Kirklees Council Adult and Community Learning

Further education and skills inspection report

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Short inspection of Kirklees Council Adult and Community Learning

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Inspection dates: 26 and 27 February 2025

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Outcome

Kirklees Council Adult and Community Learning continues to be a good provider.

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Information about this provider

Kirklees Council’s adult and community learning service operates under the name of Adult Learning Kirklees. The service is funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to deliver Skills Bootcamps and tailored adult learning courses. Most of the tailored learning provision is made up of non-accredited short courses that aim to meet the council’s strategic plan to support adults in the local community to learn and progress. The service provides Skills Bootcamps in early education, construction, textiles, digital marketing and management.

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Information about this provider

The adult learning provision is managed by a central team that commissions delivery through the council’s Kirklees Success Centre and a network of nine subcontractors. At the time of the inspection, there were nine learners on the early educator Skills Bootcamp. There were around 60 learners on short, non-accredited tailored learning courses. The provider was last inspected in September 2019.

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

Learners are supported very well to access and participate in courses that meet their specific needs and circumstances. Through well-managed and taught Skills Bootcamps, learners quickly gain the knowledge, skills and confidence that they need to gain employment in skills shortage areas.

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

Through its subcontractors, the service engages well with adults who are among the most socially and economically disadvantaged in Kirklees. Through the tailored learning courses that they follow, learners make improvements to their health and well-being, gain valuable essential employability skills and gain in confidence. As a result, they improve their readiness to find employment, to volunteer and to engage in community and family life.

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

Staff understand how to identify and raise any concerns about learners’ safety and well-being so that appropriate action can be taken and, if necessary, support 26 and 27 February 2025

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provided. Learners feel safe while attending courses and improve their understanding about how to stay safe in their everyday lives.

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better?

Leaders and managers have a clearly defined strategy to provide high-quality courses that meet the needs of individuals and communities in Kirklees. They engage effectively with appropriate delivery partners and subcontractors who have the expertise to provide Skills Bootcamps and tailored learning courses.

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better?

Tutors are well qualified and experienced. Most tutors use their expertise well to teach well-planned lessons that motivate and engage learners. Tutors on the early educator Skills Bootcamp blend theoretical knowledge of the early years foundation stage with opportunities for learners to apply this in practice effectively. On employability skills courses, tutors support learners well to develop the skills they need, such as English and digital skills, to gain employment. However, on a small number of tailored learning courses, tutors do not take sufficient account of learners’ starting points or individual circumstances to plan learning or provide clear targets for learners to achieve.

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better?

Most tutors plan lessons well to enable learners to gain and apply substantial new knowledge and to develop their skills and confidence. They use questioning and assessment well to check learners’ progress and use this to provide additional challenge for learners. However, in a small number of cases, tutors do not effectively check that all learners have understood key learning points before moving on to new content.

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better?

Tutors ensure that, through the curriculum, learners make improvements to their English, mathematics and digital skills. Learners on information technology improvers courses develop their ability to solve problems and gain confidence in supporting their own children in their education.

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better?

Tutors support learners who have additional learning or support needs well. For example, they provide learners who have autism or dyslexia with materials in advance of lessons so that these learners are fully prepared to participate and are able to make progress in line with their peers.

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better?

On Skills Bootcamps and most tailored learning courses, tutors set appropriate learning and progress targets for learners and accurately monitor and record the progress that learners make. However, on a few tailored learning courses, particularly on the small number of courses where the intent is to improve health and well-being, the targets set for learners lack clarity and are not sufficiently personalised. Tutors do not accurately monitor or record the progress that learners make in improving their well-being.

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better?

Leaders and managers ensure that learners receive effective careers education and guidance. They provide a range of support to help learners understand the options 26 and 27 February 2025

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available to them on completion of their courses. Learners on tailored learning courses receive personalised advice and guidance from impartial careers advisers to inform their next steps towards employment or study. Tutors on early years Skills Bootcamps weave careers guidance expertly through the curriculum. They draw on the expertise of employers, such as school headteachers, special educational needs and disabilities coordinators and nursery managers, to give learners insights into future roles.

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Members of the strategic oversight board have a wide range of experience and expertise. They use this and their detailed understanding about communities in Kirklees to work well with leaders and managers to inform developments to the provision. Leaders and managers have robust procedures in place for commissioning subcontractors and partners within the council who can meet the service’s proprieties for adult learners.

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Leaders and managers carry out appropriate quality monitoring and contract management activities to assure themselves that subcontractors and delivery partners meet their expectations. They use these activities to intervene and to provide support to bring about any necessary improvements. However, quality assurance processes do not consistently identify the few weaker aspects of the provision, such as target setting and the monitoring of the progress learners make. This means that leaders cannot be assured that learners on all courses are making sustained progress towards their tailored learning goals.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure that tutors use information about learners’ starting points and individual circumstances to plan learning and set targets that meet learners’ needs and enable them to achieve their potential and ambitions.  Ensure that quality monitoring procedures accurately identify weaker aspects of the provision so that swift action can be taken to ensure that learners on all courses are making sustained progress towards their learning goals. 26 and 27 February 2025

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Provider details

Address Civic Centre 1 High Street Huddersfield HD1 2NF

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Jeanette Palmer

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Provider details

Dates of previous inspection 25 to 27 September 2019

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Provider details

Main subcontractors Aalfy Crosland Moor Community Learning Centre Kirklees College Proper Job Theatre Company Qualia Academy Ravensthorpe Community Centre S&H Training and Development (UK) Ltd Skills UK Textile Centre of Excellence 26 and 27 February 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was the first short inspection carried out since Kirklees Council Adult and Community Learning was judged to be good in September 2019.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the principal for 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

Malcolm Fraser, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Alison Dennis His Majesty’s Inspector Chloe Rendall His Majesty’s Inspector Tracey Mace-Akroyd Ofsted Inspector 26 and 27 February 2025

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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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