LEARN DEVON’S PURPOSE:
Our learning supports improved social inclusion and social mobility. We will make a difference, supporting individuals who are disadvantaged through previous educational experience, life circumstances / social background or geography to progress towards and within employment and to support societal inclusion. We will build a reputation for integrity, innovation, connection and delivering value.
We deliver both formal and informal learning through direct delivery to adults aged over 19 up to and including level 2 where qualifications are being delivered:
• We support progression supported by wrap-around advice and guidance to deliver effective, meaningful outcomes for our learners.
• We support wider DCC services to deliver their objectives and contribute to DCC delivering on its core priorities and wider strategies to support the citizens of Devon through an innovative, responsive offer.
CONTEXT AND PLACE:
Devon is not a deprived county when compared to England as a whole. A quality-of-life report published by the Thriving Places Index said that our county provided ‘more of the conditions necessary for well-being than any other authority in the country. But three electoral wards (Ilfracombe Central, Barnstaple Central and Forches and Whiddon Valley) are in the most deprived 10% of all areas in England, and another 18 wards are in the 20% most deprived. Around 4% of Devon’s population live in these areas. There are large gaps in educational attainment in Devon. There are also inequalities in health, with a 15-year gap in life expectancy between Central Ilfracombe (75 years) and Exmouth Liverton (90 years). One in eight children lives in poverty in Devon, with a large gap between the highest (33.3% in the Forches area, Barnstaple) and lowest (1.1% in Teignmouth Road, Dawlish) rates. For men, life expectancy in parts of Ilfracombe is lower than in Toxteth and Merthyr Tydfil.
Devon has an ageing and growing population with proportionately more older people than England as a whole. The population is set to grow by 88,000 (11%) over the next 20 years, with low growth in under 65s (2%), with considerable growth in the older population (94% increase in people aged 85 and over). More adults have complex health needs and are living with them for longer. Life expectancy has remained marginally similar over the last decade with people living their remaining 10 to 15 years of life in poorer health. Nationally, life expectancy improvements have tended to stall since 2020. This gap is starker across areas with higher deprivation, minority groups and different communities. Recruiting and retaining a sufficient workforce is increasingly difficult across the country, seriously impacting on the availability of services and the effectiveness of our health and care system. Resolving these workforce challenges is key to the Council’s ambition, including our digital future, skills, sustainable travel, carbon-reduction and climate change, family and carer support, community leadership and the wider economy.
Exeter University’s Centre for Social Mobility’s report found:
- Generally good employment rates but low earnings and poor pay: for example, 41% of jobs in Torridge, Devon, pay below the national living wage – the second highest rate in the country
- Rates of child poverty after housing costs around or above average in many areas, indicating a substantial working poor population
- There is more to disadvantage than financial poverty as measured by rates of Free School Meals status, which are generally low across the region
- Higher than average rates of poor mental health outcomes for both children and adults
- Fewer schools rated Good or Outstanding, particularly in deprived areas
- Recruitment, retention and training challenges for isolated and remote schools, and lower levels of school funding and teacher pay
- Long travel times incurred in pursuing further education or work: for example, for students from Dulverton in West Somerset, attending their nearest FE college means a 12 hour+ day; there is a 27% drop out rate
- Fewer professional jobs available in most areas and lower returns to education, indicating a low skills equilibrium for young workers
- A youth exodus: the highest number of 16–24-year-olds and highest number of students leaving of any region, with implications for those ‘left behind’
APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
Learn Devon is a part of a wider skills system supporting Devon and enjoys strong relationships with a range of stakeholders whose actions and activity shape and impact on the offer being made.
- Devon & Plymouth and Somerset Chambers of Commerce LSIP for the Heart of the Southwest have confirmed the needs for basic digital skills and the need for applicants to have employability skills
- Participation in the development and future implementation of the DCC economic skills strategy
- Consideration of the impact and asks of the devolution deal, the work of the Combined Authorities, particularly the skills strand and AEB funding
- Ongoing collaboration with the main FE colleges operating in Devon to support learners’ entry to higher-level FE provision and the emergence of joint planning in Exeter as a model of delivery providing wider geographical and demographic coverage
- Support of DCC Multiply activity through both direct delivery and quality assurance provides opportunity to work collaboratively with a wide range of providers including those who have not traditionally delivered AEB delivery, helping to reach wide community and build capacity to improve maths offer across Devon.
- As part of the DCC Economy Enterprise and Skills Directorate, staff are sighted on a range of initiatives including Bootcamps, SPF UKCRF provision and the development of the Freeport in Plymouth and South Hams, and as part of DCC the development of Family Hubs, Future skills and Employment hubs whilst delivering the Community Works programme.
- Collaboration with DCC colleagues particularly across Adult’s and Children’s services where co-design and delivery of programmes take place to support the corporate priorities
- As a member of the Skills Advisory Panel, regular networking and consideration of the HoSW Skills Report helps inform the offer, together with collaborative activity across providers and employers
- Local Employment Data gained through a strong working relationship with DWP at a regional and local level together with regular input from the DCC EES Strategic Intelligence team, supports the development of new initiatives to respond to local pressures
- A review of the Learn Devon self-assessment report providing context for the organisation and the environment in which it operates together with an understanding of the realistic nature of the offer
- Regular meetings with the local provider of the National Careers Service informs the offer and needs of those engaging with the programme
- The offer is aligned with Devon County Council’s strategic plans and priorities:
- Investing in Devon’s economic recovery, working with at risk sectors to widen skills and support business development
- Tackle poverty and inequality – Promote services that increase resilience, self-reliance and independence & Promote community cohesion
- Helping communities to be safe, connected and resilient
- Tackle social isolation, particularly among older, younger and disabled people, and those with a long-term illness
- Work with communities to enable them to come together to tackle shared challenges &
- Keep people safe by improving community safety and targeting domestic violence and abuse, hate crime, modern slavery and other priority crimes &
- Engage directly with people in meaningful ways and encourage participation in decisions that affect them
CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL REGIONAL AND LOCAL PRIORITIES
THE OFFER SEEKS TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS DEVON:
- 79% of learners participating in the offer will be those disadvantaged through previous educational experience, life circumstances / social background or where they live
- 79% of those undertaking a qualification will achieve this through our programmes
- 85 % of learners will achieve their learning outcomes
- 75% are supported to move into further learning and/or employment
THE OFFER SUPPORTS THE ACTIONS IDENTIFIED BY THE SOCIAL MOBILITY COMMISSION:
- “From a social mobility point of view, this is about how we create and open opportunity for high skilled and well-paid employment but is also about finding some new solutions to our biggest national problem: the number of young people and adults with low levels of formal qualifications. A large part this is about addressing deficiencies in basic skills, including literacy and numeracy – as this is a major impediment to the progress of individuals, and the capacity of the economy to innovate and improve productivity”
THE OFFER SUPPORTS REGIONAL PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH WEST LOCAL SKILLS REPORT 2021 – 2022:
- “Ensure that every individual can access the skills and training they need to achieve their own potential”
THE OFFER SUPPORTS DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN AND PRIORITIES:
- Investing in Devon’s economic recovery – Work with at risk sectors to widen skills and support business development.
- Tackle poverty and inequality – Promote services that increase resilience, self-reliance and independence and promote community cohesion.
- Helping communities to be safe, connected and resilient – Tackle social isolation, particularly among older, younger and disabled people, and those with a long-term illness
- Work with communities to enable them to come together to tackle shared challenges, keep people safe by improving community safety and targeting domestic violence and abuse, hate crime, modern slavery and other priority crimes and engage directly with people in meaningful ways and encourage participation in decisions that affect them
- We will build on relationships within DCC to support our corporate parenting responsibilities to ensure the offer is accessible and has an impact for those participating
ENGLISH SUPPORTING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS UP TO GCSE LEVEL – SUPPORTING ENTRY TO EMPLOYMENT, FE, HE, AND COMMUNITY COHESION
We will review and refresh our English provision through qualification delivery, offering a range of delivery approaches to support in-work, into work and onto higher education opportunities. We will provide improved access to start the journey through clear links from family learning, with DCC colleagues and short courses to support specific skills, with longer qualifications and working with FE and HE institutions to support access to higher level qualification courses.
We will support over 380 learning opportunities on qualification courses and provide access to 250 learners on Family Learning provision to progress 75% onto further learning opportunities aligned to their goals.
We will grow English provision through qualification delivery, building progression into the offer through family learning, longer qualifications and working with FE and HE institutions to support access to higher level qualification courses.
We will deliver our English programme across a variety of methods and modes of delivery through a variety of modes to ensure all learners can access our courses, receive necessary learning support, access CIAG, and achieve their learning aim.
We will work in collaboration with key Devon employers (i.e., NHS) to co-design and deliver bespoke learning opportunities and qualifications for their employees.
MATHS SUPPORTING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS UP TO GCSE LEVEL – SUPPORTING ENTRY TO EMPLOYMENT, FE, HE, AND COMMUNITY COHESION
We will grow maths provision through qualification delivery, building progression into the offer through DCC colleagues, family learning, longer qualifications and working with FE and HE institutions to support access to higher level qualification courses.
We will review and refresh our Maths provision, offering a range of approaches for those seeking to improve their skills utilising the Multiply funding opportunities as discrete targeted provision to support issues within the community, bite-size and innovative qualification offers with employers to support employees upskilling. Functional skills and GCSE, Functional skills and GCSE offer will be available to a wider audience including promoting access to learners with additional learning needs.
We will provide 750 learning opportunities across maths provision to engage and achieve learner goals, providing over 350 spaces to achieve qualifications.
We will deliver our maths programme across a variety of methods and modes of delivery through a variety of modes to ensure all learners can access courses, receive appropriate support and CIAG, and achieve.
We will work in collaboration with key Devon employers (i.e., NHS) to co-design and deliver bespoke qualifications for their employees.
We will support over 330 learners on qualification courses.
We will support over 400 learners in the next academic year through effective promotion and delivering multiply as an engagement / development activity seeking progression onto further learning or into employment (upskilling).
DIGITAL SKILLS SUPPORTING IMPROVED SOCIAL MOBILITY AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS
We will continue to offer community based one to one support and informal classes for individuals needing assistance to safely access the digital world and will be building on the successful pilot to support individuals gain access to healthcare, employment and reduce social isolation through use of apps. We will offer online skills development around specific work packages at lower levels (e.g.MS Office), first steps to getting online.
We will continue to offer qualifications in essential digital skills to support employment.
We will support over 1000 learning opportunities ranging from engagement to L1 qualifications.
We will grow the enrolments and learners on the programme through two routes:
We will continue to offer an individualised and purposeful digital offer (one to one informal support and advice) across the county, targeting disadvantaged communities and groups to complement the anchor offers as a progression route / skills builder route. The offer will support inclusion for communities to engage with health, welfare, education, employment, and social inclusion needs.
We will offer 2x qualification opportunities at E3 and L1. These are:
EDSQ – basic DS for everyday life
FDSQ – DS for work and study
ESOL SUPPORTING INTEGRATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYMENT
We will offer formal and informal courses to support the wider Council and District needs to support refugees, asylum seekers, migrant workers, and resettled communities together with wider employment skills supporting health and social care sectors. This will be funded through ESFA and DCC / external.
We will co-design a programme to support ESOL learners to gain employability skills, increase digital skills and confidence, and to prepare for vocational qualifications using tailored learning.
We will develop and deliver qualification courses to engage and motivate communities, offering courses such as “Welcome to the UK” and “Living and Working in the UK”.
We will offer a varied programme across all levels with learning opportunities to work with more than 250 learners.
SKILLS & DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTING ENTRY AND PROGRESSION WITHIN DEVON CORE SECTORS
We will offer “Supporting Teaching and Learning in schools” qualifications to over 20 learners in the second year to support entry into the industry.
We will offer 40 learning opportunities for entry into the Early Years Setting through provision of childcare qualifications to support individuals access employment and to upskill to meet government policy to increase childcare provision. This is in collaboration with DCC Children’s and Young Persons service.
We will support an integrated approach to employment skills working within the Future Skills and Employment hubs, delivering 120 learning opportunities.
We are expanding our offer by providing modules that cover specific learning needs i.e., “Supporting Learners with Dyslexia”.
Enhance our skills delivery and progression opportunities through short interventions to support entry, using wrap-around delivery mechanisms.
We will identify pathways into sectors and FE colleges / providers through online and face to face delivery qualifications up to level 2 across the key sectors identified in the DCC Sector Skills strategy and aim to support over 230 learners through 16 different course offerings.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INCLUDING FAMILY LEARNING SUPPORTING FAMILIES TO LEARN TOGETHER TO IMPROVE SKILLS OF LEARNING, ENGLISH AND MATHS
We will re-invigorate the offer tackling topical issues – e.g. Cost of living, green issues, children’s development, targeted at the most disadvantaged communities identified through local intelligence and IMD analysis.
We will work with DCC colleagues to develop the offer to support living independently for care leavers through a range of offers for example tenancy support.
We will use Multiply to support Family Learning offer particularly where we are seeking to build momentum.
We will continue to offer bespoke courses with tailor made content to engage, enthuse and support our learners into education and or employment.
We will use a tailored-learning approach to ensure that learners on our programmes are offered enrichment activities / opportunities to aid achievement and / or to better prepare them for their personal journey.
We will focus on the health and wellbeing of our current learners by embedding sessions within their programmes and offering discreet courses that can be self-referred to, such as “Dealing with Exam Stress”.
We will support over 1000 learners within this area and adopt a cross-curricula approach to support learning and enrich the learners’ experience.
FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
We will review and refresh the Community Works programme to offer over 120 learning opportunities.
We will offer bespoke skills and employability workshops and qualifications to support progression, independence and employment opportunities working with local business communities and DCC services (RFI teams, EES Work Hubs, EES Inclusion Officer).
We will work with DWP job coaches to increase and support access to our programmes.
We will ensure that our programmes across all curriculum areas are inclusive and accessible to all learners and that initial assessments are equitable and purposeful.
CORPORATION STATEMENT:
Learn Devon is part of the Performance and Partnerships Directorate of Devon County Council. Governance is provided through the DCC corporate activity and requirements.
This Accountability Agreement is endorsed by Keri Denton, Director of Performance and Partnerships on behalf of the Council.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFER:
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:
Devon County Council Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025
Devon & Somerset LSIP LSIP Report V6
Devon County Council – Economy & Enterprise
Devon County Council Adult and Community Learning Ofsted Report – September 2023