Thousands benefiting from lifelong learning

The council's lifelong learning service, which offers a wide range of adult education classes, delivers good quality teaching and outstanding value for money, according to Ofsted.

A report by the independent watchdog highlights the service's "outstanding value for money", "outstanding Family Learning programme", "exemplary partnership working", "very clear strategic direction", "outstanding vision of its senior managers" and the "tireless work" of its "highly motivated staff".

It goes on to say: "The range of provision is outstanding and fully meets the needs of its learners."

A team of six inspectors sat in on classes to observe teaching and learning in action, met with learners, tutors, provider partners and the council's lifelong learning team to discuss their views and concerns.

The inspection team also looked at thousands of pages of records to make sure that the good teaching they observed in classrooms was backed up by equally good management and support. The inspectors concluded that: "…this leadership is highly successful in planning and developing programmes to meet the broad range of needs across the borough."

The inspection covered the four largest subject areas offered by the service: sport and leisure; art, media and publishing; literacy, numeracy and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and the family learning programme.

It also assessed the capacity of the service to improve, its overall effectiveness and other aspects of its leadership and management.

Executive member for education and children’s services Cllr Kathy Tracey said: "Ofsted has confirmed what we have known for some time: namely that Wandsworth offers an excellent adult and family learning service for almost 12,000 people each year.

"I am delighted that the hard work of everyone involved in the partnership has been acknowledged. It is particularly encouraging that Ofsted recognises how well the service has developed over the past few years and even more importantly what a good position it is in to continue to improve its services to learners in future."

The lifelong learning service is part of the borough’s children’s services department. It has 26 staff and around 11,800 service users including young apprentices.

Its main partners are South Thames College, Putney School of Art and Design, Southfields Community College and the Wandsworth Library Service – but it also works closely with 30 smaller, community-based organisations.

Other popular courses on offer include languages, information and communication technology (ICT), health and social care, retail and commercial enterprise and business.

To find out more about the opportunities for lifelong learning in Wandsworth call (020) 8871 8626 email sfragola@wandsworth.gov.uk or visit www.wandsworthlifelonglearning.org.uk.

To view the full Ofsted report on the service visit www.ofsted.gov.uk.