Council’s Adult Community Learning services rated ‘Good’

Having last been inspected in 2020, the follow-up report confirms that the previous inspection result of ‘Good’ with an Outstanding rating for Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development remains accurate.

The Council’s Adult Community Learning programme enrols more than 500 eligible learners onto courses in 40 locations across Swindon a year. These courses aim to improve essential skills, such as Maths and English, while also developing techniques to support wellbeing, finding employment and helping children to learn. Practical courses to help speakers of other languages learn English as well as digital skills are also among the courses offered.

In its report, Ofsted praised the Council, saying: “Tutors create welcoming and caring learning environments. This contributes towards learners building their confidence and being able to do more in society” also that managers “have developed a curriculum offer that is inclusive and designed well to widen participation in education.”

The feedback of the inspectors reflects the positive outcomes shared with the Adult Community Learning team by residents completing their courses with 100 per cent stating that the courses improved their confidence.

Meanwhile, 98 per cent stated the courses improved their mental health with 98 per cent also adding they had become more ambitious for themselves or their family. Ofsted noted that most learners complete their course successfully with 95 per cent of learners having achieved the learning aim they were working towards during the current academic year.

A cooking course is among more than 100 free courses offered by the Adult Community Learning programme each year. The course teaches adults key skills to help cook balanced, healthy and nutritious meals helping them to live independently.

Jordan recently attended the course and said: “I have found the cooking courses really great. I was referred to the courses by the Council’s Live Well Team and being here has helped me and my family to eat healthier. It’s also helped me to get out of the house, as I had bad social anxiety but I have been able to make new friends.”

In line with feedback from the inspectors, the Council plans to develop the training available for tutors and explore opportunities to provide some more challenging courses as learners said that they felt safe and well cared for, and would like to progress to higher level courses if they were available.

Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “I am proud that our Adult Community Learning team have been recognised for the consistently good services that they deliver to residents across Swindon.

“It is never too late in life to upskill ourselves regardless of missed opportunities and this Ofsted result is a testimony to the hard work of our tutors and learners in making successful progress in developing new skills.

“These courses are invaluable in providing our residents with the opportunity to gain additional qualifications they may not have completed during their schooling. The range of courses offered can also help them to improve their health and wellbeing, build positive relationships and develop skills such as upcycling and healthy cooking.

“My thanks go to all of our team, including our dedicated tutors, for their hard work and continued support to people across the Borough. We will continue to improve the service we provide, with the aim of helping our residents to be more independent, happy and healthy and helping us to achieve our mission to build a fairer Swindon for everyone.”

Anyone who wants to find out more about the wide range of free adult learning courses available from Swindon Borough Council’s Adult Community Learning Team can email ACL@swindon.gov.uk.