Formative impact data gathering

Impact Forum: Wales, Basic Skills; contribution by WAG Date: September 28th 2015 Focus: Basic Skills Focus Key Links to: Evidence eg research, reports, policies, case Influence on questions employability, studies, results (achievements), learner Lifelong learning, exclusion, testimony, meetings, seminars, conferences equity, innovation, digital skills? knowledge, quality 1. What country-level policies drive current programmes and provision?

General Essential Skills Policy Policy Statement Essential skills data is currently drawn from the last on Skills and National Survey of Adult Skills in Wales which was Current Welsh Government post-16 essential Skills conducted in 2010. This revealed that: skills policy is set out in the Policy Statement Implementation on Skills. This focuses on skills interventions Plan  There has been improvement in literacy levels: 12 and defines those activities that provide the per cent of adults were assessed to have Entry skills needed for employment (i.e. for those Level literacy or below, a decrease from 25 per cent individuals looking for work) as well as those in 2004. skills that are needed to enhance someone’s  29 per cent of adults were assessed at Level 1 (37 employment and support businesses (i.e. the per cent in 2004) and 59 per cent at Level 2 or skills of the workforce). above (an increase from 38 per cent in 2004).  There is little change in numeracy levels: 51 per cent The Policy Statement on Skills reinforces our of adults were assessed to have Entry Level aim to support individuals to improve their numeracy or below, similar to the 53 per cent in essential skills so that they are best placed 2004. to access work opportunities or progress  29 per cent were assessed at Level 1 (25 per cent in while in employment. In taking this forward 2004) and 21 per cent at Level 2 or above (22 per the Welsh Government aims to: cent in 2004).  Literacy and numeracy levels were higher amongst  Establish Level 2 essential skills as the the employed, those with higher levels of household aspiration for the majority of adults income, those with higher qualifications, and without an appropriate level of amongst the older age groups. qualification, and refocus the Employer Pledge to ensure employers recognise More recently, the Welsh Government commissioned Focus: Basic Skills Focus Key Links to: Evidence eg research, reports, policies, case Influence on questions employability, studies, results (achievements), learner Lifelong learning, exclusion, testimony, meetings, seminars, conferences equity, innovation, digital skills? knowledge, quality essential skills as a critical element of ARAD Research to conduct a literature review of adult their workforce; and essential skills policy and programmes.

 Underpin our focus on essential skills at Level 2 with innovative and cost effective delivery models that build upon the non- formal learning of the Wales Union Learning Fund, and use ICT and other methods to embed essential skills as part of mainstream vocational training programmes.

The Skills Implementation Plan was published in July 2014 and sets out the key policy actions that will deliver these aims. These include:

 Continue to deliver our Essential Skills in the Workplace and Work Ready programmes until a new adult employability programme is established. The focus of the new adult employability programme will be to support our aspiration for essential skills delivery in Wales and, in working alongside support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and other Welsh Government departments, to ensure individuals are provided with a broad set of skills to enhance their employability. Focus: Basic Skills Focus Key Links to: Evidence eg research, reports, policies, case Influence on questions employability, studies, results (achievements), learner Lifelong learning, exclusion, testimony, meetings, seminars, conferences equity, innovation, digital skills? knowledge, quality  Ensure that there is a consistent means of assessing essential skills needs through a standardised essential skills assessment tool for Wales. Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST)

The Welsh Government has procured the development of a single, standardised on- line tool to be used by all Welsh Government providers.

The Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST) was launched on 1st October by Tribal Ltd. A planned programme of updates to the Toolkit commenced in November 2014 and will continue until the Toolkit is completed in January 2016.

The Toolkit provides the following:  Screening tools in literacy and numeracy  Initial assessments in literacy, numeracy, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and digital literacy  ‘Drill-down’ diagnostic assessments in specific skills areas,  Interactive learning materials in literacy, numeracy, ESOL and digital literacy  A suite of reports  Management Information System (MIS) integration  Technical support Focus: Basic Skills Focus Key Links to: Evidence eg research, reports, policies, case Influence on questions employability, studies, results (achievements), learner Lifelong learning, exclusion, testimony, meetings, seminars, conferences equity, innovation, digital skills? knowledge, quality

Work Ready Individuals are referred through Work Ready, is the Welsh Government’s JCP current adult skills programme. It operates via the Work Based Learning (WBL) network of training providers and supports individuals’ progress from non-employment into employment. It is open to all sectors consists of two elements: Learning for Work; and Routeways. Individuals are referred onto the programme by JCP and entry to the most appropriate route to meet each learner’s needs is determined through the WBL provider’s own assessment process. To be eligible, individuals must be aged 18 years and over and in receipt of DWP benefits or allowances.

The Programme has been extended to 31 March 2016 to enable officials to further develop the new Skills for Employment Wales programme, in particular to ensure the new programme takes into account the outcomes of current discussions regarding the future delivery and administration of the UK Government’s Work Programme.

Adult Community Learning (ACL) Policy

The priorities for funded provision of ACL Focus: Basic Skills Focus Key Links to: Evidence eg research, reports, policies, case Influence on questions employability, studies, results (achievements), learner Lifelong learning, exclusion, testimony, meetings, seminars, conferences equity, innovation, digital skills? knowledge, quality are:  Adult Numeracy  Adult Literacy  Digital Literacy and  ESOL

A revised Adult Learning policy is currently being developed for publication later in the year.

2. How is participation and engagement considered, evaluated and addressed?

WEST

It is intended that use of WEST will become Mandatory for all providers in Wales. All learners engaged in funded activity for more than 5 hours per week will be required to complete the assessment. Work Ready

Learning for Work is available for eligible adult learners who are not employed and who are assessed as needing to address a barrier (or barriers) prior to entering employment and/or further learning; and/or need to confirm an occupational focus prior to entering employment and/or further learning.

Routeways is available for eligible adult Focus: Basic Skills Focus Key Links to: Evidence eg research, reports, policies, case Influence on questions employability, studies, results (achievements), learner Lifelong learning, exclusion, testimony, meetings, seminars, conferences equity, innovation, digital skills? knowledge, quality learners who are not employed but who are assessed as being occupationally focused and are able to follow a bespoke programme of learning that meets current or future vacancies of a particular employer or economic sector as identified by DWP/JCP

ACL

Learners are referred onto ACL courses through a variety of mechanisms including self referral, JCP, Communities First, Community Groups etc. Learners are also encouraged to participate through learning festivals and taster sessions.

3. What processes and tools are being used to capture wider outcomes?

All data on learners is collected through the Lifelong Learning Wales Record (LLWR). The results of this data are published in statistical reports.

Improved methods of capturing outcome data are being developed.

4. How is adult learning helping to support other policy areas e.g. health, housing, crime, citizenship, environment? Focus: Basic Skills Focus Key Links to: Evidence eg research, reports, policies, case Influence on questions employability, studies, results (achievements), learner Lifelong learning, exclusion, testimony, meetings, seminars, conferences equity, innovation, digital skills? knowledge, quality 5.How is adult learning supporting and influencing policy makers at local, regional and national levels? (EU level is captured summatively)

6. What policies, programmes and practices are being drawn from other UK countries?

Are these influencing policy at country level? How?

7. Are any policies, programmes and practices from other EU countries being used or examined? If so, are these influential? How?