Consultation on the Draft Adult Learning Strategy for Scotland

Seeking a Third Sector Adult Learning perspective

The Adult Learning Strategy (ALS) seeks to create the conditions to empower adults and improve life chances across Scotland. The development of the Adult Learning Strategy is overseen by the Adult Learning Strategic Forum for Scotland (ALSFS) whose role, in relation to the ALS, is to help co-produce it by developing strategic aims and guiding its implementation and evaluation. 

The draft ALS has been developed based on ALSFS members’ contributions, consultation and evidence.  As part of the next stage in the process, the Chair is asking members to feedback a collective view from the organisation/network they represent to help inform and further shape the strategy.

Learning Link Scotland is seeking your views on whether the strategy represents and supports third sector adult learning in Scotland. please consider responding even if you have responded to the strategy elsewhere, we want to fully represent the views of the third sector.
1.Please provide any high-level comments on the content (pages 7 - 15 of Adult Learning Strategy), for example, are there any key pieces of information or important considerations missing?
Theme 1: Expanding and Extending Adult Learning
1. Collect evidence on the current delivery of community-based adult learning, analyse and
evaluate how well needs are being identified and met, and how progression is being planned
in partnership.
2. Evaluate suitability of funding arrangements for adult learning, assessing how these
arrangements identify and meet demand, support progression, and the extent to which adult
learners are involved in decision making processes.
3. Undertake a review, with learners and practitioners, on the impact of ‘Welcoming Our
Learners: Scotland’s ESOL Strategy 2015-2020’ and ‘Adult Literacies in Scotland 2020’ to
produce recommendations on next steps for these specialisms within the context of the adult
learning strategy.
4. Increase access to, and support for, accredited learning for community-based adult learning.
5. Increase availability of, access to and support for, online learning options for adults.
2.Theme 1: Expanding and Extending Adult Learning
Do you have any comments, in relation to the third sector, on the recommendations within this theme?
3.Theme 1: Expanding and Extending Adult Learning
Does your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, have any planned or ongoing work that would contribute to the implementation of these recommendations?
4.Theme 1: Expanding and Extending Adult Learning
What specific actions could your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, make, or contribute, to implement these recommendations?
5.Theme 1: Expanding and Extending Adult Learning
From the view of your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, who would the key partners be to ensure the success of these recommendations?
Theme 2: Connecting the Adult Learning Journey
6. Provide support and recognition for structured partnerships to ensure the needs of adult
learners are at the heart of the decision making process locally, regionally and nationally.
7. Strengthen partnership arrangements which identify and meet the advice and guidance needs
of adult learners.
8. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing systems for Recognition of Prior Learning and how they
are used to ensure a coordinated, cohesive national Recognised Prior Learning process
9. Ensure the adult learning journey is underpinned by the SCQF, where appropriate, allowing
seamless progression and equality of all learning across the Scottish education system.
6.Theme 2: Connecting the Adult Learning Journey
Do you have any comments, in relation to the third sector, on the recommendations within this theme?
7.Theme 2: Connecting the Adult Learning Journey
Does your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, have any planned or ongoing work that would contribute to the implementation of these recommendations?
8.Theme 2: Connecting the Adult Learning Journey
What specific actions could your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, make, or contribute, to implement these recommendations?
9.Theme 2: Connecting the Adult Learning Journey
From the view of your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, who would the key partners be to ensure the success of these recommendations?
Theme 3: Communication
10.Increase public awareness of adult learning opportunities nationally and locally through joined
up and accessible messaging.
11.Increase cross policy support for the role of community-based based adult learning in
improving outcomes across policy areas including education, employability, health, social
isolation, poverty reduction and justice.
12.Develop coherent and consistent data and measurements for the impact of adult learning
10.Theme 3: Communication
Do you have any comments, in relation to the third sector, on the recommendations within this theme?
11.Theme 3: Communication
Does your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, have any planned or ongoing work that would contribute to the implementation of these recommendations?
12.Theme 3: Communication
What specific actions could your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, make, or contribute, to implement these recommendations?
13.Theme 3: Communication
From the view of your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, who would the key partners be to ensure the success of these recommendations?
Theme 4: Access and Inclusion
13.In consultation with learners, explore, define and reduce the barriers which impact adult
learners, assessing how well systems provide accessible routes into and through learning
leaving no-one behind and responding to learners’ changing access requirements.
14.Ensure consistent and appropriate use of Impact Assessments to plan accessible provision
which reduces the persistent inequalities experienced by people with protected
characteristics.
14.Theme 4: Access and Inclusion
Do you have any comments, in relation to the third sector, on the recommendations within this theme?
15.Theme 4: Access and Inclusion
Does your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, have any planned or ongoing work that would contribute to the implementation of these recommendations?
16.Theme 4: Access and Inclusion
What specific actions could your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, make, or contribute, to implement these recommendations?
17.Theme 4: Access and Inclusion
From the view of your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, who would the key partners be to ensure the success of these recommendations?
Theme 5: Workforce Development
15.Strengthen cross sectoral professional learning (PL) opportunities available for staff and
volunteers, supporting the use of the SCQF framework to underpin learning.
16.Refresh mapping of qualifications for adult learning practitioners. Address duplication and gaps
with focus on both geography and level; ensure integration with CLD qualifications pathway
and access to other lifelong learning qualifications.
17.Create shared understanding of roles and responsibilities across all those responsible for adult
learning, underpinned by awareness of relevant national occupational standards and the CLD
competences.
18.Develop an improved framework of support for adult learning volunteers.
19.Establish the availability, access and uptake of specialist adult learning qualifications, for
example, in TESOL and literacies.
20.Explore and support training for the practitioners to ensure adequate digital skills as
technology advances resulting in a digitally agile workforce.
18.Theme 5: Workforce Development
Do you have any comments, in relation to the third sector, on the recommendations within this theme?
19.Theme 5: Workforce Development
Does your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, have any planned or ongoing work that would contribute to the implementation of these recommendations?
20.Theme 5: Workforce Development
What specific actions could your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, make, or contribute, to implement these recommendations?
21.Theme 5: Workforce Development
From the view of your organisation specifically, or the third sector generally, who would the key partners be to ensure the success of these recommendations?
Thank you for taking time to complete this survey, your answers will be collated with the other responses we receive and sent to the Adult Learning Strategic Forum for Scotland. 
For more information, please contact Jackie Howie at jhowie@learninglinkcsotland.org.uk
Current Progress,
0 of 21 answered