Following an inspection by Government watchdog Ofsted, a community learning service run by Milton Keynes City Council has been recognised for its supportive teachers and a well-planned curriculum.
Community Learning MK (CLMK) provides apprenticeships, community learning and education programmes for adults and young people. They offer more than 400 workshops and courses from Maths, English and IT for adults through to creative and arts-based subjects. Many of these are free and others are charged at a reduced rate for those out of work.
CLMK also offers free practical help and advice for those returning to work including CV and interview preparation as well as where to find local vacancies.
The Ofsted report, which rates the community learning service as ‘good’, states that a comprehensive curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of adults and young people who have not been in education for a significant period.
Teachers were also commended for using a wide range of training activities to help apprentices and learners develop. The report states that teachers explain concepts clearly, so that apprentices and learners can understand increasingly complex ideas.
Alongside the education itself, praise was given for additional support such as the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) café which is aimed at those newly arrived in the UK to help them learn English and make new friends.
Inspectors visited the service in May and spoke with adult and young learners, apprentices, teachers, and staff about their experiences.
“I’m delighted to see our Community Learning service get this recognition for the wonderful education they provide. Our teachers and support staff are passionate about helping learners – whether that’s young people taking their first steps after leaving school, adults looking to return to work or people who have recently moved to the UK, there are courses for everyone.
Our Community Learning service also has a positive impact on the local care sector with our apprenticeships in adult care helping to address both national and regional skills shortages.”
To learn more about Community Learning MK and the hundreds of workshops and courses available, please visit www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/CLMK