Hackney London Borough Council

Further education and skills inspection report

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Short inspection of Hackney London Borough Council

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Inspection dates: 23 and 24 October 2024

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Outcome

Hackney London Borough Council continues to be a good provider.

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Information about this provider

Hackney London Borough Council provides a range of training courses to local residents through Hackney Adult Learning Service (HALS). Most courses are taught in community centres across the borough. Over 2,200 learners attend courses offered by HALS each year.

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Information about this provider

At the time of this inspection, there were 560 learners studying a range of accredited and non-accredited courses from entry level to level 3. Most learners were studying courses in English, mathematics and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). The remaining learners were studying digital skills courses or were on courses designed to help them gain employment. Approximately a third of learners had special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Information about this provider

As well as offering their own courses, HALS subcontracts to 12 other providers which offer specialist provision. This includes courses in ceramics to improve mental health and level 3 cybersecurity, which is taught online.

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

Learners value the opportunities to study in their local area in small groups. Many learners are parents, and they appreciate how the lessons fit around their childcare responsibilities.

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

Learners benefit from the friendly, relaxed and focused environments that help them to feel safe. In lessons, learners fully concentrate on their studies and provide mutual support. On mathematics courses, for example, learners support each other to solve probability problems. They value the friendships they make that help them feel less isolated.

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

Learners gain useful new knowledge and skills which help them in their lives. For example, those studying courses in digital skills learn how to purchase items online safely. Learners studying cybersecurity have updated the security settings for their 23 and 24 October 2024

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online accounts since learning about the risks associated with using internet connections in public spaces.

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Learners with SEND are encouraged to work independently. Learners who struggle with their mental health gain confidence through making intricately crafted ceramic artwork, which they are proud to sell at open events.

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better?

Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum to provide adult learning to those most in need. They work very closely with other areas of the council, including the employer engagement team, and use valuable information about the demographic of the borough to inform the development of their provision. They offer courses which meet the needs of the local job market in, for example, green skills such as retrofit. They also run a course on the suite of computer applications used by the council to give learners the skills to gain employment there.

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better?

Teachers are highly knowledgeable and well qualified. They use their expertise well to give clear presentations of new concepts and set useful activities, such as discussions that help learners to remember key concepts. ESOL teachers give learners ample opportunities to practise their speaking and listening skills. They use highly effective questions to check that learners can recall their earlier learning about conjunctions and give useful examples to help learners link simple sentences to form compound sentences.

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better?

Tutors check what learners already know and can do at the start of their course. They adapt activities for each learner to work on their areas of weakness. For example, in English, teachers support individual learners with their pronunciation, when teaching sentence structure to the whole group. Across all subjects, tutors routinely correct any misconceptions. They set clear and specific targets for learners and provide them with helpful feedback. This helps learners to know what they need to do to improve their work and make progress.

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better?

Staff quickly identify the needs of learners with SEND. They provide appropriate support for these learners, such as by providing learning support assistants in lessons. As a result, learners with SEND make progress at the same rate as their peers.

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better?

Most learners complete their courses successfully and, where relevant, achieve their qualifications. In courses with the highest achievement, such as ESOL, tutors make good use of practice tests to help prepare learners for their speaking, reading and writing examinations. However, too few learners achieve their qualifications in information technology and functional skills English and mathematics. Leaders struggled to manage staffing issues in English and mathematics and have made recent changes to improve the teaching of these subjects. 23 and 24 October 2024

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Staff identify learners’ aspirations early in the courses. Tutors and a full-time careers adviser share information with learners about different options available to them, with a view to helping them embark on their chosen careers, rather than opting to take a job that does not help them to reach their aspirations. Careers advisers helpfully meet with learners either at the Hackney Service Centre or in community venues. In ESOL, learners benefit from learning language about employment, including job advertisements, and complete job applications using accurate language, including correct tenses.

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Leaders have useful links with employers. They run a careers fair on enrolment days for learners to see what they can do on completion of their courses. However, staff do not include enough opportunities for learners to hear from employers or gain a greater insight into different job roles and careers.

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Leaders are aware of the strengths and weaknesses across the provision. They check the quality of training provided by subcontractors frequently. Leaders provide helpful professional development to staff working at HALS and their subcontractors through, for example, supporting them to gain teaching qualifications. As a result, staff are well equipped to provide high-quality training.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Provide further opportunities for learners to meet with employers and gain a deeper insight into employment and career opportunities.  Identify and implement actions to increase the proportion of learners who achieve their qualifications in information technology and functional skills English and mathematics. 23 and 24 October 2024

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Provider details

Address Hackney Town Hall Mare Street London E8 1EA

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Provider details

Website www.hackney.gov.uk/adult-education

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Jill Gander

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 13 to 16 March 2018

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Provider details

Main subcontractors Core Arts Mind in the City Hackney and Waltham Forest Platform Training Tado Ceramics The Protection Service 23 and 24 October 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was the first short inspection carried out since Hackney London Borough Council was judged to be good in March 2018.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the head of adult learning, 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

Rebecca Jennings, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Roger Pilgrim Ofsted Inspector Eileen O’Gara Ofsted Inspector 23 and 24 October 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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