www.wiltshire.gov.uk
LPSA Target 5: Basic Skills
- To improve the basic skills levels of adult learners.
Confidence in achieving at least 60% stretch:
Medium As a total figure chances are high, but the specific Entry Level 3 target is likely to be very difficult to meet.Targets
500 Wiltshire public sector employees achieving adult Basic Skills qualifications recognised as contributing to the 'Skills for Life' PSA target, of which:
- 150 at Entry level 3 (30% of PRG relating to this target)
- 100 at Level 1 (20% of PRG relating to this target)
- 250 at Level 2 (50% of PRG relating to this target)
The target groups for these are 12 members of the Wiltshire Strategic Board. However the wider target group, for which WiSB champions the issue of improving skills for life or basic skills, includes public sector workers of all kinds.
How and when targets are measured
Progress to targets is measured and monitored at quarterly intervals, and presented to the WCC monitoring group led by Sharon Britton.
Six monthly progress meetings are held with Diana Fulbrook, the WiSB Champion for Basic Skills. Here, issues are identified that prevent the project meeting its LPSA targets and the Basic Skills Champion presents these to WiSB members on the project's behalf.
Progress planned at this stage
In the first year of the project, the goal was to have achieved initial engagement by each of the Wiltshire Strategic Board member organisations committed to the project. Some initial flow-through of learners from members began then. However, due to delays in engaging all members in the past year, plans for the largest proportion of learners will now need to be implemented in the final year of the project.
To this end, and in the light of growing interest and national success with Skills for Life targets (e.g. the reaching of Government interim PSA target of 1.5 million skills for life qualifications achieved by 2007), all 12 member organisations, including those who had achieved learner numbers as reported below, are being invited to participate further. All but 2 of those organisations who have not begun recruiting and training at this stage have re-affirmed their intention to do so.
Progress achieved at this stage
As at mid July 2007, all but 2 have been in recent communication. Since the beginning of this year, 4 more had indicated an intention to begin or to add further training in coming months. 7 organisations had completed initial Skills learning programmes in years 1 and 2; some with small pilot-type phases. Others achieved substantial numbers of attainments at Levels 1 and 2, enabling Level 1 to be the first of the 3 targets to be met. A further 3 organisations have been preparing to assess learners, diagnose and commence training within the next 5 months.
Although initially some organisations had worked within specific departments, others have opted increasingly for an approach which seeks to engage its whole workforce. Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service now join LSC (Wiltshire and Swindon), and the Wiltshire Probation Area as one of these. The second year, which for reasons of staffing and member re-organisation has been less productive than expected, closed however with around 100 starts targeted within the next 2 quarters. These have an expected conversion rate at least equal to earlier rates of around 65%.
Cumulative analysis of qualifications achieved to date by subject and level is as follows:
- Achievements at Entry Level 3: 4
- Achievements at Level 1: 126 (exceeding L1 Target)
- Achievements at Level 2: 113
- Total achievements equaling: 243
Significant problems encountered/predicted
Although some organisations had moved forward dramatically in the initial year, subsequent momentum appears to have been interrupted by staff change and member reorganisation or merger as indicated above.
Figures also appear to indicate that those individuals with the most basic need cannot be readily identified and persuaded to participate. It may also be that they largely do not exist at Entry Level in the member organisations participating to date; at least in the perceived proportion which inspired the EL3 target of 30% of PRG.
The overall success of the project, however, as a contribution to the national effort in encouraging all members of the workforce to demonstrate proven competence at Level 2 in literacy and numeracy, is dependent upon all of the Wiltshire Strategic Board member organisations reaching their stretch targets within the coming year.
Recovery actions in hand (where applicable)
Wiltshire College manages the project on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council and a "Skills for Life" Project Co-ordinator was appointed in February. LSC funds continue to cover the costs of the delivery of training.
Entry Level shortfall - efforts are being increased in year 3 to obtain more evidence of the cause of low take-up at this level. Any further measures which may help persuade entry level members of staff to take this final opportunity will also be considered.
Clarification is also being sought concerning the interpretation of the term ‘public sector workers’ as used in the LPSA Agreement. This includes their eligibility to be offered Skills for Life training through their employers, particularly where for example, potential Entry Level 3 learners may not otherwise be considered as entitled to this opportunity.
However, those member organisations that have committed to the project, will need to maintain support in this final effort to meet, if not exceed, the overall stretch target and where possible increase their contribution of achievements below level 1.
There have been a number of possible reasons why some organisations are moving more slowly than others. It is hoped that each of those having earlier experienced corporate restructurings, financial issues, etc. will now feel more able as a progressive county employer, to take this last oppportunity to support the programme. There remain, for example, opportunities to engage or re-engage the collective will to implement the project within each organisation at all levels.
Wiltshire County Council is one of those whose, integrated Get On at Work and Skills for Life, training for some of their staff has now begun. Training for WCC on a larger scale is also being planned with Wiltshire College for the coming months. It is hoped that the Council will be able to complete their Skills for Life target by December this year.
External assistance required
Some external assistance has already been received from the Local Government Association ‘Get On at Work’ project, as well as the LSC funding mentioned above. No further external assistance is currently anticipated.
Comments:
This project aims to aid the achievement of a step change in how we (the Wiltshire Strategic Board member organisations) conceive of workforce development. Uneven progress in implementing this project within different organisations, however, remains a threat to complete success.
Therefore, as stated above, the overall success of the project will continue to be dependent on all, engaging with the remaining opportunities offered in its final year; with the Wiltshire Strategic Board member organisations that have committed to the project, continuing to participate actively in it through to completion next March.
Contact Details
By Post
Sue Watkins
Learning & Skills Council
The Bora Building
Westlea Campus
Swindon
SN5 7EZ
By Telephone
01793 608055
By Email
Opening Hours
Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm
