LSC Transitions Bulletin #3

By 2010, there will be new structures and arrangements for the planning and allocation of funds for education and training in both 16-18 and post-19 adult age groups.  For more information on the imminent changes visit: http://thirdsector.lsc.gov.uk/transitionarrangements/
 
Bulletin #2 Outlined the proposed changes. This Bulletin provides an update on further developments.
 
TSNLA Support 1:
 
Third Sector National Learning Alliance is launching a new telephone support service for third sector organisations to help with the transition from the LSC to the successor agencies.

Are you a third sector organisation currently receiving LSC funding directly or via another LSC provider and:

Have a question about the transition arrangements?
Have a particular issue that you want advice on relating to the new system for managing and funding learning and skills?
Want help to clarify the implications for your organisation of these changes?

Then call 01225 792500 and ask for the TSNLA helpline. We will take your details and one of our advisers will contact you.
 
TSNLA Support 2:

Our forthcoming briefing paper on Sector Engagement will be also available as a ‘podcast’.
 
STOP PRESS: Progress of the Bill:
 
The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, which creates the legal framework for these changes to become law, created some debate on its complexity in the House of Lords.

Former Conservative education secretary Lord Baker of Dorking criticised the plans, saying that:  "At the moment further education colleges have one funding agency. In the future they will have four funding agencies. It will not be a dialogue it will be a trialogue or a quadralogue."

Junior education minister, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, replied that:  "Our aspiration and commitment is to simplify for institutions and learners the experience of engaging in 14 to 19 and post-19 education."

The Third Reading took place on Nov 10th and was passed with a number of amendments relating to, amongst other things, apprenticeships and the allocation of responsibilities for the education of young people in custody.

There were still a number of concerns over the complexity of the arrangements, but an agreement to pass the Bill was reached.

The Bill returned to Parliament on the 12th November, the Lords’ amendments were accepted and Royal Assent granted. The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act is now law.
 
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2008-09/apprenticeshipsskillschildrenandlearning.html
 
Adult Learning:

The BIS has produced an indicative diagram of the Skills Funding Agency’s organisational structure:
 
http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/~/media/publications/S/sfa-org-chart

The Times Educational Supplement reported on the 6th November on the forthcoming Skills White Paper:

‘Proposals are ministers’ long-awaited response to skills deficit identified in Leitch report’

‘More level 3 apprenticeships, prioritisation of learners aged 18 to 25, students as customers and the prospect of less regulation for colleges are set to be the key themes in the forthcoming skills white paper. Due for publication next week, the document will focus on level 3 apprenticeships, technical skills and associate professional qualifications. It aims to tackle the skills deficit dubbed the UK’s “Achilles’ heel” by Lord Leitch in his 2006 report’. http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6026998

For more on the Skills Funding Agency:
http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/raising_expectations.html

We will be publishing a more detailed and bespoke briefing paper for third sector providers on the SFA, which will be available by December.
 
Learning for Young People:
 
For more on the Young People’s Learning Agency:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/index.cfm?go=site.home&sid=57&pid=505&lid=651&l4id=330&ptype=Single&ctype=FAQ
 
TSNLA are preparing a full briefing paper on the YPLA for voluntary and third sector providers and this will be available by December.
 
National Commissioning Framework for Young People:
 
The National Commissioning Framework (NCF) will be developed and published in April 2010, with the arrangements for planning, commissioning and procuring funding becoming operational from the latter part of 2010.

The most recent date for publication of the NCF is now the 16th November 2009.

TSNLA will be producing a briefing paper on the new commissioning frameworks for both adults and young people and this will be available by January.
 
Quality Assurance:
 
TSNLA will be producing a briefing paper on the new commissioning frameworks for both adults and young people and this will be available by February.
 
Keep in Touch:
 
If you wish to contact the TSNLA team please visit:
http://www.tsnla.org.uk/content/contact-us and submit a message - a team member will get back to you as soon as we can.