Commenting on the Dundee Community Learning and Development Strategy 2015-18

The three year strategy for Community Learning and Development in the city is a comprehensive and aspirational document. Unfortunately, it will be considered near the end of the agenda of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on Monday night which follows three other Council committee meetings. The Community Learning and Development Strategy may not therefore receive the detailed attention it deserves.

What could be more important for our Council than ensuring that work with our young people, adult literacy and numeracy including computer literacy, and community engagement are all developed over the coming years? 

The Community Learning and Development staff should be congratulated on a series of external assessments that have rated their services as 'sector leading'. The question for me is whether we are investing enough to ensure that the existing services are sustained and the unmet needs listed in the strategy are likely to be met during the next three years.

If we are serious about making Dundee a fairer city, then Community Learning and Development practitioners are part of the answer working alongside other partners and services.

Broughty Ferry is a Vibrant and Skilled Community Which is Capably Supported by Community Learning; That's Official

Recently, Education Scotland published their report, 'Inspection of the learning community surrounding Grove Academy'. This was based on inspection by inspectors which ran in parallel with the inspection of Grove Academy whose report was published earlier.

Community Learning Inspectors reported that, 
'Broughty Ferry is a very vibrant community with skilled and influential local people and community organisations playing an important role in shaping, designing and delivering services.'

But the inspectors also also recognised the positive role of Council and other services that work effectively in partnership with the community. Although not named in the report, our capable Communities Officer, Carole Jenkins, is closely involved in making the links between community organisations and council services and supporting the Local Community Planning Partnership (LCPP). So it's official, we are a vibrant and skilled community which is capably supported by community learning and development staff.

Summarising their report, inspectors identified:

'the following key strengths in Community Learning in The Ferry:

• early intervention and prevention programmes to address and meet the needs of local people;
• strong focus on securing and promoting health and well being including very effective peer learning programmes;
• a local community planning structure (LCPP) which is supporting and responding to local needs and aspirations;
• skilled and influential community members and organisations strengthening and empowering the community;
• partnership working which is supporting integration of services and improving outcomes for local people; and
• a strong learning culture and commitment to improving services.'

The HMI also:
'discussed with partners how they might continue to improve their work. This is what HMI agreed with them:

• improve the coordination and capturing of achievement across learning providers;
• build on opportunities for young people to influence local and wider decision making; and
• continue to improve data collection across providers particularly in relation to impact on the local community.'

Read/download the HMIE Report:
Learning Community Surrounding Grove Academy