3C:How is success in meeting the needs and interests of learners recognised?

Adult literacy and numeracy classes take place in schools, community centres and shopping malls. Some classes meet the needs of particular groups, including the Travellers' community. Family learning is based in local primary schools. The college also works in partnership with local employers. Very good teaching and learning were observed in an aluminium smelting factory. Employees are supported to attend lessons for literacy using IT, during their shifts or as overtime. The small group of men and women were totally absorbed in the activity of using publishing software to make a greetings card. The uninspiring environment did not deter them and they worked collaboratively, making suggestions and helping each other.

View the inspection report for South Cheshire College

The college has created a wide range of opportunities for adults to access basic skills courses. In addition to the provision at the college’s main sites, students can develop their literacy and numeracy skills at a large number of community outreach centres: through family literacy programmes, in several learning shops in local towns and through courses delivered on employers' premises. However, evening class provision is very limited. The college is proactive in seeking to engage hard-to-reach adults. An innovative ‘hit squad’ delivers short taster courses in the community. Schemes of work for pre-vocational courses and leisure courses within the adult and community education college have been mapped to basic skills standards. Students' literacy and numeracy skills are assessed on entry to these courses and support is given where appropriate.

View the inspection report for Knowsley Community College

The college's commitment to widen and develop the curriculum has helped students to progress onto mainstream courses. This has resulted in effective collaborative teaching and planning between vocational staff in, for example, beauty therapy, business and catering, and ESOL staff. In one excellent pedicure lesson for ESOL students, excellent opportunities were provided both to learn about foot care problems and to develop language skills and widen vocabulary.

View the inspection report for Newcastle College

There are very effective and successful links with local communities and employers to encourage new students into learning. Lessons are established in local settings near to where people live or where they work in response to employer and employee needs. For example, parents and carers learn in family literacy lessons at their children's school. Lessons set up with the support of local employers help students develop their writing skills for work. For example, care workers develop their report writing skills to help them record better care plans.

View the inspection report for South Downs College

The range of courses at different levels and at different times is very good and meets the needs of the local community. There is a good choice of courses with vocational options such as beauty therapy, digital photography, business, first aid, and 'first steps' in childcare. These courses combine vocational aspects and language teaching to enable students to progress to higher levels of study. Courses are well designed to appeal to students who have not attended college before. Home tuition by volunteers trained by the college is available for those students who are unable to attend classes because of, for example, disabilities or childcare difficulties.

View the inspection report for City and Islington College

The curriculum area has been very successful in developing partnerships with the local schools and the borough council. Learners have access to excellent resources. A van and driver takes laptop computers to different sites and provides technical support when required.

View the inspection report for Bolton Community College

There are strong links with local schools and other partners. There are very well-established links with the local press, resulting in regular newspaper articles on learners’ achievements. Imaginative projects have been initiated with local employers to teach basic skills in the workplace.

View the inspection report for Evesham and Malvern Hills College

Efforts are made to make learning relevant. In a community school location, the learners, all parents of children at the school, had produced interesting and well-designed poetry and cookery booklets to share with their children.

View the inspection report for North East Worcestershire College