This is what learners told us about the quality of provision and the impact of learning on their lives: How easy was it to get learning? Most learners thought that finding out about provision and getting tuition was easy or very easy. They enjoyed their learning and were accessing both numeracy and literacy tuition. A relaxed atmosphere, going to a place they knew, getting 1:1 tuition and talking to someone who listened helped them.
Most people heard through the Big Plus and, for college learners, through their course tutors.
Schools, Libraries, Community Centres, employers and word of mouth were also linking people into learning.
Leaflets were seen as good and helpful.
Why did people come? Skills improvement and employability were the main reasons that people wanted learning. Other motivating factors were supporting children’s homework, managing everyday literacies, the need to learn for work and gain confidence as well as English being a second language. What did they think of their tuition?
Most learners thought that the tuition and guidance they got was good and very good and that they had lots of involvement in their learning decisions. Most learners seemed less sure about questions relating to learning styles and memory strategies and learning in different ways.
Learners thought that their tutors, their ILPs, the place and length of sessions helped their learning most. “I found my tutor very helpful and nothing was a problem – always giving me positive encouragement”. “She makes me think I can do this.”
What got in the way of learning?
A range of barriers including lack of ICT, other commitments, lack of confidence, illness and dyslexia were identified as hindering learning. Focus groups identified that ICT equipment could be better and more available and that they would like more learning hours. This was especially important to the ESOL learners and groups. What changed as a result of learning?
A variety of personal outcomes were sited: more confidence in dealing with people helping with homework managing everyday literacies increasing chances and getting jobs doing more with families
People said that they would study in the future, some mentioned volunteering and there was evidence that some learners were looking for work as a result of learning. What about the future?
Most people said they wanted skills-based learning opportunities in the future - e.g. writing, spelling, ICT and numeracy as well as the opportunity to get qualifications especially in Communications. Confidence and assertiveness opportunities were also a priority for learning.
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