Hampshire County Council
Strategic Commissioning Plan
for
Adult and Community Learning
2014/15
Hampshire County Council
Strategic Commissioning Plan
for 2014/15
Contents
Page
Introduction ............................................................................................ 3
Characteristics of Hampshire .. .............................................................. 4
Context of the Hampshire Futures Offer ................................................ 4
Outcomes for 2014/15 ........................................................................... 8
Funding ................................................................................................. 9
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Introduction
This Adult and Community Learning (ACL) plan for funding and commissioning
activities outlines the requirements and the approach of Hampshire County
Council to achieve its strategic and organisational objectives and targets for
2014/15. It details the type and extent of ACL activities that Hampshire County
Council, in conjunction with its key partners, is seeking to secure for 2014/15.
The purpose of this document is to describe the Council’s plans and proposals
relating to ACL along with the overarching funding and procurement proposals.
Please note that following any funding or policy changes arising from the Skills
Funding Agency over the next period, these proposals may be subject to
amendment.
The Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Department has established its plans
for the reform of further education and the adult and community learning sector
within the document: New Challenges, New Chances. The reforms, outlined in
the document, will have long-term effects and, as a result of new funding and
strategic directions, will have an impact on future aspects of delivery of ACL
activities in Hampshire. The importance of responding to issues and challenges
such as: enhanced community engagement; investing in skills; fee income;
promotion of health and wellbeing; and employment; as well as supporting
learning in areas of greatest need, are parts of the reform of ACL.
The government is seeking to retain the Community Learning programme and
also recognises the benefits of learning for personal development, civic
participation, mental/physical health, digital inclusion and community involvement.
Community Learning reflects both a ‘targeted’ and a ‘universal’ offer of learning
for those in disadvantaged areas, as well as for those who engage in learning for
personal development. Widening participation, motivating disadvantaged groups
and creating progression pathways, which include skills-focussed learning,
training and employability activities, are also priorities.
Within its Skills Funding Statement 2012-15 (December 2012) the BIS
Department outlined the range of funding aims and objectives it intends to secure
within the post-16 sector. It is also important to acknowledge that the Skills
Funding Agency is the government body that manages the BIS Department
allocation and which funds Hampshire County Council. The Skills Funding
Agency has established the terms of all of its learner programmes funding
procedures and protocols within its key Funding Rules document.
For 2014/15 Hampshire County Council aims to access two Skills Funding
Agency funding streams: Community Learning and the Adult Skills Budget. In
relation to Community Learning we shall invite funding applications from those
providers who are currently part of the ACL procurement Framework and also
from existing Hampshire County Council providers.
Community Learning has traditionally comprised four learning categories which
form part of a single budget. These are:


Personal and Community Development Learning (PCDL)
Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC)
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

Wider Family Learning (WFL)
Family English, Maths and Language (FEML)
Although there is now a degree of flexibility there will remain an expectation to
provide a balanced offer of learning. This offer should be responsive to the needs
of the local community, involve partnership working, achieve outcomes and meet
the policy requirements of each element.
The Adult Skills Budget (ASB) supports skills and employability activities and a
range and balance of units and qualifications identified through the Qualifications
and Credit Framework (QCF) to meet the needs of learners, employers and
communities. In 2014/15, Hampshire’s ASB provision will be developed under
the auspices of the ‘Hampshire Futures’ employment, apprenticeships and skills
programme that is being delivered by Hampshire County Council. By delivering
ASB funding through the remit of ‘Hampshire Futures’, we will seek to link more
effectively to countywide employability and training plans and activities.
Hampshire County Council, via its Children’s Services Department, is strategically
committed to support an inclusive and innovative ACL programme for Hampshire
residents in 2014/15.
1 Characteristics of Hampshire
Factors considered in the development of strategic priorities for adult and
community learning, and in determining the shape and delivery of provision within
Hampshire, include:
 The county of Hampshire has a population of approximately 1.3 million people
 The population is ageing and 24% is aged over 60.
 93% of the population is deemed to be ‘White British’
 Areas within Havant, Gosport, Rushmoor and the New Forest fall within the
20% most deprived areas in England
 Areas within Havant, Test Valley, New Forest and Fareham fall within the 20%
most deprived for Education and Skills
 Havant has the highest proportion of working age adults with no qualifications
(11.2%) followed by New Forest (10.8%) and Basingstoke (10.3%)
 Across the county 41% of residents do not possess qualifications at Level 2 or
above
 15% of the population is estimated to be disabled
 There are currently over 16,500 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in
Hampshire with 25% of those claiming for over 6 months
 28% of claimants are between the ages of 18-24 years
 Priority areas for supporting people back to work are Havant, Basingstoke, New
Forest, Gosport, Rushmoor and Andover.
2 Context of the Hampshire Futures Offer
2.1 Hampshire Futures and Community Learning Funding 2014/15
Hampshire Futures is the broad post-16 Hampshire County Council programme that
encompasses a wide range of learning, training and skills provision and also
contains the countywide ACL service. It is based within the Children’s Services
Department of Hampshire County Council and promotes and delivers a wide range
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of area-based learning opportunities which support learning, skills and personal
development for adults and young people to meet the needs of employers,
communities and individuals, both now and in the future. Hampshire Futures is
committed to achieving goals established by both Hampshire County Council and by
central government, via the BIS Department.
Hampshire Futures aims to assist learners to make more informed choices, providing
options which allow them to develop the skills they need to function in society;
progress into vocational learning and employment; and contribute more effectively in
work and within the community. The innovative learning opportunities are targeted to
support the attainment and life chances of adults and young people who are
disadvantaged, whilst continuing to address the needs of the wider community,
including older people and those learning for personal development, and providing
opportunities to improve health, wellbeing and social inclusion. Hampshire Futures
will also contribute to the aims of the sub-regional economic growth drivers, including
the M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Solent LEP respectively. It will
also seek to address the objectives of the newly approved City Deal that involves
adjoining local authorities, including Hampshire County Council.
The majority of Community Learning funding will be allocated on a ‘targeted’
basis towards those Hampshire districts that exhibit evidenced socio-economic
need, as defined by criteria such as the Child Poverty Needs Assessment.
Funding will also be ‘universally’ allocated and distributed to all districts by virtue
of district population counts (see table in section 4 below). All funding applications
will have a minimum contract value of £5k.
There are a number of other factors which will require consideration such as area
demographics, rurality, and distribution of learning providers and learners. Within
the overarching principles of universal access to adult and community learning
provision, our aim is to concentrate the majority of our funding on those who need
help most, such as those who did not have positive experiences at school, those
who exhibit skills or learning difficulties, and those who would not be able to
afford the cost of a course.
A dual approach for funding will be adopted for 2014/15. Firstly, Hampshire County
Council will invite funding applications from existing non-Hampshire County Council
providers based upon this Strategic Commissioning Plan and Service Specification.
Those providers who are currently part of the ACL Framework Agreement entered
into a contract with Hampshire County Council for the academic year 2013/14 with
an option to extend to 2014/15. For the 2014/15 academic year, a programme and
schedule of ‘call offs’ will be formulated and this will be largely aimed at existing
Framework providers.
Secondly, Hampshire County Council providers will submit funding applications
against this Strategic Commissioning Plan, which will be considered at the same
time as non-Hampshire County Council submissions and as part of the formal ‘calloff’ procedure. Approved Hampshire County Council providers will enter into Service
Level Agreements with Hampshire County Council. Both Hampshire County Council
and non-Hampshire County Council applications will be considered against objective
criteria including district allocations and the strategic priorities contained within this
Plan.
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Other aspects of the adult learning offer in 2014/15 include the further development
of Functional Skills for learning up to Level 2. Functional Skills replaced Skills for
Life as the main form of delivery for pre-Level 2 learning in 2013/14. Additionally, the
revised Common Inspection Framework for further education and skills (September
2012) will have key implications for Hampshire Futures, specifically in relation to the
grade for Overall Effectiveness and the greater focus upon Teaching, Learning and
Assessment and the achievement of learners, taking into account success rates for
different groups of learners.
Hampshire County Council would not be looking to enter into agreements with
any Provider that, due to poor success rates for relevant provision, has been
issued with a "Notification to Improve" by the Skills Funding Agency or that
received an "Inadequate" (Grade 4) from Ofsted at their most recent Inspection.
Hampshire Futures will continue to develop its plans to secure quality learning provision
and forge partnerships with learning providers across the county to develop and deliver
adult learning provision in various locations. These include schools, libraries and
museums, children’s centres, community venues, arts centres and through voluntary
and community organisations.
2.2 New Challenges, New Chances (December 2011)
Through its reform plan: ‘New Challenges, New Chances’, the government wishes to
secure the development of stronger adult learning communities, enhanced civic
participation and a positive response to the localism agenda. As well as developing
stronger learning communities, the reform proposals also aim to support enhanced
individual skills, employability, and health via an inclusive and robust learning offer.
The associated ‘Skills Funding Statement’ (December 2012)) emphasises that ACL
providers should seek to deliver within local communities, generate greater income
and widen participation. It also highlights that government aims to achieve these
objectives through the defined objectives of the Community Learning Trust (CLT)
pilots that are currently operational. We intend to continue to participate in ongoing
regional activities that are designed to ensure progress in CLT development and
objectives.
2.3 Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council will also respond to existing and emerging adult learningbased government initiatives that will impact across the county. Alongside the New
Challenges, New Chances programme, Hampshire County Council will respond to
related policy initiatives such as the broader adult skills and employment agenda, the
Work Programme, Traineeships and the Apprenticeships Implementation Plan
(November 2013). It will also augment extra curricular provision in schools, children’s
centres and early years settings, to secure enhanced adult learning benefits for
Hampshire residents.
Hampshire Futures intends to ensure greater alignment with other Council
departments. To that extent we will look to complement learning activities
undertaken by Council service areas in locations such as libraries and museums,
community centres and with older people, the disabled and the digitally excluded.
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Our programme also corresponds with the Council’s ‘Shaping Hampshire – modern
public services for the future’ (Strategic Plan 2013-2017) that seeks to achieve a
number of outcomes (some of which are related to adult and community learning):
secure more integration, joint-working, business planning and added value for
service provision. ‘Shaping Hampshire’ also recognises that the achievement of
longer-term objectives can be secured by generating value for money, partnershipbased activities and realistic outcomes that will achieve impacts across communities
in Hampshire.
Hampshire Futures, through provision such as adult and community learning, will
contribute to the vision and objectives of the M3 and the Solent LEPs respectively.
The pro-active partnership model, upon which the M3 and Solent LEPs are based
(with partner agencies including businesses, higher education institutions and
employment organisations), provides a good opportunity for the activities of the
Hampshire Futures programme to contribute and flourish.
By promoting progression pathways and future opportunities for learners, the
Hampshire Futures ACL offer will address long-term and defined local LEP
objectives to 'invest in skills that help to establish a pattern of growth’ and also
‘ensure local residents are better qualified and equipped to take up the jobs that are
created’. ACL funding for LEPs is described, on a co-terminus basis, within Section
4 of this document.
The Service also recognises the importance of the City Deal, covering Portsmouth,
Southampton, Isle of Wight and Hampshire, as a contributor to skills enhancement
and growth. The City Deal, operational for 2014/15, will impact upon a number of
Hampshire districts from East Hampshire to Test Valley. Via its programme for
countywide skills, training and learning, the adult and community learning
programme will aim to complement City Deal objectives, particularly those relating to
‘developing a locally responsive skills base to drive economic growth’ and also
‘helping the long-term and young unemployed into work’.
2.4 Priorities for 2014/15
Hampshire Futures ACL offer aims to deliver varied and innovative learning
opportunities across a broad spread of venues, including co-location of delivery. The
priorities for 2014/15 are to:
 ensure the development of meaningful partnership activities that enable
joint working, avoid duplication and share best practice
 provide both a universal and targeted offer and support learning where
needs are greatest
 forge enhanced integration with other policy areas that cover: community
engagement, employment, skills enhancement, and digital inclusion; and
respond to the objectives of the two regional LEPs and the City Deal
 provide greater alignment with existing Hampshire County Council and
particularly Children’s Services Department provision within schools and
children’s centres and support Hampshire Futures objectives and priorities
as reflected in the ‘Shaping Hampshire’ plan
 improve essential skills for learners to progress to further learning,
paid/unpaid work and involvement in the community
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



improve recruitment of learners from particular equality groups eg those
with learning difficulties and disabilities; males; minority ethnic groups;
unemployed 19-25 year olds
enable parents and children to learn together and for parents to develop
confidence to support their children’s learning
maintain a broad and innovative range of learning opportunities for
personal fulfilment and improved health and wellbeing, including courses
leading to qualifications and accredited outcomes
support community development by ensuring that voluntary and
community groups and community organisations can support informal
learning activities and create progression routes for people who want to
move to more formal learning, and by enabling organisations within the
voluntary and community sector to build capacity to reach people who are
furthest away from learning and employment.
3 Outcomes for 2014/15
Hampshire Futures ACL Service aims to deliver successful learning opportunities
to high volumes of learners in 2014/15 which will have the following impacts:
 1000 residents engaged in community projects in Rushmoor, Havant and
Gosport and other identified areas of deprivation which improve the local
environment and promote active citizenship
 Improved health outcomes for 1000 residents through participation in
programmes of physical activity, cookery, healthy eating and healthy
lifestyles
 10% increase in participation of older people in learning activities which
promote health and social wellbeing and digital inclusion
 Through partnership delivery with Hampshire schools and children’s
centres, a 10% increase in provision which will improve outcomes for
children and families
 1000 unemployed and low-skilled people improve skills and confidence
and are prepared for training, employment and self-employment
 10% increase in learning opportunities for Hampshire residents which
improve digital, communication and financial literacy skills and which
support personal progression and accreditation opportunities.
The expected outcomes in terms of learner numbers for the ACL Service are as
follows:
Community Learning funding
Learners
Non-targeted (leisure) learning
10,000
Targeted adult learning:
Priority PCDL/ NLDC/SILL
Learning in Families including WFL and FEML
3,500
4,500
Total Learners
18,000
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Learning activities will be supported which can contribute to the 2014/15
outcomes; generate impacts within local communities; and meet statutory, service
and quality requirements.
4 Funding
Funding for Community Learning will be allocated across the district and borough
council areas of Hampshire using socio-economic indicators. The indicators have
been obtained from local and current sources including the Hampshire Economic
Assessment 2011 and Hampshire County Council’s Child Poverty Needs
Assessment 2012. They inform localised and proportionate allocations which are
outlined in the table below.
Universal provision describes the learning opportunities that are available to
Hampshire residents who are able to contribute to the costs of their courses,
including those eligible for fee concessions: 50% for those on ‘active’ benefits and
25% for learners aged 60+. Targeted provision is offered free of charge for
learners.
There are two funding tables. Table 1 includes the Skills Funding Agency
allocations to districts based upon the Universal and Targeted amounts. It also
includes the Skills Funding Agency allocations to Hampshire FE Colleges for
Personal and Community Development Learning.
Table 2 contains the breakdown of funding across districts in relation to the M3
and Solent LEPs respectively.
Table 1
Districts
Basingstoke and
Deane
East Hampshire
Eastleigh
Fareham
Gosport
Hart
Havant
New Forest
Rushmoor
Test Valley
Winchester
Totals
Community Learning
Allocations
Universal
Targeted
provision
provision
£58,200
£35,400
£31,600
£74,100
£30,300
£55,300
£30,200
£9,000
£40,200
£39,700
£21,000
£117,000
£39,000
£60,000
£62,000
£160,000
£28,000
£230,000
£35,000
£167,000
£181,000
£46,000
£425,000
£1,125,000
FE PCDL
Allocations
£49,000
£0
£40,000
£0
£129,000
£0
£0
£357,571
£0
£0
£41,000
Totals
£224,200
£74,400
£131,600
£136,100
£319,300
£83,300
£260,200
£401,571
£207,200
£220,700
£108,000
£616,571 £2,166,571
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Table 2
Districts
Basingstoke and Deane
East Hampshire
Eastleigh
Fareham
Gosport
Hart
Havant
New Forest
Rushmoor
Test Valley
Winchester
Totals
M3 LEP
area
£174,000
£65,340
Solent
LEP area
£89,280
£13,320
£174,000
£72,600
£90,800
£131,700
£192,900
£79,300
£265,200
£44,400
£209,300
£223,200
£66,600
£812,660
£1,550,000
£7,260
£90,800
£131,700
£192,900
£79,300
£22,200
£209,300
£133,920
£53,280
£737,340
Total
£265,200
£22,200
As part of its plan to secure best value and effective delivery in 2014/15 and
beyond, Hampshire County Council aims to secure high quality learning provision
which meets local needs as defined by local partnership delivery plans,
contributes to outcomes and data reporting requirements and offers value for
money. Through its contract with the Skills Funding Agency, Hampshire County
Council is looking to achieve substantial and successful learner volumes in
2014/15.
We will utilise both a call off procedure and a funding application process for the
academic year August 2014 - July 2015 to receive proposals from learning
providers with the capacity to deliver high-quality community learning provision
and outcomes for adults. All applications will be considered objectively and
transparently against the district allocations outlined within this document and the
priorities described in section 2.4.
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