A DAMNING Ofsted report on North Yorkshire's adult learning and skills service - which runs courses in Skipton and Craven - has found it wanting in all areas.

The report, following a four day inspection last month, says overall effectiveness and all six aspects of the service, including quality of teaching, outcomes for learners, its learning programmes and apprenticeships, 'require improvement'.

Leaders and managers had been unsuccessful in tackling a number of the key areas for improvement since the last inspection in 2014, when it was judged 'good' says the report.

"As a result, there has been a decline in the achievement of adult learners on qualification courses, and the pace of improvement in the proportion of apprentices completing their qualifications within planned timescales has been too slow."

The council points out it has received some positive comments, has made a 'big strategic shift' and is confident of returning to a 'good' rating very soon.

The report criticises the service for allowing too many adult learners to leave courses early without completing their qualifications, and for having too few apprentices achieve their qualifications within planned timetables.

Managers are criticised for failing to manage the performance of part time teachers, with the result that the pace of improvement in teaching, learning and assessment is too slow.

Teachers and assessors are also criticised for not sufficiently raising learners' and apprentices' awareness of the risks of radicalisation and extremism.

The council has however been praised for successfully shifting the service towards meeting the priorities of employers and the needs of the most vulnerable adults in the county.

The service was also praised for providing for recently arrived refugee families from Syria and helping them to integrate into the community by teaching them reading, writing and speaking in English.

A spokesman for NYCC said that the council had taken on board the report and had already moved to a new, forward-looking targeted approach for its adult learning and skills service.

"The council is moving away from the more traditional leisure-based courses, to an approach that better meets the needs of the most vulnerable adult learners in the county to improve their employability and to address the priorities of employers. The service is also making sure it aligns with the county’s successful further education sector so that services are not duplicated.

"This has been a big strategic shift, but the council believes it is the right thing to do, because it is important to help people into work. "

The spokesman added that many of the adults it worked with were often vulnerable with high level needs, including many who had never been employed.

"This new strategic direction is recognised as a strength in a report published following the recent Ofsted inspection of the service. The report says leaders and managers have successfully shifted the service towards this new approach."

"The report also recognises that learners on community learning courses develop new skills, improve their health and progress on to accredited courses, and that increasing numbers of learners with high needs develop good employability skills through well-planned internships and work experience."

The council did however recognise the areas highlighted in the report that required improvement.

"It welcomes Ofsted’s insightful comments and will tackle the concerns quickly and vigorously. It is putting into place action plans that will address the issues raised and is confident the refocused service will return to its “good” rating within a year."

In Skipton, courses are run at the youth and community centre, at Stepping Stones, Aireville Park; at Greatwood Community Centre, Ings School, and at Horton Housing Cafe, St Andrew's Church. Courses will also be run from September at Bentham Library.