North Tyneside’s Adult Learning Service has been praised by Ofsted following a two-day inspection.
The education watchdog says the service continues to be ‘good’, since its previous inspection in 2013, and provides a ‘very effective’ level of support to help local people identify opportunities, develop new skills, and enhance their career prospects.
Inspectors spent two days in April meeting with learners, apprentices, managers and councillors, observing lessons, and poring over key documents and data, before drawing their conclusions.
The report says: “Senior leaders within the council support the adult learning service very effectively. They have an ambitious vision and a comprehensive understanding of the work of the service. They are passionate in their belief in the importance of the service in delivering the wider council strategy for the local area; this includes maintaining the very low levels of young people not engaged in education, employment or training in North Tyneside.”
The inspectors’ report also says that safeguarding arrangements for both learners and staff were effective.
Councillor Peter Earley, cabinet member for Children, Young People, and Learning, said: “It’s fantastic to hear the inspectors speak so highly of our staff and partners in the Adult Learning Service. The service plays a vital role in our communities, supporting vulnerable residents to explore new opportunities, reach their full potential, and access education, jobs and training. Our staff and partners work hard to ensure consistently high standards, they are always looking to improve, and I’d like to thank them all for their efforts.”
The report also highlighted a number of other strengths including:
- Leaders and managers have a well-articulated strategy to provide a wide range of courses to meet local employers’ and residents’ needs. They are particularly effective at providing courses for vulnerable learners with a poor education and job history.
- The vast majority of learners and apprentices continue to benefit from good-quality education and training; tutors make lessons engaging and interesting and learners respond well to this approach.
- Tutors work very well with support staff and volunteers to provide well-targeted support to learners who are struggling so that they improve their understanding and accelerate their progress.
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