Education and training services

Tender description

Community Learning is designed to help people of different ages and backgrounds gain a new skill, re-connect with learning, pursue an interest, prepare for progression to formal courses or learn how to support their children better. Community Learning supports wider government policies on localism, social justice, stronger families, digital inclusion and social mobility. This call for Adult and Community Learning focuses on some deficits in the current programme by broadening the range and scope of provision on offer and engaging new and different learners. Proposals were invited by the Council of the Borough of Kirklees (the “Council”) from shortlisted Capable Delivery Partners currently on Category 1 – Activity to Support Engagement and Progression of the Council’s Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of Education, Training, Employment and Lifelong Learning (REF: KMCIRS-064). Community Learning is designed to help people of different ages and backgrounds gain a new skill, re-connect with learning, pursue an interest, prepare for progression to formal courses or learn how to support their children better. Community Learning supports wider government policies on localism, social justice, stronger families, digital inclusion and social mobility. This call for Adult and Community Learning focuses on the deficits in the current programme by broadening the range and scope of provision on offer and engaging new and different learners. It is envisaged that a number of pilot programmes will be delivered which are innovative and engaging. These should test new ways of working and course content. Learning from this will be used to inform future commissioning of Adult and Community Learning. All delivery must seek to address one or more of the following: — increase in participation of men. — increase in participation of older people (60 years plus). — the development of digital and social media skills. — increase in participation of learners with mental health and/or disabilities. All learners must have access to initial assessment and, where appropriate, be signposted to English, maths or ESOL provision. All learners wanting accredited provision should be appropriately referred on to accredited provision. Provision can be non-accredited or accredited. It is envisaged that most provision will be designed to develop skills and confidence at a level which is below level 2 or at level 2. Where accredited provision is offered it must be clear how the accreditation adds value for learners. We envisage that successful delivery will predominantly be made up of courses that are 12 or more guided learning hours. The focus of this provision is to engage new learners, therefore we expect the majority of learners to be residents who have not taken part in learning for at least the last 3 years. We expect all learners to meet one or more of the following criteria: — have few or no qualifications — i.e. qualifications below level 2. — have significant barriers to learning and work. — are unwaged or work on average fewer than 16 hours per week. — are taking part in learning to undertake a volunteer role relating to learning. — have been referred by a relevant service e.g. Stronger Families, family subject to a child protection plan, on an Early Help Assessment, a child designated as a ‘child in need’, looked after by the Council or diagnosed with a disability, in receipt of benefits or hold a Kirklees Passport. — have been referred by mental health programmes and/or recovery colleges. — are from an under-represented group (for example men and/or BAME men).