Adult Learning Strategy's (ALS) effectiveness and developing English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) policy: FOI release

Information requested

1. Are there plans in place to review the ALS’ effectiveness and appropriateness as we approach the strategy’s second year of operation?

2. Are there plans in place to engage with ESOL learners and practitioners as stated in the ALS (p.17). If yes, who will be leading this process and how are the relevant interested parties being selected?

3. If nothing is yet in place, then when do you anticipate the review process being enacted?

4. If consultation has already taken place, can you advise on the outcomes from the discussions, who was involved in these discussions and any recommendations brought forward so far?

5. What cognisance has been given specifically to developing ESOL policy in the ongoing implementation of the ALS?

6. Has this group (Adult Learning Strategic Forum for Scotland) met since the launch of the strategy and are the minutes or notes from these meetings available to view?

7. Can you give details on how much of this funding has been directed towards ESOL provision and which organisations or learner groups have been in receipt of funds from this source (Supporting New Scots Fund)?

Response

Questions 1,2,3, 4 and 5

The answer to your first five questions on the Adult Learning Strategy is that its implementation has been paused for the duration of the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development (CLD) which the Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans announced on 5 December 2023.

The review will consider how CLD services, including ESOL, are provided across the country with a view to recommending how to address current and future challenges. It will make recommendations to Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government on where changes may be required to deliver those priorities and achieve the outcomes sought in the context of wider education reform.

Given the ongoing work to reform the education sector, and the intention of the review to provide recommendations in June 2024 on how CLD can best fit within it, it makes sense to pause implementation of the Adult Learning Strategy until such time as the future shape and strategic orientation of CLD is considered.

Question 6

The answer to your question is that the Adult Learning Strategic Forum for Scotland met twice on 21 September 2022 and 12 December 2022 following the publication of the Adult Learning Strategy on 10 May 2022. I’ve enclosed a copy of the minutes you requested.

Question 7

The answer to your question is that of £500,000 in targeted funding for ESOL and employability for refugees, £179,431.00 was allocated across nine organisations for the delivery of ESOL Provision for Refugees. Those organisations were:

• Community Infosource
• East Ayrshire Council
• East Lothian Works, East Lothian Council
• Govan Community Project
• Renfrewshire Council Adult and Family Learning Service
• Cassiltoun Housing Association
• Freedom from Torture
• Barnardos
• Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC) and Friends of Scottish Settlers (FOSS)

Scottish Refugee Council led on the delivery of the Supporting New Scots Fund on behalf of the New Scots partners. The ‘ESOL Provision for Refugees’ was aimed at community-based projects following a Sharing Lives, Sharing Languages (SLSL) approach to enhance the social integration and/or the employability of refugees by improving their understanding and use of English. The minimum award available was £15,000 with the maximum amount available being £25,000.

Awards were announced by Scottish Refugee Council in April 2023 with projects running from May to November 2023. A full list of awardees can be found on the Scottish Refugee Council Website:

https://scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/supporting-new-scots-fund-announces-funding/

Redactions

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemptions under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

ANNEX A

An exemptions under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This relates to names of attendees at the Adult Learning Strategic Forum for Scotland meetings that took place on 21 September 2022 and 12 December 2022.

This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400398532 - Information released - Attachments 1 & 2

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