Learning

A key MLA East Midlands objective is to support the development of collections and services that provide learning, inspiration and enjoyment for everyone. Our work includes:

• advocacy campaigns to raise awareness of the value of learning with museums, libraries and archives
• programmes which encourage professional development within the sector
• working with partners and networks to share good practice and advice to increase understanding of the contribution made by the sector to learning for all ages

For more details of our learning programmes explore the links on this page or contact Liz Towner, learning and workforce development manager.

Some of the recent policies and strategies which have offered opportunities formuseums, libraries and archives to increase and develop their contribution to learning can be found below. These provide a useful context and broader understanding of the issues which inform MLA East Midlands’ learning remit.

The Children’s Plan: Building Brighter Futures was published by the DCSF in 2007 and aims to put the needs of families, children and young people at the centre. The Plan re-enforces the role of Children’s Trusts in every area, the role of schools in every community and calls on other organisations to deliver services to children to work in partnership ‘so that together they can engage parents and tackle all the barriers to the learning, health and happiness of every child.’ The Children’s Plan builds on Every Child Matters which was launched in 2004.

Aiming High for young people: a ten year strategy for positive activities is the Government’s strategy for providing positive activities for young people to do in their free time. The activities should be purposeful, help build new skills, increase confidence and raise aspirations.

In February 2008 the Government launched the Find Your Talent pilot programme. By 2011, children will be able to experience five hours of high quality culture per week, in and out of school.

Initiatives such as Family Learning Week, Adult Learner’s Week, the National Year of Reading 2008 and Who do we think we are? Week all offer opportunities for museums, libraries and archives to raise awareness of their services within their own communities.

The new Key Stage 3 (secondary) curriculum will launch in September 2008 with all year 7 pupils. Changes to the Key Stage 4 curriculum will start in September 2009. Details of the curriculum show opportunities for museums, libraries and archives as there is an increased emphasis on contextualised learning and learning with objects. The DCSF and other partners recently launched the Learning outside the Classroom Manifesto to support and champion the value of learning taking place outside the traditional classroom.

The Leitch Review of Skills, published in 2005, places increased emphasis on the need to develop skills at all levels by 2020. The Implementation Plan, published in 2007, details how this will be achieved.