Clackmannanshire Council Online

CLD service praised by Education Scotland inspection team

The Council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) service was praised recently after a visit from Education Scotland.

HM inspectors  met with learners and community representatives, CLD leaders, managers, staff, and volunteers, and other key stakeholders during their visit.

 HM Inspectors found several key areas of positive progress:

• The leadership of CLD is strong and that Council senior leaders value CLD
• CLD leaders and partners have a clear focus on improving outcomes for learners and links with schools are strong
• Senior leaders and partners use data and other information very well to identify existing and changing needs
• CLD providers and their wider partners have a clear and consistent focus on meeting the needs of those facing additional challenges in their lives
• Learners of all ages are supported well to gain skills for learning, life and work

The report also stated that committed and ambitious volunteers run community groups and organisations that are supported effectively by partners, including the CLD service and Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface.

Inspectors also noted CLD staff are a key part of the Family Wellbeing Partnership (FWP) and the  FWP approach is strengthening partnership collaboration and engagement with communities, as well as attracting additional funding into Clackmannanshire to increase support for children, young people and their families.

The visit also highlighted a well-established culture of learning from, building on and sharing successful work across CLD partners.

Communities and learners are consulted regularly about their needs and priorities and their feedback influences CLD provision.

There was praise for the partnership work with Columba 1400 which has engaged a significant number of learners, practitioners and senior leaders in value-based leadership academies.

The Wimpy Park Community Group, who redeveloped a walled garden space under a 25-year lease from the Council, was cited as a strong example of community members delivering a large-scale infrastructure project that is benefiting the wider community.

The report said this was ‘an interesting example of a council and third sector interface working well to support a local community group to take forward a development’.

Councillor Graham Lindsay, spokesperson for education, said: “I am delighted that HM Inspectors have highlighted that good progress is being made by the Council and its partners in the delivery of our CLD plan.

“We remain committed to building on the work that’s already been done, and will continue to focus on our priorities to ensure we continue to deliver the services which best meet the needs of learners of all ages across all of our communities.”