Inspectors Praise City Learning Services
Education inspectors have commended Aberdeen City Council for its community learning and development services in three of its deprived communities. The report from HM Inspectors follows investigations into provision in Seaton, Tillydrone and Woodside carried out earlier this year.
Inspectors issued questionnaires to staff and users of the services, held focus groups and individual interviews to ascertain how effective they were.
Inspectors, who also carried out 15 observations of practice, commended staff for their “very good” practice across adult learning, youth work and community capacity building.
They said community-based adult learning services were well targeted, staff were strongly committed and there was a strong commitment to engaging local neighbourhoods in community planning.
Inspectors judged partnership working, improvement of services, impact on young people, adult learners, staff and volunteers and the local community to be very good or good.
Pete Leonard, corporate director for neighbourhood services central, last night welcomed the inspectors’ findings and noted that staff were providing a high level of service and helping users achieve good outcomes.
“This is an extremely positive report that reflects the commitment of operational and strategic staff to providing valuable high quality services to young people and adult learners in these three communities,” he said.
Inspectors called on the council to create an action plan to address various weaknesses.
They would like to see officers develop more effective communication between operational planning and delivery and strategic support to ensure appropriate targeting and monitoring of activity takes place.
They want staff and volunteers to be better supported and trained effectively to plan and deliver services that offer maximum impact to learners.
The inspectors would also like to see steps taken to improve staff morale.
Mr Leonard said: “I am very confident that the continued commitment of the team, the council and its partners will also allow us to improve further and address action points identified.”
