Learning: For All. For Life. A report from the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development (CLD)

• By Autumn 2024, the Scottish Government and CoSLA should establish a jointCLD Strategic Leadership Group (SLG) including an Equalities Forum.

• The work of the SLG should be supported by a working-level CLDStrategicDelivery Group (SDG).

• CoSLA and the Scottish Government need to reconsidercurrentarrangements supporting CLD policy and delivery.

• CoSLA should initiate and lead a process to improveconsistencyintermsofwhere CLD is situated within Local Authority structures across all 32 Local Authorities.

• The CLDStandardsCouncilshouldbesupportedtotransitiontowardsan independent status more akin to the General Teaching Council Scotland.

• Ministers should commit to providing regularreportstotheScottishParliament

about follow-up to this Review.

• The Scottish Government should develop and communicate a clearandcohesive policy narrative on Life-long Learning.

• Informed by and consistent with the policy narrative recommended above, the Scottish Government should develop and communicate a clearStatementofStrategicIntent for CLD.

• By the end of 2024, the Strategic Leadership Group should agree and publish a detailed,prioritised and timed Delivery Plan.

• The Scottish Government working alongside New Scots partners, Colleges and Local Authorities needs to take immediate action to tackle the current crisis in ESOL.

• The Scottish Government should undertake an urgent and overdue reassessment of the current balance of spending across all dimensions of learning in Scotland.

• Consistent with the Verity House Agreement, the Scottish Government and CoSLA should work together to identifyindicativeallocationsforLocalAuthorityspendon CLD.

• Wherever possible, funding should be part of core budgets rather than project related. If this is not possible, then project funding should be provided over a multi-year period, with an explanation provided if that is not the case.

• The Scottish Government should appoint a Chief Adviser onCommunity Learning & Development.

• The CLD Standards Council should lead work to develop a CLDWorkforce Plan for consideration by the Strategic Leadership Group.

• There should be a progressive requirement for all those working or volunteering in CLD roles to be members of the CLD Standards Council.

• Consideration of HMIE CLD inspection report findings should be a standing item on the Strategic Leadership Group agenda.

• The Scottish Government should fund Scotland's participation in theOECD International Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC).

• Existing outcome measures, including the Youth Work National Outcomes and Skills Framework and the CLD managers Scotland KPI data, should be used as the basis to develop a shared CLD Outcomesand Measurement Framework for use across the sector.

• There should be an annual celebration of CLD successes, in the shape of a CLD Annual Report and CLD Awards event.