Bridgend College excel in Community Adult Learning
A recent Estyn report has highlighted Bridgend College as a good example for delivering good quality Community Adult Learning that offers value for money.
Managers and staff from Bridgend College work together with the County Borough Council's Adult Community Learning and Library services. Through collaboration, they have put into practice a strategy for widening support for community-based learners. This work has led to a strategic network of Learning Centres in different parts of the area and the creation of a learndirect partnership.
The Bridgend learndirect partnership, led by the College, includes the Library Service, a local training provider and Instant Muscle, a voluntary sector organisation. This partnership increases the number of staff available to deliver learndirect.
Instant Muscle successfully delivers learndirect courses to learners recovering from severe mental health problems to improve their confidence and to help them learn new skills.
The Library service use learndirect well to help learners take part in learning through the People's Network and the Cyberlink bus.
One area that Estyn highlighted in particular was the College's use of learndirect`s ELLIS course for learners waiting to go on the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course.
Best Practice: Bridgend College: Using learndirect ELLIS for learners on the ESOL waiting list
The college uses learndirect ELLIS (English Language Learning and Instruction System) very well to provide extra practice for ESOL learners already on courses.
It also uses ELLIS very effectively to offer tuition to ESOL learners who are on the waiting list to join classes (36% of ELLIS users in 2007 are on the ESOL waiting list). The College provides effective tutor support for learners using ELLIS at set times in the Learning Resource Centre.
As a result, learners already on courses reinforce their learning. Learners waiting to join a course start to improve their English language skills.