Users of Community Learning Skills (CLS) programmes designated for closure when Labour controlled the council have been reassured that they will complete their courses.
Protestors have signed a petition and opposition councillor Matthew Patrick was defeated in a motion suggesting the programmes could remain open – a move branded shameful and offering “false hope” that the decision can be reversed.
The criticism from the Labour opposition and Grimsby’s Labour MP Melanie Onn – despite the decision being made when they were in power – came as details emerge of a failing service branded ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted with a £500,000 overspend.
“I am appalled that Councillor Patrick can front a motion to reverse a decision that he and his Cabinet colleagues made only weeks ago to close this poorly-run service,” said Councillor John Fenty, deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration, skills and housing, in a speech to defeat the motion at a meeting earlier this week.
“He should hang his head in shame to give the false impression that this decision can be reversed. It is shameful, providing false hope to petitioners.
“We have an array of good or outstanding educational facilities in North East Lincolnshire. In contrast, the Community Learning Centre’s Ofsted report in 2015 stated:
- Every area requires improvement.
- Too few learners.
- Only half the learners achieve their qualification.
- Too few apprentices complete their qualifications.
- Tutors fail to plan the lessons to meet their learners’ individual needs.
- Targets set by tutors, lack enough detail for learners to understand how to progress
- Tutors do not look for routine ways to improve learners’ skills.
- No rigor in the quality assessment of management.
- Insufficient analysis of data to identify slow learners.
- Inconsistent, and underdeveloped promotion of real-world expectations.
“Nothing changed in 2016, with every area requiring improvement. Labour ignored these warnings and only six months ago the Ofsted report stated:
- Inadequate leadership.
- Every area requires improvement.
“In summary, Ofsted labelled the service as an ‘inadequate provider’. Since the last full inspection in November 2018, there have been two monitoring visits. In January, under the last administration, the service was pursuing an option of transferring the contract to another provider.
“Ofsted highlighted that a high level of staff absence was having a detrimental impact on leaders’ abilities to improve the quality of the provision. At the time of the monitoring visit, the service was operating without a third of the staff needed to deliver all courses.
“The more recent visit in May was cut down to just one day because the service was ceasing, therefore the focus – and Ofsted’s report – centred around this.
“Ofsted stated that reasonable progress had been achieved when it came to leaders and staff supporting current learners to complete their courses before the end of the academic year – not even a ‘good’ rating.
“As usual, and true to form, Labour threw money at the problem with an overspend of £500,000, despite further deterioration of the service.
“Additionally, the service suffered clawback, all due to under delivery and performance of the contract:
- Years 2015/16: £110,000.
- Years 2016/17: £77,000.
- Years 17/18: £166,000.
“This is a shameful motion that attempts to give hope, where there can be none.”
CLS teaches GCSEs and job skills to people with special education, mental or physical needs, and aids learning English as a second language at venues around the area.
Councillor Fenty continued: “Skills fall within my responsibility and I deeply care that the leaners have good education provision.
“All learners will complete their courses. Therefore, none will roll over into the next academic year.
“There are a number who might want to continue with their studies. In this respect, all have been notified individually with information about who to contact. This includes support from Young People’s Support Services, the National Careers Service Team, and the SEND Transition Team.
“Therefore, I ask members in the interest of the petitioners to join me in defeating this motion, ensuring learners have the very best of life chances, in alternative, available and local educational settings.”
Councillor Fenty has expanded on his comments in the meeting: “We are adamant there are very good educational facilities locally to aid all learners who wish to continue their education.
“The closure will mean disappointment, disruption and uncertainty. To ensure everyone is catered for, I have requested a piece of work which will make sure that every CLS learner who wants to continue to learn will be supported in the coming months.
“Every current learner has been sent information about the support available to them throughout North East Lincolnshire as they make their choice about their next move, and we will be keeping in contact with them to make sure they are helped into that next stage of their learning journey or into alternative options such as work placement.”
About the author