Adult Education, Training and Poverty
This workshop started from the data on Qualification level and income where local information underlined the reliable national funding that income is closely related to level of qualification and that NVQ3 level qualifications is the trigger to a comfortable income. The group asked therefore why the government seemed to concentrate on funding NVQ level 1 and 2 courses rather than NVQ 3 courses.
There was also a concern that, in Burngreave, there are a lot of education providers, including many delivering English as a Second or Other Language but there is little provision for structured progression from basic skills to vocational training. Two examples of good practice were given: a course which combined ESOL with entry level childcare training, where the ESOL training included the specialised vocabulary for childcare and provision of basic English training for construction workers to help with Health and Safety Requirements.
There was also some discussion about training allowances for those on a low income. Some of the Community Education Providers represented provided £32.50 a month to poorer students, but, while earner Support Grants had now been extended to franchise adult education providers, the Learning and Skills Council would not fund the full costs of training allowances, so these had to be secured from other funding sources.
Recommendations from the workshop included:
More co-ordination between adult education providers and support for individual students to ensure structured progression onto vocational courses.
The College had some responsibility for this, but we could lay on learning progression surgeries in the BNDfC Information Shop.
To investigate training allowances for the poorest students.