5th Annual Skills for Life Conference

A shared responsibility between government, local authorities, employers and individuals, 5th Annual Skills for Life Conference Tuesday 8th July 2008, Cavendish Conference Centre, London NW1. On Tuesday 8th July 2008 some of the leading experts involved in the UK Skills for Life sector will gather at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London to debate the most critical policy and practice challenges facing this priority area at the 5th Annual Skills for Life Conference. The Government's Skills for Life ambition is that 95% of adults will have functional literacy and numeracy skills by 2020. While real success has been achieved, with over 1.6 million adults improving their literacy, numeracy and ICT skills since 2001, as the Leitch Review of Skills recognised, the challenge ahead is more formidable still. With almost 1.4 million fewer people taking up adult learning in the last two years, developing the essential skills of the most disadvantaged and excluded learners will be a significant challenge. Delegates to the conference will hear from Professor Tom Schuller who is currently leading the investigation into Lifelong Learning in the UK as well as Dr. Peter Lavender, Director of Research and Development, at the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education who will address the key challenges and opportunities facing the sector, with David Lammy MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). World Class Skills maps a path towards a skilled workforce and increased employment levels opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter the workforce. Adult learning: Investing in the first steps sets out the vision specifically for adult learning committing over £1.5 billion a year to pre-level 2 learning and progression and signalling a commitment to all learners. Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver sets out changes. A new Skills Funding Agency will replace the Learning and Skills Council, aiming to streamline the post-19 skills system and enable the demand-led system through increased integration of employment and skills. In light of these significant policy developments the 5th Annual Skills for Life Conference will bring together leaders and senior managers from further education, adult learning services, local authorities and the voluntary sector to examine effective practice and develop strategies to meet the challenges as we move towards the new 2020 PSA skills targets. There will also be a choice of 'key Issue' seminars to attend including ESOL – Enhancing Access to English Language at work delivered by Anne Greenall, ESOL Curriculum Leader, Greenwich Community College Pamela Frame, Teacher Educator ESOL, Institute of Education For more information on this timely and thought provoking conference visit the conference website at www.neilstewartassociates.com/jd202