HMIe report on Community Learning and Leisure

USE: Immediate ISSUED:Wednesday, 09 March 2005

HMIe REPORT ON COMMUNITY LEARNING AND LEISURE, INVERNESS

Following up on a previous inspection which took place in December 2002, HMIe returned to Inverness in November 2004 for a follow through inspection on The Highland Council’s Inverness Area Community Learning and Leisure Service and have published a report on its findings.

This report was considered by the City of Inverness and Area Education Culture and Sport Committee on 7^th March 2005. During the first inspection there were eight areas highlighted where improvement was required. The inspectors found that the Council had taken effective action to implement the recommendations of the previous report and concluded that no further visits in relation to the earlier report would be necessary.

Key areas of improvement were:

	strategic management – very good progress;
	staff development and review – very good progress;
	provision for adults and the co-ordination of learning opportunities – good progress;
	local needs assessment - good progress; and
	clear vision and values for Community Learning and Development –good progress.

Councillor Roderick Balfour, Chairman, Area Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: "I am delighted with the progress that has been made since out last HMIe visit, and feel that all of our Community Learning and Leisure staff should be congratulated on this achievement."

Community Learning and Leisure has undergone significant changes during the past two years, and is now better placed to deliver a high quality service across the whole of the Inverness area.

Bruce Robertson, Director of Education, Culture and Sport said: "I am very pleased with the progress that has been made in Inverness which fits well with the ethos of service improvement which is high on the Council’s agenda."

Douglas Wilby, Area Community Learning and Leisure Manager said: "It is good to have had an external agency assess the quality of our service delivery. This has confirmed that the direction we are moving as a service is the correct one and gives us the confidence to continue to improve and enhance the services we offer. We will continue to evaluate our work and respond to the changing needs of communities."

- ENDS-

For further information please contact Douglas Wilby, Area Community Learning & Leisure Manager, Town House, High Street, Inverness IV1 1JJ Tel: 01463 724224 e- mail: douglas.wilby@highland.gov.uk

Date Last updated : 09/03/05