Scottish Government

NATURE AND SCOPE OF THIS REVIEW

The nature of this review was defined as:

To undertake a Review of Learning Connections and its strategic fit with the Lifelong Learning Directorate in order to maximise effectiveness in policy advice, policy delivery and practice development.

The scope of the review was to include:

• All aspects of Learning Connections and the CLD Standards Council (including staff, direct running costs (drcs), & programme budget), policy and delivery work and practice development
• Aspects of policy delivery across the LL Directorate which relate to CLD, ALN and ESOL
• Interdependencies with aspects of policy delivery across Scottish Government ( SG).

The following was not within the scope of the review

• Qualification levels & standards
• Information advice and guidance given to learners
• The broader delivery of More Choices More Chances ( MCMC) and further adult education policy (college delivery).
• Direct delivery of CLD, ESOL and ALN to adults and young people
• The purpose and content of the governments strategic policies which relate to the work of Learning Connections ( LC)

The methods used to conduct this review were as follows:

• Interviews and focus group discussions with all Learning Connections staff
• Face to face interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders
• An online survey providing a collation of responses from a wider group of stakeholders
• Comparative analysis of Learning Connections against relevant SG departments and other agencies

All the methods above used the same standard questions to initiate discussion and ensure consistency.

The review team consisted of the following:

Rosemary Winter-Scott : Interim Depute Director of Learning Connections (Full-time)

Jeanette Hagerstrom : Senior Research Officer, EAS (Half-time)

Alastair Delaney : HM Assistant Chief Inspector, HMIE (2 days per week)

The project worked to a Project Initiation Document and a Critical Path Network/Timescale (see Appendix 7). The project also made use of a Virtual Steering Group which met weekly to monitor progress. The aim of this Steering Group was to challenge the review team ensuring that key issues were addressed, ensure a degree of rigor and act as a sounding board. The Team was designed to be "virtual" - meaning that people did not need to attend every meeting but could submit their comments electronically on the papers and general progress of the review. Notes of the meetings were taken and action points followed up each meeting.

The membership of the Virtual Team was chosen based on their knowledge and experience that they could bring to the project group. It was not designed to be representative in any way though two of the Team Leaders of Learning Connections were included as well as a Union representative. The Virtual Team members included:

The review was conducted over the period March to June 2009.