Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Paragraph: 42
The Department should provide additional funding for the digital skills entitlement, and should ensure that...
Conclusion
The Department should provide additional funding for the digital skills entitlement, and should ensure that any future statutory entitlements coming out of the Adult Education Budget are properly costed and funded. This should be clearly linked to forecast participation levels.
Paragraph Reference:
42
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The principal purpose of the AEB is to engage adults and provide the skills and learning they need to equip them for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. Community Learning plays a considerable role within AEB provision of supporting those furthest from the workplace, and in improving the health and well-being of learners. The purpose of Community Learning is to develop the skills, confidence, motivation and resilience of adults of different ages and backgrounds in order to: progress towards formal learning or employment and/or improve their health and wellbeing, including mental health and/or develop stronger communities. The Community Learning national objectives require providers to prioritise disadvantaged learners. The Department collects data via the Individualised Learning Record (ILR) and annual figures are published via an annual Statistical First Release. Community Learning is delivered in nearly every local authority area across England through adult education services, FE colleges, Institutes of Adult Learning and other training providers and voluntary sector organisations. It tends to be run in accessible informal venues, such as libraries, children’s centres and community centres. We are working closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, including in the development of the new UKSPF, as outlined in the response to recommendation 23. The Government has maintained funding for Community Learning within the AEB. The Pound Plus approach, introduced in 2013/14, expects providers to add value to Government’s contribution by leveraging additional income (e.g., from fees and sponsorship) and by making cost savings. The government appreciates the importance of adult education to improving people’s life chances. Through our FE reforms, we want to ensure we are supporting as best we can all learners, and that includes those who need the most support to progress to more formal learning or employment. Funding beyond 2021–22 will be considered as part of a wider Spending Review later this year.