.
In Northumberland, the Learning Partnership has set up a working group specifically to address issues for Young People (16-19) led by Careers Services but involving all core partners and the youth and voluntary sectors. It is:
- Assessing the needs of young people;
- Developing co-ordinated information about learning opportunities;
- Developing arrangements for consulting young people.
Greater Nottingham Learning Partnership is working closely with the Greater Nottingham Business Alliance. They are bringing the learning sector and employers together to develop a strategic focus to ensure appropriate learning is available to meet the current and future needs of business.
