Six mayoral combined authorities and the Greater London Authority will be responsible for the adult education budget in their areas from today, the Government has announced.
The adult education budget supports eligible learners aged 19 and over and provides them with the skills and learning they need to equip them for work, an apprenticeship, or other learning.
The Government argues the devolution of the budget will allow the MCAs and GLA to make decisions about its allocation so that it can be used to support the needs of residents and local economic priorities.
‘To prepare for the devolution of the adult education budget, ESFA [Education and Skills Funding Agency] and the Department for Education have been working collaboratively with the mayoral combined authorities and the Greater London Authority to support a smooth transition into operational readiness,’ said ESFA chief executive Eileen Milner.
‘As part of this work, Memoranda of Understanding were agreed to provide clarity of roles and responsibilities, and to outline joint ways of working to support providers understanding of the changing landscape.
‘We have also ensured through our regular communications with providers and the sector, that they are aware of the changes and can plan accordingly.’
The mayoral authorities receiving the devolved adult education budget are: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, West Midlands, West of England and the Greater London Authority.
