Following an Ofsted inspection in May.  Inspectors found achievement and standards across the whole range of Isle of Wight Community and Family Learning outstanding and that the service has developed excellent working relationships with many partners.

In Family Learning, the level of personal, social, educational and economic skills developed by parents and grandparents to help their children is excellent, while Family learning itself was given a Grade 1 Outstanding rating.

Family Learning programmes provide an excellent response to the needs of learners and children while in the arts, learners develop high standards of professional skills in producing carnival costumes and quilting.

The inspectors also commented on how regular high profile awards ceremonies, such as the annual Family Learning and National College for Further Education Awards, enhance learners confidence to continue further study or employment.

Staff are enthusiastic and very committed to the success of their learners while those with learning difficulties or disabilities are well integrated with classes. In carnival arts, tutors with international experience benefit from visits by specialist lecturers.

The promotion of Community & Family Learning to the Island’s residents is vigorous, well targeted and effective. In the arts, learners develop high standards of professional skills in producing, for instance, carnival costumes and quilting, while the computer facilities at the Carnival Learning Centre in Ryde are praised for being particularly good.

Isle of Wight Council Leader David Pugh said

“I would like to congratulate all of those involved for securing this continued recognition of success.

“Community and Family Learning plays such a crucial role in our wider agenda of raising education standards and improving the quality of life enjoyed by local residents.

“We will continue to support this service and I have no doubt that it will continue to go from strength to strength”

Inspectors found planning for individual learning could be improved while the quality assurance of a few aspects of the provision could be better.