Purpose

The Adult and Community Learning (ACL) team
work closely with residents and local organisations to develop
courses for adults with no or low qualifications in areas of high
deprivation to help them re-engage with learning. The courses are
aimed at developing knowledge, skills, behaviour and attitudes for
independent living, improved community cohesion and progression to
further learning and employment. Many ACL learners also have
childcare responsibilities which are a barrier to attending
courses. The provision of free mobile creche services that take
place in the same venue as the course removes the barrier and
increases accessibility to courses.
The cost of mobile creche services is fully covered through the
Adult Education Budget granted to ACL externally from the West of
England Combined Authority. In 2022/23 academic year 31% (60) of
all ACL courses offered a creche supporting 679 learners to attend
courses. Within this almost half of all learners on accredited
courses such as functional skills English and maths, ESOL and
employability awards were supported to learn through the provision
of a free, onsite, creche.

Content

Approval for the Adult and Community Learning
team to re-let the mobile creche framework contract that expires in
August 2024.