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Alliance is 'One of the best training providers in the country' says Adult Learning Inspectorate

NEWS RELEASE

24 November 2004

Alliance is 'One of the best training providers in the country' says Adult Learning Inspectorate

The Pre-school Learning Alliance was today named as "one of the best training providers in the country" in the Adult Learning Inspectorate's Annual Report on the quality of vocational training and adult and community learning for 2003/4. The Inspectorate, which is responsible for the inspection and evaluation of all adult learning providers, recognised the Alliance's considerable achievement of delivering quality training for over 20,000 learners.

At an event at the New British Library to mark the launch of the report, David Sherlock, Chief Inspector of Adult Learning will present the findings to Kim Howells, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education.

Commenting on the report, Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said:

"I am delighted that the Chief Inspector has recognised the extensive and high quality adult learning opportunities we offer and the important impact this has on the early years and childcare sector. The delivery of adult learning is a crucial part of the charity's work and thousands of adults benefit from our range of childcare courses every year".

"The development of a trained, qualified childcare workforce will be an enormous challenge for the sector if we are to meet the Government's long-term expansion of childcare. Investment in training opportunities and support for all routes to qualifications that meet the learning needs of individuals is crucial if we are to turn the vision of universal childcare into a reality".

This report follows a rigorous inspection of the Alliance's adult learning provision, conducted in December 2003, the results of which were published in March 2004. The report found that the quality of provision meets the needs of learners and that standards of teaching and learning are good.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7833 0991
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Andrew Fletcher

Notes for Editors:

  1. The launch of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Adult Learning 2003-04 will take place at 10.30am today at the New British Library, London. The Adult Learning Inspectorate is a government funded body responsible, with others, for raising the standards of education and training for young people and adults in England, by inspecting and reporting on the quality of learning provision they receive. For further information, visit www.ali.gov.uk
  2. The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 500,000 young children and their families in England. Established in 1961 and registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. The charity is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and operates a number of Neighbourhood Nurseries. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk.
  3. Meeting the Workforce Challenge is the charity’s campaign to develop a sustainable, qualified early years and childcare workforce. It is part of the charity’s changing lives, changing life campaign, which seeks to give all children the best start in life. For further information, please contact the Campaigns Team on 020 7833 0991 or email changinglives@pre-school.org.uk
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