Adult learning in West Sussex is enabled by funding from the Department for Education which is provided to the County Council through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The Council has a contract with the ESFA and currently receives £3.2m funding per annum to provide Adult Education in West Sussex. The funding is split between Adult Skills and a non-formula based Community Learning budget.
The County Council has used a subcontracting model to deliver adult education since 2012, with most of the provision through a single provider. A review carried out in 2022 resulted in a widely consulted Adult Community Education (ACE) Mission Statement (see Appendix). This led to an options appraisal to consider alternative delivery models described in section 3, and further informed the soon to be published Education and Learning Strategy 2023 -2025. Following thorough consultation and review the ACE team identified that a new delivery model to commission Adult Community Education should be implemented.
The intention is to use appropriate procurement methods to enable the County Council to secure delivery of both Adult Skills courses through contracts and Community Learning with grant funding from September 2023, or earlier if that is practicable.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Divisions affected: (All Divisions);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 01/08/2022
Decision due: March 2023 by Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills (Cllr Nigel Jupp)
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills (Cllr Nigel Jupp)
Contact: Derry Richardson, Head of Service - Education Communication and Enterprise Email: derry.richardson@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033022 27652.
Consultation process
Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.
Consultees
Adult Education Providers
Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committee – 18 January 2023
Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders Tel: 033 022 22553