The learning outcomes of the programme are:

• To know and understand about CLD adult literacies practise in Scotland
• To know and understand adult literacies practise in other countries
• To reflect on and critically examine personal professional learning by involvement in an international project
• To know and understand the practice and approaches that can improve outcomes for children, young people and adults impacted by lower literacy levels
• To learn and understand community learning delivery in other countries, effective approaches and partnership approaches that can be learnt from

This information session, to be held online on Monday 1^st June 2026 at 4.00 to 5.00pm, will provide information to potential facilitators about the new national professional learning programme: ‘Equity: Mitigating the impact of poverty on Scotland’s children and young people’.

The programme has been developed by Education Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council, along with a range of other key partners, including four pilot local authorities.

Potential facilitators are school leaders, ELC or CLD managers or Local Authority leads. All the resources required to lead the programme will be provided by Education Scotland, including online resources for participants and facilitator slides and notes. The programme uses a flexible, hybrid model, with both individual and group learning elements, where the group learning can be online or in person. It can be delivered at establishment, team, cluster or local authority level.

Register for this information session if you would like to find out more about delivering the programme with your team, cluster or local authority (or wish to share or delegate this task). The programme is suitable for delivery with ELC and CLD participants, as well as those working in schools. Please note this session repeats the one held on 18/3/26.

The learning outcomes of the programme are:

• To know and understand the theory, data and evidence base around poverty both locally and across Scotland
• To know and understand the impact of poverty on learning, achievement and attainment both locally and nationally
• To reflect on and critically examine personal leadership attitudes, values and beliefs within a social justice and equity context
• To know and understand the practice and approaches that can improve outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty
• To develop and apply knowledge and skills to effectively plan for equity and ensure measurable impact.

 

New Education Scotland Associates (ESAs) in Education Scotland CLD Team – 2025 / end March 2026

During 2025 Education Scotland recruited Education Scotland Associates (ESAs) across the organisation to support and develop key projects. The ESA’s are all CLD practitioners working in the field who joined Education Scotland on a part time basis.

We wanted to highlight each of the projects to give further details on what has been developed in each one. The first project we are publishing is Project 4:

• Project 4 – Research: What does UK and international practice tell us about greater synergy between CLD and Curriculum Improvement Cycle – Fiona Robertson  (John Galt / Laura Starkey)

Building on the initial Literature review published in July 2024 on Community Learning and Development (CLD) as part of the Still report and as part of Education Scotland’s changing role from Education Reform. Education Scotland delivered engagement sessions in 2025 which led to the publication of a discussion paper. This research project was to further investigate what community education/CLD approaches exist across the UK and internationally in relation to curriculum and produce a publication to share the findings.

Fiona’s question was, “What does UK and international practice tell us about how greater synergy between CLD and Curriculum Improvement Cycle could improve outcomes for learners of all ages?” and she looked at this using a literacy lens. The paper can be read in full here ESA Project CIC literacy FINAL DRAFT

The paper highlights various international sources which are useful to learn from in a Scottish context.

The Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) is a ten year programme to systematically review Scotland’s Curriculum in response to learners’ needs and societal demands.

We have two upcoming sessions for CLD practitioners and leaders where we will take you through a sensemaking toolkit for CLD. Join us to find out more about the CIC and discuss what it means for the CLD sector.

Book here: Curriculum Improvement Cycle – Sensemaking for CLD Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE) are the independent inspectorate of education in Scotland, inspecting and gathering evidence across all education sectors to assess quality, support improvement and inform policy.

They have a new website that you can refer to for information here:

https://educationinspectorate.gov.scot/

They also have a dedicated Youtube channel which you can subscribe to so that you are aware when new content is added: HMIE – YouTube

LinkedIn: His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) | LinkedIn

Facebook: HMIE | Glasgow | Facebook

Make sure you subscribe and follow to keep up to date !

On the 26th of March 2026, Learn North Connect and Reflect Community Learning & Development (CLD) Conference was held in Inverness, for Community Learning and Development (CLD) practitioners delivering learning for community based adult learning, ESOL, adult literacy, youth work, community development and volunteering from strategic managers to practitioners. There was attendance from approximately 70 at the in person event.

Learn North is the CLD professional learning alliance that connects over 300 practitioners from eight local authority areas – Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Argyll & Bute, Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles. It is the biggest geographical region in Scotland. Its goal is to improve professional development for the CLD workforce, offering opportunities based on needs of practitioners across all sectors of CLD.

Education Scotland was invited to support development of the Conference as well as have an active role during the day, delivering workshops on Youthvoice Toolkit, Community Needs Analysis, Attendance in Schools – partnership & multi-agency toolkit and a whole room input on the use of AI in CLD practise. There was further inputs from CLD Standards Council as well as local authorities sharing their practise in relation to a huge range of areas, some included, Highland adult learning voice following funding from the Scottish Education Exchange Programme, Aberdeen Youth Movement, Shetland Youth Voice, Gaelic awareness, learning communities for adults with enduring mental health illnesses and Aberdeen student teacher programme with CLD family learning team. You can read more through the online programme created for the event which details each input.

SIDA’s Global Citizenship Engagement Officer Hannah Clyne joined Mya Chemonges Murzynowska from ACAMHA and Catriona Willis from Highland One World gave a stand out presentation on the importance of anti racist education in community settings. They showcased that through the conference professional learning can go further, stating “It’s about creating spaces where social justice is lived, community voices are heard, and where global citizenship is part of everyday life”. Read more on their blog here entitled “Action is the antidote to despair”.

Learn North, the CLD professional learning alliance is now working on how to promote the learning across the region allowing for those practitioners who could not attend in person to learn and connect from others in the region. A conference with a focus on connection and reflection – including a lasting legacy which Education Scotland is happy to support.

New Education Scotland Associates (ESAs) in Education Scotland CLD Team – 2025 / end March 2026

 

During 2025 Education Scotland recruited Education Scotland Associates (ESAs) across the organisation to support and develop key projects. The ESA’s are all CLD practitioners working in the field who joined Education Scotland on a part time basis.

 

The Community Learning and Development team recruited four ESAs who came with a variety of different working knowledge, skills and were located in different locations across Scotland. The experience of the ESAs covered CLD in local authority, College and voluntary sector and included youthwork, community development and community-based adult learning backgrounds.

 

The four projects carried out were:

 

• Project 1 – Digital Skills – Caroline Whitson (Jamie Dungavell)

Engage with the CLD sector on the ‘Digital Skills for Scottish Educators’ resource to develop an understanding of what is needed to scaffold implementation including piloting the resource and supporting development for a CLD context.

• Project 2 – Professional Learning – Rhonda Leith (Susan Epsworth) 

Consider and exploreprofessional learning activities (PLA’s) that could be developed, based on evidence available and from other ESA projects.. An example taken forward was the development of a new misinformation/disinformation PLA.

• Project 3 – CIC Sensemaking – Tracey Kernaghan (Julie Beckett)

Joint pilot delivery of stakeholder engagement sessions with the CLD sector on the sensemaking toolkit of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC). Gather feedback to inform, develop, design and publish a CLD version.

• Project 4 – Research: What does UK and international practice tell us about greater synergy between CLD and Curriculum Improvement Cycle – Fiona Robertson  (John Galt / Laura Starkey)

Building on the initial Literature review published in July 2024 on Community Learning and Development (CLD) as part of the Still report and as part of Education Scotland’s changing role from Education Reform. Education Scotland delivered engagement sessions in 2025 which led to the publication of a discussion paper. This research project was to further investigate what community education/CLD approaches exist across the UK and internationally in relation to curriculum and produce a publication to share the findings.

 

We await further information on the Education Support Assistant pilot project as to whether this will continue in future. Some quotes from the evaluation of the project include:

• Really enjoyed the whole experience – happy to be involved in the future and to advocate for it to others
• Really hope this continues going forward – has felt like projects will have real impact on the sector
• Has felt responsive to needs of the sector

We will be adding further details of the projects to this website during the next couple of months so please do check back for further updates.

It was great to get confirmation that the UK will be part of the Erasmus+ programme from 2027. Erasmus+ provides funding to support mobility opportunities for young people and adults to gain international experience and develop skills; and providers to develop partnerships with relevant organisations in different countries.

The programme offers fantastic opportunities for community learning and development (CLD) organisations and groups in the public and third sectors, particularly through the strands for Adult Education and for Youth.

CLD organisations can apply to fund projects that contribute to the Programme Priorities to:

1. promote equal opportunities and access, inclusion, diversity and fairness
2. support digital transformation and address societal challenges such as AI or disinformation
3. build knowledge, skills, and attitudes on the environment, climate change and supporting sustainable development
4. address the challenges and barriers that limit citizens’ participation in democratic life

A fundamental aim of the current programme is to increase the number of opportunities offered to disadvantaged participants and to a wider range of organisations.

Find out more

Applications for funding will be open from November 2026 to February 2027. Look out for opportunities between now and then to find out more about how to get involved.

The UK Government is currently looking for views on developing the right support for Erasmus+ applicants and participants.  Please complete the survey which should take no more than 5-10 minutes.

The British Council has been appointed as the National Agency to support Erasmus+ across the UK. You can sign up here to make sure you receive updates from the British Council to prepare for Erasmus+. You can also follow the Erasmus+ social media accounts, which will begin providing regular updates soon.

X @ErasmusPlusUK

Facebook @ErasmusPlusUK

Instagram @ErasmusPlus.UK