Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Further education and skills inspection report

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Short inspection of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

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Outcome

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council continues to be a good provider.

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Information about this provider

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council delivers adult learning provision in Calderdale through one of its service departments, Calderdale Adult Learning. The service is funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to provide accredited courses for adults in English, mathematics, information communication technology, English for speakers of other languages, skills for jobs and a small number of vocational subjects. The service also provides non-accredited community and family learning programmes and short courses. Leaders work with six subcontractors which deliver around a tenth of the provision.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection, there were 213 adult learners enrolled on accredited courses and 241 enrolled on community and family learning courses. In addition, there were 72 adult learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities on courses such as art or cooking, which are designed to meet their individual needs.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners receive very good support from tutors to access and engage in learning. The service recruits learners who are economically and socially disadvantaged, with many having not engaged in education for a considerable time. The courses that learners follow help them to overcome barriers to learning and enable them to gain the confidence that they need to progress to further education, employment and volunteering, and to engage more actively in community and family life.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners receive good advice and guidance throughout their course about how the new knowledge and skills that they are acquiring and the confidence they are gaining can help them to progress into work or move closer to this goal. Tutors provide learners with clear advice about the incremental steps that learners can take to achieve both their immediate and long-term goals. 20 and 21 June 2024

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Learners feel safe while attending courses, including at subcontractors. Staff ensure that learners understand how to raise any concerns that they have about their safety and well-being, both while in learning and in their everyday lives.

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better?

Leaders have a clear rationale for the curriculum that they provide. They ensure that the curriculum meets the priorities of the council and the combined authority and the principles of adult learning. Leaders and managers work well with other providers in Calderdale to ensure that there is no unnecessary duplication of provision, and that the expertise of different providers is maximised. For example, the service provides community and family learning in Calderdale and then signposts learners on these courses to other providers so that learners can progress to higher- level vocational and employability learning.

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better?

Leaders and managers work well with a wide range of local partners such as Jobcentre Plus, charities, community outreach services and schools. Through these links, they engage with Calderdale residents who are most at need and ensure that the courses they provide help learners to develop valuable personal, social and employability skills. This enables the service to contribute significantly to widening participation and developing stronger communities across the borough.

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better?

Leaders ensure that non-accredited community and family learning provision is targeted appropriately at residents who are amongst the most disengaged from community life. This includes those who need help to be able to support their children more effectively and those who are risk of social isolation or deteriorating health and well-being.

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better?

Leaders respond well to the priorities of the council and the combined authority to reduce health inequality, promote residents’ well-being and foster integration and inclusion. They provide art and craft courses and yoga and fitness courses specifically for adults who lack confidence, who are at risk of becoming isolated in their communities or who need to improve their physical and mental well-being and, as a result, reduce their reliance on NHS services.

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better?

Tutors have expert knowledge in the subjects that they teach. They use this to plan and teach effective lessons, taking good account of learners’ starting points and progress so far. Tutors effectively plan and sequence learning to ensure that learners gain valuable new knowledge, skills and confidence over time. Learners with learning difficulties in art sessions learn how to master simple drawing and develop proportioning skills before applying these in more complex portraits and sculptures. Learners on family learning courses develop confidence that enables them to improve their parenting skills.

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better?

Tutors ensure that most learners have clearly defined learning, employment or health and well-being targets related to the courses that they are following. They effectively monitor learners’ progress towards achieving these targets. However, 20 and 21 June 2024

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leaders and managers recognise through their own quality assurance activities that a few learners do not fully understand the aims of their courses relating to personal development, health and well-being and progression, and have not been set specific targets in relation to these aspects.

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Leaders and managers select and commission subcontractors that offer specialist provision to meet the needs of specific groups of Calderdale residents. Subcontractors engage with learners who are reluctant to join mainstream college courses, have complex barriers to participation or are experiencing significant disadvantage through, for example, not having sufficient skills to manage their finances effectively. Leaders and managers maintain effective oversight of the six subcontractors.

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Leaders and managers implement an annual quality improvement cycle that is comprehensive and rigorous. It incorporates a wide range of arrangements and activities to review and monitor the quality of education provided and the progress that learners make. As a result, leaders, managers, senior officers and elected members have a good understanding of the strengths of the provision and the few areas that require improvement. For example, they recognise that they need to improve attendance and retention rates on a few of the accredited functional skills courses.

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Leaders and managers monitor the performance of individual tutors well. They are sensitive to tutors’ development needs. They provide tutors with effective training and support to help them improve their skills and teaching practice and comply with the service’s processes.

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The council has established an effective strategic board to oversee the quality and performance of the service. Board members represent a wide range of sectors and use their expertise well. They provide effective support and challenge to leaders.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Improve attendance and retention rates on accredited functional skills courses where these are too low.  Ensure that all learners clearly understand the personal development, health and well-being and progression aims of their courses and have specific targets to enable them to achieve these. 20 and 21 June 2024

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Provider details

Address Calderdale Adult Learning at Heath Unit 4, Heath Campus Free School Lane Halifax HX1 2PS

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Website

new.calderdale.gov.uk/schools-and- learning/adult-learning

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Website

Principal, CEO or equivalent Grant Soames

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Website

Dates of previous inspection 30 January to 2 February 2018

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Main subcontractors

Calderdale College Noah’s Ark Centre Halifax Opportunities Trust JIF Training Proper Job Theatre Company Beauty Direct Training 20 and 21 June 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was the first short inspection carried out since Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council was judged to be good in January 2018.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the quality manager, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Malcolm Fraser, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Sarah Benson-Smith Ofsted Inspector Alex Miles Ofsted Inspector 20 and 21 June 2024

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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