The TSNLA is...

• a strong, independent, national 'voice' for Third Sector providers of learning and skills
• a champion of the unique role of third sector providers in 'reaching' those people at most disadvantage in society
• enabling the exchange of information and best practice so that providers continue to improve the quality of learning delivered
• working with all other sectors and agencies to ensure the effective delivery of good quality learning to disadvantaged people and communities
• a source of Third Sector ideas, responses and evidence around learning and skills
• a national communication network, building on existing channelsDear ColleaguesMinister for Skills Introduces Research reports

Third Sector learning and Skills research and case studies published:

Foreword by Matthew Hancock, Minister for Skills

"When we published our further education reform strategy New Challenges New Chances in December 2011, we committed to develop the role of the third sector to ensure it played a valuable role across all parts of the further education and skills system, particularly in reaching those furthest away from learning and employment. Government recognises the wide-ranging role of third sector organisations as employers, partners and promoters of learning and as advocates of those who are excluded and disadvantaged.

This unique contribution is vital to the success of our agenda for learning and skills.
It is important, however, to have a clear starting point from which to measure progress and develop future plans. We, therefore, undertook what has been the largest study into third sector involvement in learning and skills, in partnership with a wide range of third sector bodies, to examine the current nature and extent of third sector involvement and to identify any barriers that stand in its way.
This research has confirmed the many strengths of the third sector including its ability to take a holistic approach to delivery and providing an extensive role in outreach and learner support services, which are often the first step to engaging with ‘hard to reach' learners; all of which mean it is well placed to contribute to the government's priorities.

The research also resulted in a Strategic Framework which will drive implementation of the research findings during the next phase of the project. This next phase will be steered by a new sector-led Implementation Board comprising representatives from BIS and other government departments, as well as third sector providers and representative bodies.

I believe that the third sector has significant potential and has a great part to play in our quest for success across the broader further education and skills agenda. For example, I expect the sector to play a key role in the new `Traineeships' programme on which we have recently consulted. I hope that you were able to respond to the draft proposals so that we can ensure maximum third sector participation in this important new project.

Finally, I am grateful to all the partners and third sector organisations who have contributed to this research and I will continue to monitor progress throughout the implementation phase.

A research project to quantify the nature and extent of Third Sector involvement and participation in the delivery of learning and skills has produced its final reports and case studies."

These are available on the BIS website at:.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/185724/bis-13-586-third-sector-engagement-and-participation-in-the-learning-and-skills-sector-executive-summary.pdf

Funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and delivered by a partnership of the Third Sector National Learning Alliance (TSNLA), Skills-Third Sector, NIACE, Fairtrain, HOLEX and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), the research set out to examine how the Third Sector can play a full role in learning and skills and in meeting wider government objectives.
The research, which included a literature review, quantitative provider survey, focus groups and a statistical analysis of learner and provider records held by the Skills Funding Agency has been the largest study into the third sector and has provided a significant and rich source of evidence.

Strengths confirmed

The research has confirmed the many strengths of the third sector including its ability to take a holistic approach to delivery, providing an extensive role in outreach and learner support services, which are often the first step to engaging with ‘hard to reach' learners and the capability to operate at a community or sub-regional level - all of which mean it well placed to contribute to the government's priorities for learning and skills.

Also confirmed was the ability of third sector providers in achieving high (often higher than other types of providers) success and retention rates.

Impact of policy and planning changes

The consensus of feedback from over 300 organisations is that recent policy, planning and funding changes e.g. the introduction of Minimum Contract Levels) had resulted in it becoming increasingly difficult for VCS and third sector providers to access funding in order to work with the most disadvantaged people and communities.

What happens now?

This research work and collaboration between the third sector and government has led to the convening of a new Implementation Board to shape and oversee the development of a new strategic framework and implementation plan. The board will aim to maximize the potential of the VCS and third sectors to support disadvantaged people through learning and skills.

The Board will be chaired by an independent third sector representative and will include BIS, the Office for Civil Society, the Cabinet Office, the Skills Funding Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education, and Education Funding Agency. The board will be facilitated by NIACE as part of their ongoing work funded by BIS.

Recent successes in TSNLA work:

It's vital that we recognise the impact of TSNLA work in representing charities and voluntary organisations working with the most disadvantaged in society: on the representational front two recent successes are: negotiating with the Skills Funding Agency, the major government funder of adult skills in England, for significant funding (£6 million) on a grant basis to be available to the VCS for their work with young people who are not in employment, education or training . This meant that over 3000 more young people could be supported through learning and skills.

The second example is working with the Skills Funding Agency to increase the flexibility allowed in the funding rules so that the additional support payment for learners can include payment for social support e.g. child care, public transport etc. Nationally this means that over 18,000 more learners from disadvantaged circumstances can be supported annually.

FE Guild Consultation - this is completed and we await the results - http://feguild.info/

SKILLS FUNDING STATEMENT POINTS TO GREATER COLLABORATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE SECTOR:

"Guided by the government wide Compact with the third sector, BIS has taken steps to involve the sector more closely in learning and skills policy development through regular dialogue with representative bodies. BIS has also funded research on the scale and scope of third sector engagement in this area, resulting in the development of a Strategic Framework for the third sector itself the outcomes and recommendations from the research project. The work will be facilitated by NIACE and third sector partners overseen by a new third sector-led steering group. In addition, the Skills Funding Agency has agreed to review its market entry arrangements with third sector providers, whether in a "prime" or sub-contractor capacity, to ensure that the sector's unique contribution to working with hard-to-reach and disadvantaged groups is maximized."

Skills Funding Statement December 2012

This arises as a direct result of the BIS commissioned research project we have worked on over 2012 with key sector partners - which should be published in January 2013.

Third sector research project moves to next phase:

A research project to quantify the nature and extent of Third Sector involvement and participation in the delivery of learning and skills is moving to the next phase. Funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and delivered by a partnership of Skills-Third Sector, the Third Sector National Learning Alliance (TSNLA), NIACE, Fairtrain, HOLEX and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), the research set out to examine how the Third Sector can play a full role in learning and skills and in meeting wider government objectives.

The research, which included a literature review, quantitative provider survey, focus groups, a statistical analysis of learner and provider records held by the Skills Funding Agency and case studies to complement to quantitative survey, has been the largest study into the third sector and has provided a significant and rich source of evidence. The research has confirmed the many strengths of the third sector including its ability to take a holistic approach to delivery, providing an extensive role in outreach and learner support services, which are often the first step to engaging with ‘hard to reach' learners and the capability to operate at a community or sub-regional level - all of which mean it well placed to contribute to the government's priorities for learning and skills.

A successful stakeholder seminar was held on 10 October 2012 at which senior representatives from third sector providers, representative organisations, government departments and their agencies explored and validated the early findings from the research, agreed a clear set of messages to inform the development of a strategic framework and committed to further action to drive forward the next phase of the project.

The project group for phase one formally disbanded at the beginning of December 2012 and responsibility for the next phase will pass to NIACE who were one of the lead research partners for the first phase. NIACE will lead on helping the sector to finalise their support priorities and ensure the successful development and delivery of an implementation plan. A new Implementation Board will steer the next phase of the work and will be chaired by an independent Third Sector representative. It will also include representatives from BIS and other government departments, as well as Third Sector providers and representative bodies. The final outputs from the first phase of research will be published on the BIS website in January 2013.

For more information on the next phase of work please contact Jane Watts at NIACE on 0116 204 4216 or email jane.watts@niace.org.uk