The Department for Education has reversed its position on ending funding for adult education courses that are not directly linked to employment outcomes, following outcry from the sector.
In its response to a consultation on adult education funding and accountability, published today, the department said it has “revised the outcomes” that courses should deliver and have reinstated improvements to health and wellbeing, family learning and community integration as acceptable outcomes.
Susan Pember, policy director at Holex, who led the charge calling for this change, said: “The Adult Community Education Sector is really pleased that government has listened and the response now recognises the importance of wider outcomes, such as mental health and well-being, which helps support adult learners who are often furthest from the workplace.”
The government has also decided to rename non-qualification provision to now be called tailored learning. The change will impact community learning, non-regulated provision and new “employer-facing innovative provision”.
