Glasgow s Learning Partnership Adult Learning Group. John Wheatley College/ North East College. Anniesland College/Clyde College

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1 Glasgow s Learning Partnership Adult Learning Group Notes from meeting of 20 th June 2013 at The Albany Centre 1. Attendance In Attendance Ken Gibson Sallie Condy Stephen Waitkins Marlyn Barr Frances Bradley John Galt Susan McGonigle Cath McGee Shirley Howitt Apologies Eric Brownlie Helen Scammell Jane Morrison Glasgow Life (Chair) GCVS GCC John Wheatley College/ North East College Glasgow Life Glasgow Life SDS Glasgow ESOL Forum WEA Scotland Anniesland College/Clyde College GCVS Jobs and Business Glasgow Shirley informed the group that the WEA has undergone a restructuring and she is taking up a new national post within the organisation. As a result, this will be her last meeting with her colleague, Kathleen Richardson, taking her place on the group. On behalf of the group, Ken thanked Shirley for her passion for adult learning and her positive contributions to partnership working in the city over many years and wished her well in her new role. 2. Minutes of Previous Meeting (17 th April, 2013) The minute of the meeting was approved with one correction noted. A proposal to post the Adult Learning Group minutes on the Glasgow Learning website will be taken to the Glasgow s Learning Partnership meeting on 24 th June. If endorsed, a communication will be prepared by Glasgow Life, on behalf of the Group, to inform networks and contacts of this, with links to the page on the website. 3. Matters Arising 3.1 Area Learning Groups While members are aware that a number of area based learning networks and groups continue to take forward adult learning priorities, the picture is not consistent across the city and the links into area community planning arrangements are not always clear. It was agreed that it would be useful to have more detail of these. The Group want to improve communication between local and city networks on adult learning priorities and develop a clear shared purpose. 1

2 The forthcoming distribution of the Adult Learning Conference Report was seen as an opportunity to consult more widely on how area planning for adult learning can be strengthened. ACTION: Take this discussion to Glasgow s Learning Partnership to agree actions. 3.2 Reducing Reoffending Workshop, 26 th April 2013 Sallie reported that this had been a successful session attended by over 40 practitioners. Work to further develop priorities for future criminal justice adult literacies is ongoing. This includes consultation with the Women s Justice Centre and links to the new Through Care Group for HMP Barlinnie. Adult literacies work will continue to be fed into the city s Offenders, Learning, Skills and Employability Forum. It was noted that there has been positive feedback from Councillor McKeever on the work being undertaken. 3.3 Glasgow Life First Steps in Adult Literacies Tutoring course Frances reported that the first group of volunteer tutors have completed the 8 week course and will now be matched to learners. Six volunteers have completed the course with Glasgow Life planning a further course in the autumn. Glasgow Life will soon be in a position to support partner organisations to deliver the course, in line with agreed quality assurance measures. 4. Adult Learning Conference, 17/1/13, Report and Action Plan The draft conference report had been sent out prior to the meeting and Ken invited comments. Discussions with Bailie Colleran, following the conference, have been positive and the new SOA confirms the role of Glasgow s Learning Partnership, and its sub groups, in driving the city s Community Learning and Development strategy. The group agreed that the six priorities in the report will form the basis of an adult learning action plan for all community planning partners. It was agreed that the action plan should be informed by conference findings and also by the city s refreshed SOA, the new legislative duty on community learning and development, ALIS 2020 and other related adult learning strategies. Learners will also be supported to inform the action plan. ACTIONS: There were some concerns about the capacity of the ALG to take a lead on all aspects of the action plan however group members did agree to the following: o Indicate to Ken which of the 6 development areas they can lead on before the next ALG meeting. Ken will link with members to discuss this further. o Draft outcomes and specific and achievable actions for the priority they are leading on. This should include existing work that contributes to the priority and involve other partners out with the ALG where appropriate. Ken will circulate a template to help with this process. o Members will report back on work undertaken at the next Adult Learning Group meeting. 2

3 o John will draft evaluative questions to be posted with the conference report on the Glasgow s Learning website 5. ESOL Cath gave feedback on recent discussions she has had with a range of ESOL practitioners and interested organisations. She highlighted two main areas: There is a need to build stronger networks among ESOL providers in Glasgow. There is still no citywide overview of college and community based provision. Learning providers and employment agencies are therefore less able to deal with enquiries from learners and signpost to alternative provision. A high number of learners attending community based provision, particularly those from refugee communities, are ESOL literacies learners but few tutors have been trained in this area of ESOL tuition. Partners need to increase access either to the ESOL Literacies PDA, or other training. Funding would need to be accessed to support this. These areas were discussed by the group and the following points were made: The initial assessment projects - EASE at Langside College and the ESOL Network Project at CoG College - are both well placed to provide an overview of provision in their areas. Both projects are funded through community planning partnerships until March The ALG should invite both projects to update them on progress. The most recent dedicated session for ESOL providers on the ALG was in September Partners at that session supported the need for a consistent citywide approach to ESOL initial assessment. Glasgow Equalities Network has a focus on ESOL. How should the ALG link with the Network? The work funded by Glasgow CPP to map ESOL provision in the city in preparation for the city s funding bid in early 2012 was very useful. How can this information be updated to reflect the current situation in the city? What funding is available to support this? Anniesland College has recently offered the PDA unit in ESOL literacies. The ALG should get an update on this. Education Scotland did provide some funding to support ESOL tutors to take part in PDAs in January but with a short timescale to respond. Two tutors from Glasgow received funding. There may be scope to seek funding to support tutor training from the Education Scotland CLD Small Grants Fund. ACTIONS: The ALG should have an increased focus on ESOL and ESOL actions should be clearly reflected in the adult learning action plan. John will liaise with group members to put together a discussion paper on these issues. 6. Adult Literacies 6.1 Glasgow Adult Literacies Annual Report 2012/13 3

4 Frances presented Glasgow s Learning Annual ALN Report 2012/13, previously circulated. She highlighted some key points including the increase in learner outcomes reported through LOTIS, the new dyslexia units being delivered by GCC to partner organisations and learner involvement in the community engagement events at the Aye Write! festival. Sallie Condy proposed some additions to the report, which were noted. Frances has also circulated the equalities monitoring information which gives feedback from 1500 learners. ACTION: The amended report will now be presented to Glasgow s Learning Partnership at their meeting on 24 th June. 6.2 Adult Literacies Staff Development & Training Frances presented A Professional Development Framework for Scotland s Adult Literacies Workforce, which can be found on Education Scotland s website arning/adultliteracies/professionaldevelopment/index.asp She highlighted the 3 key roles that relate to adult literacies learning and teaching Adult Literacies Co-ordinator; Adult Literacies Group Tutor; Adult Literacies Tutor Assistant and recommended competencies, entry requirements and continuing professional development opportunities. It was noted that further consideration should be given to the Framework regarding Glasgow s ALN workforce development. The national guide for professional development for ESOL practitioners is at: ALIS 2020 Commitments national overview Frances referred to the key points emerging from the collation of ALiS 2020 commitments reports submitted to Education Scotland from local authorities and national organisations. Sallie Condy had produced this paper and highlighted a number of themes, including the continued benefits of strong partnership working, the ongoing requirement for CPD and various approaches to promoting and supporting 6 hours of learning per week. Members noted the importance of recording learning through Learning Plans, particularly for benefit claimants wishing to evidence their learning for DWP purposes. 6.4 Proposed qualifications and training development needs audit On the back of the launch of A Professional Development Framework for Scotland s Adult Literacies Workforce, the ALN Infrastructure staff had proposed that an exercise should be undertaken across adult literacies providers to establish a baseline of current staff qualifications; anticipated CPD need and potential to deliver CPD. It was agreed that this should be carried out and reported back to the Group. 6.5 International Literacies Day 4

5 It was noted that International Literacies Day falls on Friday 6 th September this year, with the theme of Changing Lives Through Literacy. The day marks allages literacies and Education Scotland is hosting a virtual conference through GLOW. Glasgow s Learning will be looking to post short videos as part of the day. 7. Dyslexia Working Memory Sessions Stephen Waitkins updated the group on delivery of the pilot dyslexia training unit, Working Memory, delivered by GCC Education Services Dyslexia Support Service. Adult literacies tutors from a range of organisations undertook the training and, due to levels of active participation, it has been agreed that the next sessions will be extended from 1 to1½ hours. The roll out of the training will now be taken forward with 2 courses in Thornwood Primary School, starting in early September, with 8 places on each. Members welcomed the development of this training opportunity for staff and supported the roll-out plans. Stephen informed the group that Alex Salmond s office had become aware of this training and has requested feedback on Glasgow s adult dyslexia training and services. Initial feedback from the pilot course has been sent on. 8. ALN Providers Network Members noted the minutes of the ALN Providers Network meeting of 4 th June. It was noted that Margaret Hunter, Easterhouse Job Centre will be giving a future input to the Network on employability and learning, including matching skills to jobs. This follows on from training delivered by Margaret to JWC staff. Partnership bids have been submitted for funding for resources and training linked to Welfare Reform - 9k Big Lottery & 80k Scottish Legal Aid Board. The newly formed Arts, Culture and Literacies Network is hoping to have a draft bid for funding to support this area of work by the end of July. 9. Data Recording Members shared current and potential data sharing arrangements as follows: GCVS had been involved in discussions with One Glasgow on the sharing of data on prisoners being released back to Glasgow when the Change Fund application was being developed. Glasgow Life has signed up to data sharing Colleges are looking at data sharing linked to employability SDS hosts Data Hubs on behalf of the Scottish Government, giving a national employability picture. Glasgow will have its own Data Hub, to be transferred to the national hub. YEGS are responsible for overseeing this in Glasgow. It was noted that Simon Marshall is the SDS contact for this. ACTION: At the next meeting, members will: Note what adult learning data is already being gathered by organisations and at a city level and consider data sharing arrangements. Discuss the rationale and purpose of collecting and collating adult learning data in the city at the next meeting. 5

6 AOCB Ken had been contacted by the Financial Services Union as they are looking to set up workplace learning opportunities in Glasgow. Further details will be shared with the group, once available. Date of Next Meeting Date: 22 nd August 2013 Time: 9.30am 12 noon Venue: City Chambers, 40 John Street. 6