National Report On Neighbourhood Learning Praises Bury Adult Learning Service

Date published: 01 October 2008

A major national report by Ofsted on the role of adult learning in community renewal has praised the work of Bury Council’s Adult Learning Service.

'The Service was one of 21 adult and community learning providers studied and was considered to be particularly successful at developing the self-confidence and interpersonal skills of learners. This has enabled them to go on to college and gain important qualifications before moving into employment.

The report specifically looked at The Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities Programme which has allowed many of them to go on to college and gain important qualifications before going on to employment.

Ofsted praised The Adult Learning Service’s ‘Quality Handbook’, which was produced in consultation with the local voluntary organisation Re-Build, as an example of good practice.

The Ofsted report found that projects funded under the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities Programme, make a good contribution to neighbourhood renewal and community cohesion. Specifically it found that projects that generated collective action were successful in bringing communities together.

Councillor Yvonne Creswell, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Community Relations and User Focus, said; “I am pleased that Ofsted had recognised the value of the work being carried out under this programme in supporting community cohesion in local areas. The work we do in Bury is funded largely by the local Learning and Skills Council and has enabled us to carry out significant projects during the last year. However, we couldn’t have done it without the help of our community partners, including the Elms Community Centre in Whitefield, the Mosses Centre in Bury and the Creative Living Centre in Prestwich’’.