Adult and Community Learning
Bringing Learning to Local Communities
Nottinghamshire County Council's Adult and Community Learning Service is committed to creating access to high quality learning opportunities which are delivered locally for the benefit of our communities. It aims to meet the needs of local communities and individuals by working in partnership with communities and a wide range of organisations.
Delivery
The Service is funded with monies from Nottinghamshire Learning and Skills Council and the Regeneration division of the County Council.
The funding enables the service to work with schools, colleges of further education, community colleges, the Workers Education Association (WEA) and a wide range of voluntary and community groups to provide learning that meets learner needs in the heart of Nottinghamshire communities.
In the year ending July 2007, 10,515 people caught the learning bug and enrolled onto one of the 1414 courses held at 358 venues in the county generating 13,258 enrolments.
Your local Learning Community Operations Group (COG) who would love to hear which particular course or learning activity you would like to see in your area.
Latest News
Adult Learners Celebrate Regional Success
Adult learners, tutors and providers from across the East Midlands gathered in the Assembly Rooms at County Hall to celebrate the success of learners in gaining Regional Awards as part of Adult Learners Week.
 The Adult and Community Learning Service had been asked to host and organise the event by NIACE, which was attended by just over 100 people.
The guests were welcomed by Councillor, The Hon Joan Taylor, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council who said “Tonight we have the opportunity to applaud the achievements and hard work of learners and those who support them across our East Midlands region. I know that for many here tonight, learning has been a life changing experience. You have overcome barriers and challenges that would daunt most of us and I congratulate you on your commitment, enthusiasm and staying power.”.
The compere for the evening was ACLS tutor and performance poet Louise Ashley who entertained the audience with performance poetry which included audience participation.
Ian Yarroll NIACE Regional Development Officer said “Tonight gives us the chance to celebrate just a handful of the excellent results that are being achieved across the East Midlands. We applaud the efforts of you all.”
Award winner Dawn Johnston from Leicester said about the evening “It was great, on a par with my graduation ceremony”
Our best wishes go to all the learners, tutors and providers who have all worked so hard to ensure learning success.
Learning Disabilities Week
Most people with a learning disability are treated as ‘different'. They do not have the same control over their own lives as the rest of our society and face challenges and prejudice every day.
Learning Disabilities Week (15-22nd June) aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by people with learning difficulties. Here in Nottinghamshire, ACLS have been working to ensure that individuals with learning difficulties have an opportunity to access learning.
We have worked with Advocacy 2 Engagement to produce specially adapted Enrolment and Learner Feedback Forms as well as Individual Learning plans. We also worked with A2E and a group with learning disabilities to produce a dvd version of the ACLS Learner Entitlement Statement. Again, with A2E, ACLS organised a conference and taster days. The conference enabled people to have a say about which courses they wanted to try. The Taster days gave people the opportunity to try them out and to say which ones they would like to do more of.
We have also funded numerous courses which have been run by our partners. These have included:
- Horticulture training – based at a community allotment
- Creative writing – at a Community College
- Healthy lifestyles – run by a voluntary organisation
- Recruitment & Selection – this enabled learners to go on to be involved in the recruitment & selection of staff who would be working with people with learning difficulties
For more information on Learning Disabilities Week go to: www.mencap.org.uk/page.asp?id=2141.
Take part in Ciaras quiz to find out how much you know about learning disabilities by following this link: www.mencap.org.uk/quiz/quiz02.swf.
Carers Week
The fourteenth annual Carers Week takes place from 9th to 15th June 2008.This will highlight the impact caring can have on carers' health and wellbeing. 2,000 carers have already contributed to Carers Week by taking part in an annual survey, now well-established as the largest annual survey of carer’s experiences and opinions.
The results, when published at the start of Carers Week will report on those experiences; the rewards and the frustrations, and the effect on their health. What the implications for carers, as well as those they care for?
Carers Week is organised by ten leading charities who support the UK’s six million carers. The key aims are for Carers Week to:
- Highlight and celebrate the contribution made by carers
- Campaign for better support and services for carers
- Promote policies and best practice that can improve carers’ quality of life
- Reach out to ‘hidden’ carers, ensuring they know where to find help and support
The Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) in Nottinghamshire is committed to supporting courses with Foster Carers, and both birth and looked after children through its Family Learning programme. ACLS recently ran a successful Residential course and the benefits of sharing and learning together was highly valued and enjoyed.
ACLS plans to extend Family learning opportunities to more carers and looked after children, engaging them in fun and relevant learning, which will support them in their invaluable role as Foster carers and adopters, and to benefit the children.
If you are a carer or linked with carers and interested in what's happening with Foster Carers this year then please contact Alison Barros - Family Learning Co-ordinator at ACLS on 0115 9772181 or email: alison.barros@nottscc.gov.uk.
ACLS Tutor Conferences
Planning has begun for the 2008 Conferences. The dates are Wednesday 10th and Saturday 13th September.
Last year 96 percent of tutors attending reported that they found the range of activities excellent or good. For details of venues and workshops, please see the Conference Invitation [PDF 50KB]  and, to book a place, please complete one of the following booking forms (the same form in different formats):
Tutor News
March Tutor Newsletter
Please click here for the latest newslatter March 2008 Tutor Newsletter [PDF 53KB]
On Course Newsletter
ACLS now publishes a monthly newsletter called On Course to celebrate the achievements of learners who have taken part in ACLS courses funded by the Learning and Skills Council and Nottinghamshire County Council and delivered by our wide range of partners. Click the links below to view:
Quality Improvement Framework
New updated version of the Quality Improvement Framework can be found on our Quality Documentation page.
ACLS Provider Meetings
Click here for more information about 2007/2008 ACLS Provider Meetings.
Fee and Remission Policy for 2007/2008
ACLS have published a briefing note for tutors regarding fees and remissions for the academic year 2007/2008 - please see ACLS Fees and Remission Policy 2007/2008 Tutor Briefing [PDF 33KB] .
Qualified Teacher Status
Are you an ACLS tutor, did you know that from September 2007, all new entrants to teaching in the ACL sector will be required to complete a new award which will prepare them to teach? For details please visit www.lifelonglearninguk.org and click on the following link for the Development of a teacher qualifications framework for the lifelong learning sector in England under the heading March 2007 Update.
Contact Us
If you need help or guidance then please contact us.
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