Adult Learning Group

Terms of reference for the Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership Adult Group

The Adult Group is strategically and operationally accountable to the Board of the Learning Partnership, through which it reports to its primary stakeholders, the Senior Strategy Group – containing senior representation from LSCS and Brighton & Hove City Council – and the Local Strategic Partnership that recognises the Learning Partnership as its learning and skills ‘arm’.

Objectives
To develop an cohesive adult learning strategy for Brighton & Hove that specifically focuses upon the widening participation agenda and derives funding from a range of bodies including LSCS, Brighton & Hove City Council, SEEDA, GOSE, Big Lottery and other grant awarding bodies.

To collate and enhance research/information relating to adult provision across the city. This might include:
Additional work on drawing together the various mapping exercises undertaken relating to adult learning;
Suggesting additional research or investigation related to the distribution of adult learning provision;
To develop more collaborative ways of working and sharing information relating to curriculum planning, progression routes, quality improvement and finding mechanisms that assist membership organisations to listen and respond to the voice of the learner.
To coordinate the development of collaborative revenue and capital funding applications that maximise the availability of adult learning opportunities across the city and fulfils the main objectives of the group.
To annually review the recommendations, priorities and principles contained in the 2005 Strategic Area Review (StAR) of the city’s LSC funded adult provision and measure the impact providers’ efforts have made on the priorities contained within it via activities within this group.

Manner of working
The Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership Adult Group will expect:
1.To be the body that leads the formation of, and contributes to, the development of the Adult Skills and Learning strategy for the City.
2.Its own members are willing to lead on drafting strategy on behalf of the City and as far as possible without prejudice from loyalties and allegiances arising from their role(s) outside the Group.
3.That decisions made by the group are supported by each member and are presented to the organisations decision making body for agreement (where applicable).
4.To consult with relevant organisations when setting and reviewing its strategies.

Membership of BHLP Adult Learning group
The group should contain senior representation, with a remit for adult education, from:
LSC funded providers
Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC)
City College Brighton and Hove

The membership and structure of the Group should be reviewed, via inclusion on the agenda, after one year to assess its perceived success
Person Specification for Group membership
Nominated Senior Management Team member/officer with the authority to, in principle, make decisions which may affect their own institution/organisation.
To possess a sense of accountability, through the Learning Partnership Board, to the people and learners of the City.
To be able to take an objective view of City-wide adult education and training issues and an equally dispassionate review of where resources should best be directed.
To be willing to give time to the Group’s work, including participating in working parties and consultation exercises with colleagues outside the group.
To have current, first-hand, strategic experience of some aspect of the City’s educational and training provision.
To be willing to familiarise themselves with aspects of the City’s educational and training provision about which they may know little.

Organisation of meetings
1.An appropriate number of meetings a year will be determined on an annual basis by reference to the demands of the Learning Partnership Board and the necessities of the work the Group sets for itself.
2.The Adult Group will elect a Chair on an annual basis who will lead the Group’s work and liaise closely with the Learning Partnership Manager who will convene and co-ordinate the membership of the group and its activities between scheduled meetings.
3.In the absence of the Chair, chairing the meetings will be decided by members in conjunction with the Learning Partnership Manager.
4.Guests can be invited to each meeting, at the Learning Partnership Managers discretion, to focus upon one, or more, of the following key topic: funding, quality improvement, strategic developments relating to adult learning.
5.Meetings shall be deemed quorate when two thirds of the membership is present.
6.Declarations of interest must be lodged with the Chair at the beginning of each meeting.

Minutes of past Board meetings.