Home > News > May 2005 > 31-May-2005

Report sets out strategies to attract ‘hard to reach’ into education

A new report, published by the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA), sets out the strategies used by a variety of learning providers, such as colleges, local authorities and adult education centres, to engage disadvantaged groups of adults.

Education providers, it urges, need to rethink how they communicate with these individuals and groups, and provide tailor-made education solutions rather than a ‘menu’ of courses.

The report sets out evidence that certain approaches are effective in breaking down barriers to education. According to the report, strategies that have been shown to work include:

• Person-to-person recruitment through word of mouth
• Courses and education programmes that are flexible and tailor-made to individual needs with open entry and exit policies
• High levels of support, through information, advice, guidance and learning support, as well as help with travel and childcare
• Using accessible, familiar venues, with an informal atmosphere
• Ensuring that students’ goals and expectations are met, whether this is gaining a qualification, a job, a place at college, or a personal goal
• Partnerships with local authorities, trade unions, employers, voluntary associations, community groups and other organisations
• Flexible funding to support additional costs

Kate Anderson, Director of Research, LSDA, said: "The rationale behind the drive to attract more adults into education is simple. Widening participation has a key role to play in ensuring that people of all ages and backgrounds are able to improve their life chances and contribute to economic growth.

"This research gives us some insights into how best to achieve this and shows that a “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t work."

The research was carried out by LSDA for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Jon Gamble, Director of Adult Learning, said: "The arguments in support of extending educational opportunities go beyond the individual and the economic. Access to education has an impact not only on employment and the economy but on the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals.

"The LSC is making progress in tackling inequalities and persuading adults not engaged in learning, that education will benefit them, their families and the communities they live in by working in partnership with local authorities, colleges, trade unions, employers, voluntary organisations and community groups"

In July, the LSDA, in partnership with NIACE (the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education), will be publishing a toolkit aimed at helping organisations to widen participation. The toolkit, called ‘Breaking down the barriers - success in widening participation’, includes case studies and examples of how to put the strategies into practice.

Anne Armstrong, Executive manager said: "These practical examples of how local authorities, colleges and voluntary organisations have effectively made progress on widening participation should help others to build on that expertise efficiently. The toolkit can be adapted and contextualised for different purposes."

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