Leicestershire Adult Learning Service – Accountability Statement 2025-26

Strategic Goals

LALS programmes support the objectives of a number of key strategies, in particular Delivering Wellbeing and Opportunity in Leicestershire: Adults and Communities Department Strategy – Delivering Wellbeing and Opportunity in Leicestershire 2025–2029. The curriculum offer is also designed to align closely to the five themes within the County Council’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026:

• Great Communities
• Safe and Well
• Improved Opportunities
• Clean and Green
• Strong Economy, Transport, and Infrastructure

LALS Mission Statement

LALS mission is to improve the lives of the people of Leicestershire using education as a vehicle for social mobility and increased life chances.  We will support people, communities, and businesses to develop and engage in learning programmes to suit their needs with particular focus on the following themes:

• Improving essential skills (English, ESOL, Maths, Digital)
• Engagement and/or building confidence
• Preparation for employment
• Career progression
• Preparation for further learning
• Promoting health and well-being
• Equipping parents/carers to support children’s learning
• Developing stronger communities

In each of these themes we will contribute to the delivery of priorities in positive partnership with other agencies, voluntary organisations, and service providers, to develop learning activities that are driven by communities and employers across the county.  We will direct more resources towards the most vulnerable and disadvantaged and endeavour to actively engage those least likely to participate.  In doing this, we aim to play a part in equalising access to learning, achievement, and progression, and provide best value for money for Leicestershire residents.

• Northwest Leicestershire has a high percentage of transport and storage related jobs.
• Charnwood has a high concentration of workers in the Education industry, followed by manufacturing.
• Blaby has a high percentage of employees in Professional, Scientific and Technical jobs.

Leicestershire compares positively against the East Midlands and Great Britain for the qualifications achieved up to Level 3.  In 2023, 91.5% of 16-64-year-olds had achieved a NVQ2 or higher and 72.6% Level 3, compared to 84.0% for Level 2 and 67.8% nationally for Level 3.  However, Leicestershire has 42.4% of people with an NVQ4 or above which is below the Great Britain level of 47.3%.

The Leicestershire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LLSIP) produced by the East Midlands Chamber, is one of eight employer representative bodies testing an employer-led approach to skills planning. The LLSIP focuses on the knowledge, skills and behaviour (KSBs) that businesses identify as priorities to meet growth aspirations.

Key Findings

• Knowledge – across all sectors, technical and vocational knowledge areas are the most important to a business’s success. The next top four identified knowledge requirements are: basic literacy, basic numeracy, health and safety, basic IT.

• Skills – team working is the most important skill across all sectors, followed by, verbal communication, specific occupational skills, written communication, and time management. In addition to technical and vocational knowledge and skills, employers highly value basic numeracy and literacy, along with other more transferable knowledge and skill areas.

• Behaviours – the LLSIP notes that employers value the right behaviours in their employees more than knowledge and skill areas. Being a team player is the most important behaviour, followed by, being hard working, reliable, resilient, and honest.

Local Get Britain Working plans are central to the Government’s ambition for a thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity for good work and to get on in work and where we achieve the ambition of an 80% employment rate.  The Council’s Adult Learning team are currently working with regional partners to develop the local plan, and the learning offer will be informed and adapted according to identified priorities.

The adult learning programme planning cycle draws on a range of evidence to inform the final curriculum offer.  The timeline commences in November and finishes in April the previous academic year. In-year performance data is used including, levels of achievement, learner destinations, end of course evaluations.  Performance is also measured against regional and national benchmarks where these are available, to establish if LALS or another local provider is best placed to deliver a specific programme.

Once the local needs analysis has been completed and priorities are approved by the programme planning parameters are prepared by senior managers.  Targets are set for curriculum teams including learner numbers, target groups, courses, geographical locations.

Planning parameters have been adjusted to maintain a financially viable service within the funding available.  Whilst the service will continue to drive efficiencies to maintain a learning offer across Leicestershire, a 6 percent reduction to the Adult Skills Grant will impact some programmes.  See table 1.0 for projected learner number targets.

A service fees policy is agreed prior to the launch of the programme. This policy ensures there is consistent pricing of all courses and provides provision for fee remission and learner support funds to remove barriers to learning.  To help generate additional income, full cost recovery programmes will be included to help cover service overheads.

The final stage of planning involves scrutiny from senior leaders and challenge to curriculum teams to test the strength of the rationale for including each course within the programme offer. Prior to final approval consideration is given to:

• Alignment to the service ‘Intent’ and strategic goals
• Outcomes including employment, progression, volunteering personal development and wellbeing.
• Progression pathways
• Effective use of resources
• Geographical cover
• Alignment to employer needs
• Careers Information Advice and Guidance
• Areas of possible duplication
• Alignment to Regional Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPS)
• Inclusion of enrichment activities

Plus, a final challenge to assess if LALS is the best placed provider to deliver the course given available expertise, resource, and previous performance of delivering the programme.

The (LSIP) identifies a need for further collaboration between learning providers to establish a comprehensive curriculum offer for the region. A number of key partners have been identified, and the planning cycle is being tailored to include more opportunities for constructive dialogue to further improve the regional skills offer.

Key partners involved in shaping the regional adult skills programme include:

• Local Employers
• Further Education Colleges
• District Councils
• County Council Department Leads
• Learner Focus Groups
• Voluntary Sector Organisations
• Department of Work and Pensions
• Leicester & Leicestershire Economic Partnership

LALS intends to build on the recent partnership work developed through the national Multiply Project which has proved beneficial for engaging target groups and providing progression routes.

• We will deliver a range of English and maths programmes leading to Functional Skills Qualifications. These programmes will be offered on-site and online to provide greater flexibility for learners to attend.
• Our Learning for Independence programme will support 360 individuals with Additional Needs. The programme will focus on enabling learners to improve health and well-being, increase independence and self-advocacy, engage with and be active in the community, progress to identified positive destinations including transition from Children’s and Social Care services.
• We will improve digital inclusion, increasing skills and confidence through the delivery of basic digital skills qualifications enrolling 500 learners to these programmes.
• Our languages programme will be reduced this year, limited to 450 learners down from 700 in 2024/25. Programmes will include Deaf Awareness and British Sign Language (BSL) courses together with foreign language provision.  These courses will be delivered to support, individuals develop language skills in addition to BSL for business and public sector organisations.
• In partnership with schools, academies and LCC Children and Family Welfare Services, we will provide 620 places for those wishing to participate in family learning programmes. This is a reduction to the programme down from 800 in 2024/25. Courses will be targeted at more deprived areas where they can have most impact on improving opportunities for adults and children.  In addition to providing adults with basic English and maths support, these programmes will equip parents with the skills they need to effectively support their children’s education and development.
• We will work with partners and explore opportunities to support young adults that qualify for educational health care plans.

• In addition to subject skills, delivery of basic skills courses will help learners develop skills valued by employers including communication, team working these programmes will embed the development of positive behaviours such as timekeeping, reliability, respect, and values. The importance of these characteristics is highlighted in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).
• The Learning for Independence programme is a discrete service for learners with additional needs. Courses develop learner independence in everyday life reducing demand on carers and support services. Courses also develop the behaviours and attitudes that enhance learners’ abilities to positively represent themselves and contributed to the local community.
• According to recent surveys conducted with local employers, Digital skills were identified as a barrier to productivity. Poor digital skills also limit individuals’ ability to access services and can limit opportunities for career progression.   Improving digital skills can reduce social isolation and reduce the impact this has on wellbeing, particularly in the more rural parts of the county.
• LCC Children and Families Partnership Plan aims: to ensure children receive the best start in life, are safe and free from harm and support families to be resilient and self-sufficient.  There are a range of benefits to parents from family learning including, the development of basic skills in English, maths, parenting skills, self-esteem, self-confidence.

• Work Based Learning programmes will contribute positively to local economic growth, and we will enrol an additional 35 Apprentices onto a range of different programmes including, Payroll, Social Care, Teaching and Learning and Business Administration and Management specialisms. We will attain an overall achievement rate of at least 80% for our Apprenticeship programme.
• We will continue to prioritise basic skills programmes focusing on Digital, English, maths. The programme offer will include basic introductory courses such as the Essential Digital qualification, English and maths functional skills to provide individuals with the foundations they need to support them in their personal or professional life. Where possible, there will be multiple entry points across the year to improve accessibility.
• The development of a new employer responsive offer will be central to our plans in addressing the local skills needs identified within the Local Skills Improvement Plan. We will work with partners on our Skills Board to identify need and forge new links.
• We will attain an overall learner Achievement Rate of 84% for our adult skills programme by providing high quality teaching and learning and the necessary additional learning support required to help disadvantaged target groups across the county succeed.
• We will create stronger links across the service to enable the creation of more effective progression pathways for learners we will ensure that links between the service’s Family Learning and skills provision are strong to enable next steps for learners who enter our service through this important gateway.
• Our Work and Skills Leicestershire programmes are designed to support unemployed or those at risk of losing their job find sustainable employment and we will continue to prioritise these programmes.
• In addition to the support and guidance provided through enrolment and initial assessment activity when learners join courses, we will re-model how we offer bespoke Information Advice and Guidance (IAG), integrating this into curriculum offer so that, where appropriate, learners benefit from a personalised career development plan.
• Subject to final agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the LALS will deliver a significant proportion of the Connect to Work (CTW) programme.  CTW aims to support disabled people, people with health conditions and people from disadvantaged groups with multiple and complex barriers to move into and maintain employment.

• In addition to the contribution to the LCC Strategic plan activities map to priorities identified within Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) priorities and Leicester and Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership. Adult learning apprenticeships will support the delivery of a highly skilled workforce, and these programmes will contribute to the wider workforce strategy to recruit to posts that are hard to fill. For example, within adult social care.
• LSIP notes that across all sectors, technical and vocational knowledge areas are the most important to a business’s success. The next top four identified knowledge requirements are: basic literacy, basic numeracy, health & safety, basic IT.
• To succeed at Level 3 and beyond, several steps can be required whether it be baseline literacy and numeracy or other steps to enable this, for example digital skills or more general Preparation for Life and Work courses which can be pre-level 1 and are the most popular courses for adults. The role of Adult and Community learning is pivotal here, alongside FE colleges. LLEP Skills Plan 2022-24
• To meet our strategic goals our priority is to offer opportunities to individuals who would not otherwise access learning. Working in partnership with the council’s Local Area Co-ordinators we will engage new learners into our service and help them to shape and achieve their aspirations by means of effective IAG and well-defined progression pathways.
• These basic skills courses will be targeted towards disadvantaged groups which will help them progress to positive destinations whether this be entering employment, career progression or going into further or higher education. The Council has a key role in helping to bring together learner progression routes across initiatives such as Multiply and other UKSPF projects through the existing Work & Skills Board particularly with European Social Funded projects recently closing.
• Combining IAG with effective initial assessment ensures individuals find the right level course increasing their chances of achieving their goals. IAG also provides signposting to other services helping prevent higher level of support where there is timely intervention.
• Local Get Britain Working plans are central to the Government’s ambition for a thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity for good work and to get on in work and where we achieve the ambition of an 80% employment rate.  Designed to tackle economic inactivity, Connect to Work has a key role in delivering the outcomes of Get Britain Working.

• LALS curriculum offer will include activities to raise awareness of sustainable living and promote the protection of our natural environment.
• We will deliver a range of courses to help people minimise their impact on the environment. Community courses will raise awareness on how individuals can improve their quality of life by connecting and protecting the environment in which they live.
• We will increase opportunities for learning online to reduce the need for learners to travel to centres with 15% of learners participating remotely.

• To achieve net zero carbon emissions in Leicestershire we need communities to take action to reduce their environmental impacts, such as by being more resource-efficient and travelling by sustainable modes. LCC Strategic Plan 22-26
• A key action within the LCC Strategic Plan is to ‘Raise environmental awareness amongst local communities, schools and businesses to promote positive action’ National government has identified the need to reduce food waste which is currently estimated to be 10million tonnes per year, as a national priority due to the impact on the environment.

• We will encourage residents and local businesses to take more control of steering curriculum design by convening 4 engagement events across the county to help capture their views during the curriculum planning process.
• We will continue to support community integration through the delivery of a curriculum that appeals to people from different backgrounds.  English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) programmes will support language progression from pre-entry to level 2.  The programme will provide 470 places helping to meet demand.
• We will provide more opportunities for local voluntary groups to meet and engage, we will provide more access to our three major centres at Thurmaston, Enderby and Loughborough to community groups. We will link with these groups and deliver programmes that develop the skills and confidence of people wishing to volunteer for example, skills to run local services.

• Our goal is for Leicestershire to have active and inclusive communities in which people support each other and participate in service design and delivery. LCC Strategic Plan 22-26
• There has been a decrease in the percentage of residents who feel that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together (from 96% in 2019/20 to 91% in 2021/22). The ability to speak English provides greater opportunities for individuals to integrate and contribute to the local community and enterprise for the benefit of all. LCC Strategic Plan 22-26
• Our Community Learning programmes will empower learners to take greater control of their lives. Course content will help learners develop a greater appreciation how they can contribute and influence things that have an impact on their own quality of life and the communities in which they live.
• To support the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and town and parish councils in their roles as providers of community-managed services and as community leaders.

• The programme offer will bring together people from different backgrounds helping them learn from each other and further develop tolerance and understanding.
• We will deliver Learning for Wellbeing and Mental Health programmes providing a combined output of 815 spaces on these courses to help people become resilient and recover from poor mental health. We will strengthen links with partners to improve referral from Social Prescribers and other agencies.
• We will create a safe learning environment and embed activities that develop confidence. Through these activities we will promote trust and respect for British Fundamental Values.  We will empower individuals to speak up and take control of their own wellbeing.

• Our goal is to work with partners to increase community cohesion and tackle hate crime. LCC Strategic Plan 22-26
• To develop behaviours, attitudes, knowledge, and skills which support learners to improve or maintain their wellbeing and resilience which may also contribute to preventing or reducing the need to access other services is a key priority of the A&C Strategy – Delivering Wellbeing and Opportunity in Leicestershire. LCC aims to work with a range of partners internally and externally to address the wider issues that affect wellbeing and health. LCC Public Health Strategy 2022-27
• Programmes will help address social isolation by connecting people and promoting social interaction in a safe learning environment where learners with shared experiences can make beneficial and supportive social links.

Leicestershire County Council Strategic Plan 2022-2026

Delivering Wellbeing and Opportunity in Leicestershire – Adults and Communities Department Ambitions and Strategy for 2020 – 2024

Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership LLEP Skills Plan 2022-2024

Leicester and Leicestershire Trailblazer Local Skills Improvement Plan