NOT FOR PUBLICATION

North Yorkshire Council

Children & Young Peoples Services

Executive

14th July 2026

Adult Learning and Skills Service Accountability Statement 2026-27

Report of the Corporate Director Children and Young Peoples Service

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 This report seeks approval to submit the Adult Learning and Skills Service (ALSS) Accountability Statement for 2026/27. Providers receiving over £1m in post-16 funding are required to produce an annual accountability statement demonstrating how provision meets local, regional and national skills needs and aligns with Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs). Submission of this statement is required to fulfil funding conditions associated with the Adult Skills Fund and associated post-16 provision.

1.2 This document will form part 2 of the funding agreement provided by the Department for Education and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and failure to agree this document by July 31st may impact on ALSS ability to draw down grant funding in a timely manner.

2.0 SUMMARY

2.1 This report presents the updated Accountability Statement for 2026/27. The statement demonstrates how ALSS aligns its curriculum and delivery to the York and North Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (2026–2029), the Combined Authority Local Growth Plan, the Get York and North Yorkshire Working Plan and the North Yorkshire Council Plan 2026–2030. It reflects updated governance, occupancy and performance data including progress achieved in 2025/26 and sets out clear priorities, targets and curriculum changes for the year ahead.

2.2 As a council, we must agree on and upload the statement to the Department for Education by July 31^st 2026, as part of our funding conditions.

3.0 BACKGROUND

3.1 The Skills for Jobs reforms require providers to clearly demonstrate how provision meets local need and supports economic growth. The Accountability Statement process provides a key mechanism for evidencing this alignment. In 2026/27 this process is further strengthened through devolved Adult Skills Fund arrangements, with increased emphasis on local accountability, progression outcomes and alignment to economic priorities.

3.2 The updated LSIP for York and North Yorkshire and has been submitted to the department in May 2026 by the regions approved Employer Representative Body (ERB), specifically the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

3.3 The York and North Yorkshire LSIP report is a strategic document that identifies clear priorities for skills development in the local area. It outlines the key changes required (or elements that should be maintained) to ensure that post-16 technical education and training align more closely with the needs of local employers. The LSIP covers a period of the next three years.

3.4 The "Skills for Jobs" whitepaper detailed requirements for providers to publish an annual accountability statement. This statement, part of their annual funding agreement, must indicate how the received funding will be used to meet local and national skills priorities as specified by the LSIP.

3.5 The Department for Education (DfE) introduced Accountability Agreements for the first time in the 2023 to 2024 academic year. These agreements consist of a two-part document that sets out the expectations for providers (including local authorities delivering more than £1 million of post-16 provision) in exchange for funding. The agreement focuses on what colleges, designated institutions, and local authorities are expected to deliver in the upcoming year and how they plan to support local, regional, and national needs. These annual statements should be informed by providers’ longer-term strategic plans and goals. The DfE mandates that documents produced by local authority providers must have executive approval. The final accountability statement must be published on the North Yorkshire Council website (on ALSS pages). It serves as a key public-facing document, demonstrating:

a) How the service aligns with the key aspirations of the council, as reflected in the council plan.

b) How the service aims to support residents in leading healthier and more economically impactful lives.

c) How the service supports local businesses in developing a talent pipeline and upskilling/reskilling their workforce in accordance with LSIP goals.

d) How the curriculum is shaped to meet the objectives of the Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) economic framework, skills strategy, and Adult Skills Fund (ASF) plans (previously known as the Adult Education Budget AEB).

4.0 DETAILED PRESENTATION OF THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE

4.1 ALSS, part of North Yorkshire Council's Children and Young Peoples Service Directorate, aims to empower adults and young people with special needs to achieve their full potential through greater societal integration or fulfilling employment.

4.2 ALSS continues to provide a broad adult learning offer focused on engagement, progression and employment outcomes. The 2026/27 Accountability Statement reflects growth in participation, improved alignment to priority sectors and strengthened progression pathways. Delivery remains underpinned by the six-step learner journey model, supporting learners from initial engagement through to further learning and employment.

5.0 CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN AND RESPONSES

5.1 The statement has been informed through internal governance processes, performance review and alignment with regional policy and strategic frameworks. It reflects feedback from delivery teams and partners and builds on the service’s established strategic direction.

6.0 CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES

6.1 The Adult Learning and Skills Service contributes directly to Council priorities by supporting residents to improve skills, confidence and employability, reducing inequalities in access to learning, and supporting healthier, more independent and economically active communities.

6.2 The Adult Learning and Skills Service (ALSS) aims to demonstrate the impact of adult learning in meeting these ambitions. By leveraging creativity, innovation, and community connections, Adult Skills funding can be used to:

· Increase opportunities for managing the cost-of-living crisis through understanding waste, energy bills, and providing practical tips with embedded numeracy, literacy, and digital skills.

· Enhance the independence of adults with disabilities to take personal responsibility for health and wellbeing.

· Encourage families to work, learn, and play together, promoting green initiatives, appreciating natural landscapes, and fostering connection with arts and heritage.

· Encourage lifelong learning and help individuals reach their potential.

· Foster pride in and understanding of common heritage.

· Improve community spaces to make them more useful and vibrant.

6.3 Through these efforts we will demonstrate learning pathways that:

· Improve essential skills.

· Assist people in overcoming digital poverty.

· Enable individuals to find jobs better suited to their skills and

aspirations, contributing to the wider economic infrastructure of the region.

7.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

7.1 The Accountability Statement sets out how Adult Skills Fund and related funding will be utilised to maximise impact. The service will ensure full utilisation of funding allocations and continued improvement in performance and value for money.

7.2 While the grant funding cannot generate savings or significant surplus, maximising engagement opportunities for our residents (including staff) can improve health outcomes, remove barriers to achieving potential, and support families to withstand challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis. This could potentially reduce the demand for council statutory services.

8.0 IMPACT ON OTHER SERVICES/ORGANISATIONS

8.1 Strategic utilisation of the allocated budget can support a range of wider measures that meet the preventative agenda, reducing costs on already stretched central statutory and non-statutory functions. Specifically, the £1.9m Tailored Learning fund can be applied in seven key areas:

· Engaging and/or building confidence

· Preparation for further learning

· Preparation for employment

· Improving essential skills (English, ESOL, mathematics, digital)

· Equipping parents/carers to support children's learning

· Health and well-being

· Developing stronger communities

8.2 These initiatives provide an opportunity to alleviate pressure on core funding through targeted efforts by ALSS, thus extending budgets within local communities, Health & Adult services, and Learning and Development programmes.

8.3 The potential to use funding to upskill and reskill the council’s workforce has not yet been fully explored. As many council employees are also North Yorkshire residents, targeted support in mathematics, English and digital skills could provide an effective internal access route into learning. Addressing gaps in these essential skills would support workforce development, improve internal progression and strengthen apprenticeship uptake and achievement.

8.4 Structural re-organisation of the service provides a consistent progression focused operating model that will allow us to capitalise on these opportunities.

9.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

9.1 Submission of the Accountability Statement is a requirement of the Department for Education. Failure to submit an approved statement may impact funding.

10.0 RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

10.1 The key risk relates to failure to demonstrate effective use of funding and alignment to local need. This is mitigated through governance, performance monitoring and partnership working

11.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

11.1 The equalities impact assessment shows no implications.

12.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

12.1 The climate change impact assessment shows no implications.

13.0 HUMAN RESOURCES IMPLICATIONS

13.1 Supporting the agreement poses no human resources implications.

14.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

14.1 Approving the agreement ensures funding for service delivery and provides a framework for accountability. It will also guide internal discussions to maximise learning opportunities for residents.

15.0

RECOMMENDATION

i) That the enclosed Accountability Statement for 2026/27 be approved for submission.

APPENDICES:

Appendix A – Adult Learning and Skills Service Draft Accountability Statement 2026-27

Appendix B – Climate change impact assessment - initial screening form FE Accountability Agreement 2026-27

Appendix C – Equality impact assessment Accountability Statement 2026-27

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:

Accountability Agreement Guidance (January 2025 – DfE)

College and local authority accountability statements – DfE guidance

York and North Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)

York and North Yorkshire Local Growth Plan