Detail
DACES adds value to the adult education budget (AEB) by working closely with partners to reduce costs, share resources and attract additional income (actual or in kind) to widen the offer available to disadvantaged learners who otherwise may not be able to afford course fees.
The main elements of Pound Plus at DACES include:
- fee income
- income from room hire to local community groups and businesses
- income from cafés and/or vending machines at various teaching and learning venues
- income from sale of resources and materials
- curriculum efficiency - avoiding duplicate provision
- curriculum planning - to ensure the course offer meets both the government priorities and the needs of the local communities.
- DACES also offers better progression opportunities leading to increased participation
- access to venues at no or reduced costs
- the use of volunteers to support learning
- the use of shared resources
- partnership working
- equipment and material donations
- access to other funding sources or equipment
Intended impact
All Pound Plus savings and income is used to help deliver DACES Strategic Plan and Community Learning Objectives. These objectives include planning and commissioning learning that can:
- focus on people who are disadvantaged and least likely to participate
- offer more provision in the local community
- extend and widen provision at no cost to those unable to pay
- support progression on to further learning and work
- support key skills around literacy, numeracy, language and digital skills
- contribute to family learning, health and social well-being
- develop stronger and more engaged communities
- develop new courses and curriculum (including a focus on pre-employment training and health/wellbeing)
- expand our outreach work to more communities and individuals
- upgrade our equipment (including mobile IT resources for community venues)
Scope
This policy statement covers all staff, volunteers, employers, partners, and stakeholders of the service.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting
DACES will carry out regular reviews through its quality processes and self-assessment.
This will be reported to the service SMT, children's services senior management team (via the relevant service director - schools and learning) and DACES governance board.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
This policy will be used to advance and promote fairness in all aspects of practice within the service and support the service's commitment to be fully inclusive.
Confidentiality, information sharing and GDPR
DACES is required to ensure that it can demonstrate full compliance with the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
All staff are required to be familiar with data protection guidance, accessible on Derbyshire Learning Online and within the DACES staff handbook, or from their line manager.
Associated policies and procedures
- fees policy
- curriculum policy
- quality improvement policy
- safe learner policy
- information, advice and guidance (IAG) policy
- remote and digital learning policy
- equality, diversity and inclusion policy
Postholder to contact
Senior management team member with responsibility for community learning.
Review
The policy will be reviewed by the service management team by May 2023.
Roles and responsibilities in relation to Pound Plus policy
The senior management team lead is responsible for:
- giving a consistent high-profile lead on developing the Pound Plus policy, promoting the benefits both internally and externally
- ensuring that curriculum priorities, exemplified within the Pound Plus policy are reflected each year within the viability of activity planning through the fees strategy
- ensuring that service roles and responsibilities are complied with
Senior management team is responsible for:
- overseeing the continuing application and development of the policy in line with service targets and service strategic objectives
- consideration of an annual report to ensure that the Pound Plus policy is being followed
- ensuring the service's strategic plan includes a recognition of the importance of Pound Plus, fees and income generation is reflected in the service self-assessment report (SAR) and quality improvement plan (QIP)
- receiving and responding to monitoring information on the impact of the Pound Plus policy on learner enrolment, retention, achievement and success
- ensure that the Pound Plus policy reflects the priorities of local, regional and national funding bodies
- ensuring appropriate training and development is provided for both staff and learners to respond effectively and efficiently
Governance board, including the safe learner link governor, is responsible for:
- scrutinising that Pound Plus policy is being followed through regular reports
- scrutinising that the service's strategic plan includes a recognition of the impact of the Pounds Plus policy and is reflected in the service SAR and QIP
- scrutinising the impact of Pound Plus policy and its associated processes on learner engagement
Learning and skills managers are responsible for ensuring that:
- they take the lead in supporting development of the Pound Plus policy each year within the area of provision they are responsible for
- they promote the link with other key policy areas such as curriculum, equality and diversity, and fees
- recruitment and selection processes include the application of Pound Plus as part of the curriculum planning role
All staff are responsible for ensuring that they:
- ensure the Pound Plus, fees and income generation policy is reflected within their planning and delivery
- ensure that the marketing of the curriculum includes its ability to contributes to the generation of Pound Plus where appropriate
- ensure that the application of this Pound Plus policy enables the development and sustainability of a broad curriculum offer and the diversification of learner cohorts