Upskilling the Community Learning and Development Workforce programme 2009 to 2011.
Background
The Community Learning and Development (CLD) Upskilling Programme was announced in the joint Scottish Government/COSLA statement. In this statement, the Scottish Government and COSLA set out a series of challenges to local authorities and their community planning partners and recognised that: '... we must collectively make sure that those who deliver CLD (whether full-time or part-time, paid or volunteer) have the skills, attitudes and confidence to deliver the best outcomes to the highest standards.'
Aims
Locally, organisations, individually and working in partnership, were urged to evaluate their investment in training and development and to maximise its value by co-ordinating resources with others, ensuring they contribute to a sustainable transformation in the ability of CLD to deliver.
Nationally the Scottish Government commissioned a scoping paper to help determine how best to invest in order to build the strategic focus on continuing professional development (CPD) in CLD. A subsequent development paper Growing Excellence outlines the principals identified to guide the programme and the intended outcomes.
Upskilling Resources 2009 to 2011
The Scottish Government committed £3.4m for 2009-11 in support of the Upskilling Programme across Scotland. Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) was the managing agent of the programme, administering the grants to local CLD Partnerships and supporting them, along with Educations Scotland's Communities Team and the CLD Standards Council, to deliver on the agreed outcomes.
LLUK ceased to operate on 31 March 2011, however, some of its functions are now being met by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service LSIS.
Breakdown of funding
Phase 1,2009-10, £1 million.
Phase 1 report now available on the archived LLUK website.
Phase II, 2010-11, £2.4 million.
Outcomes for the programme
Outcomes for the programme were agreed by the programme board and related documents and notes of meeting are now available.
What Next?
Evaluation-The Scottish Government commissioned and independent evaluation report on the CLD Upskilling Programme- published on 28 September 2011.
The Scottish Government is working with Education Scotland (ES) to continue with the next phase of the workforce development agenda. Through the Upskilling the Community Learning and Development (CLD) Workforce Programme has drawn to a close, this is a key priority of the ES Communities Team, who are now working with partners, in both local authorities and third sector organisations, to ensure that the momentum established as a result of the programme is maintained. They will support local partnerships, and assist them to make effective use of the competencies and to develop the framework.
During financial year 2011-12. Scottish Government funding of £240,000, managed by Education Scotland, is being used to further support and stimulate the development of joint working across local authority boundaries and sectors, and to support the sharing of learning and resources. Education Scotland's Communities Team and the CLD Standards Council are also supporting a national CPD network, bringing together the key national partners in CLD aiming to drive co-ordinated support for the field. HMIe (now within ES) will support stronger links between inspection, self-evaluation and how this helps to improve practice further for learners.
Contacts
For further information please contact:
Education Scotland Communities Team: enquiries@educationscotland.gov.uk
Scottish Government Colleges and Adult Learning: Funding and Policy Division: Michelle Colquhoun