Good progress is being made in strengthening the leadership and governance of community learning and development (CLD) activities in East Lothian, a report has found.
HM Inspectors carried out a further CLD inspection in the county in June to evaluate the progress being made by East Lothian Council and partners on the main areas for improvement required since an original ‘progress visit’.
As well as identifying areas for action and areas for development, their report on the outcome of the further inspection highlights a number of positive areas, including:
- Overall, partners are making good progress in strengthening the leadership and governance of CLD, with increased involvement of senior leaders, raising the visibility of CLD’s impact
- A strengthening of partner relationships at a strategic level, with the re-establishment of a CLD Partnership Steering Group (CLDPSG) to support shared planning of priorities, while external partners are increasing their roles and responsibilities
- An increased understanding of CLD within the East Lothian Partnership Governance Group (ELPGG), enabling better recognition of how CLD contributes to service plans and priorities and the start of more consistent and more effective reporting
- Partners are working well to develop evaluation and quality assurance, including professional learning and partnership sessions.
The report also highlights the strengthening of learner progression pathways by East Lothian Works, enabling clearer links with wider employability pathways. It explains that the work of specialist youth workers is now more embedded in school improvement planning, helping to increase attendance and improve pathways for young people who are most disengaged. Linked to the Child Planning Framework, CLD partners involved in locality teams now have a common sense of purpose. Targeted support is reducing barriers to participation and improving the resilience of children and young people.
Areas for development
In their findings, the inspectors recognise that, with governance arrangements for CLD remaining at an early stage of implementation, more time is required to highlight their impact.
Members of the ELPGG, they say, need to ensure that their role in oversight and governance continues to evolve and strengthen, which should be aided by regular reporting. Clearer alignment and cohesion between plans will help realise senior leaders and CLD partners’ ambitions for CLD, supporting the CLDPSG to build more effective quality assurance approaches. Years two and three of the group’s work should more fully reflect the work of all progress.
The report adds that partners do not yet report on collective progress against the CLD plan and that work to improve monitoring and reporting needs to continue at pace, ensuring leaders have sufficient information to provide challenge and support, as well as to ensure well-informed allocation of resources. Further work is required by partners on their approach to self-evaluation, ensuring that progress against CLD priorities is evidenced. To avoid the risk of duplication or confusion, senior leaders are asked to ensure there is clarity on the identity and remit of each partnership group.
Councillor Colin McGinn, East Lothian Council’s Cabinet Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, said:
“We are pleased to see that the good progress which is being made to strengthen East Lothian’s leadership and governance of CLD is recognised in this report, which is testament to the hard work and commitment demonstrated by council officers and our partner organisations.
“Our priority is to ensure that we continue delivering positive outcomes for local residents who benefit from CLD work. It is clear that we are well on our way to delivering the required improvements, reflecting our commitment to inclusive, community-driven CLD.
“We welcome the report’s findings in relation to next steps, with work already underway to deliver on these, including plans to further align strategies, enhance self-evaluation practices, and maintain robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms. My thanks to all those involved for their support with this work.”
Maureen Allan, Chief Officer of Volunteer Centre East Lothian, added:
“It’s great to see the progress that’s been made in strengthening leadership around CLD in East Lothian. What stands out is the real shift towards working together – building stronger relationships and recognising the value of what each partner brings. This isn’t just about plans and policies; it’s about making a real difference for people in our communities. We’re really pleased to be part of this work and look forward to keeping that momentum going.”
HM Inspectors will ask for a written report on progress on the identified areas for improvement within agreed timescales. Taking account of the progress report, they will then decide what further engagement with the council and their partners is required.