FE and Skills gets on the fast track to better health

Eighteen further education and skills providers have fast-tracked their way to a healthier future.
They have just gained Healthy FE and Skills recognition, as part of a programme supported by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and Skills Funding Agency. The programme provides a framework for providers to promote health and wellbeing amongst learners and staff. To gain recognition providers undertake a self-review and develop a two-year action plan to improve health and wellbeing.

The eighteen organisations that have recently been awarded Healthy FE and Skills status are intended to be a catalyst for a more diverse group of learning providers becoming involved.
As the Department of Health’s recently published mental health strategy implementation framework illustrates there’s a lot that further education providers can do to promote learners’ mental health and wellbeing.

Linda Houtby, principal of Grantham College and chair of LSIS’s National Healthy FE and Skills Policy Group, said:
“My sincere congratulations go to the latest organisations to gain Healthy FE status and I welcome their commitment to improving the health of both their staff and learners. The contribution that Healthy FE can make to improved student retention and achievement should not be underestimated, nor should the importance of health and wellbeing overall. I would like to thank the LSIS staff who worked with these providers to ensure their success.”

The successful organisations are:
Adult and community learning providers
1. Chester West and Chester Council
2. Derby City Council
3. Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service (DACES)

4. Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service, Leicester City Council
5. Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service (HAFLS)
6. Community Education Lewisham
7. North Lincolnshire Council Adult Community Learning
8. Oxfordshire Skills and Learning Service
9. Shropshire Council

Prisons
10. HMP Birmingham
11. HMYOI Brinsford
12. HMP Bullwood Hall
13. HMP andYOI – Chelmsford
14. HMP andYOI Drake Hall
15. HMP Garth
16. HMP Hewell
17. HMP Rye Hill
18. HMP Wolds

Plus, two further education colleges also achieved Healthy FE and Skills recognition over the summer:
19. North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
20. South Leicestershire College

This brings the total number of learning and skills providers who have gained recognition since 2009 to 77. 

 
LSIS’s Head of Quality and Equalities, Margaret Adjaye, said: “We were really pleased that so many new providers wanted to become involved. Originally we hoped to support five prisons and five adult and community learning providers to gain recognition but the response from providers has been so good that the number was almost doubled. They have shown a real enthusiasm for improving the health of their learners and staff, which can be important to improving outcomes for learners.
“LSIS’s number one priority for the FE and Skills sector is to promote improved teaching and learning; this scheme will enhance LSIS’s commitment to this by helping to improve outcomes for learners. We hope more providers will decide to get involved. “
More information about gaining Healthy FE and Skills Recognition is available on the Excellence Gateway.