ACL Essex is the largest provider of adult education in the county. Our aim is to provide learners with as many ways to flourish as possible, to be there in communities across Essex, to make a difference to residents and businesses, so they can make a difference for themselves and to the places that they live in.
We frequently update our website with new courses throughout the year. There is financial support and childcare services, in addition to a variety of free workshops and sessions available. Courses include, but not limited to:
Creative and Cultural learning – Art and drawing, British Sign Language, Makaton, Clothes Making, Creative Writing, Foreign Languages, Floristry, Photography, Cooking & Baking, Humanities, History, Social Sciences, and many more.
Qualifications and Skills for Employment – Access to Higher Education, Accounting & Finance, Beauty & Complementary Therapies, Business & Management, Career & Employability skills, Counselling skills, Creative Qualifications, Early Year & Education, IT, First Aid, GCSEs, Hairdressing & Barbering, Health Medical & Care
English, Maths, Science and Digital – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Microsoft Office Skills, English & Maths
Mental Health and Wellbeing – Managing Anxiety, Positive Thinking, Building Self-confidence, Wellbeing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Life Coaching
Community and Family Learning – Emotional Wellbeing, Family Wellbeing, surviving as a Family, Understanding English & Maths
Apprenticeships & Professional Learning – Business School, Early Years & Education, Health Medical & Care
Supported Learning – Access to Employability, Arts & Crafts, Computer Skills, Cooking, Dance, Drama, English, Gardening, Sport & Fitness, Sensory, Health & Beauty, Health & Wellbeing, Maths, Music, Photography, Pottery, and Digital Skills.
ACL Essex has adapted a huge range of courses that are delivered online, via distance learning and in classrooms.
Why us?
Why Us?
- If your gross annual household income is less than £30,000, or you are in receipt of a means tested benefit, you could be eligible for financial assistance towards course fees, travel, books, membership fees and childcare.
- Variety of free weekly workshops and sessions.
- Ofsted rated Good
ACL topped the national and countywide league tables in several categories for academic year 2018/19.
- ACL Essex had the highest number of Grade 9 – 4 Maths GCSEs in the country out of all adult education public funded providers.
- ACL Essex ranked 3rd for grade 9 – 4 English GCSEs in the country out of all adult education public funded providers.
- ACL Essex had the highest overall GCSE pass rate in Essex (Maths: 98.6%, English: 97.2%) out of all adult education public funded providers.
- ACL Essex had the highest GCSE grade 9 – 4 pass rate in Essex (Maths: 70%, English: 83%) out of all adult education public funded providers.
- ACL Essex are the only Essex adult education public funded provider to teach and offer the Higher Maths GCSE.
The data is published on gov.uk at the beginning of April every year for the previous academic year.
Courses
Work Experience/Study Programmes
Apprenticeships
We deliver apprenticeships across the county. Our programmes are available at Level 2, 3, 4 and 5 (intermediate, advanced and higher) and are available to those leaving school or college as well as individuals in work looking to upskill or change career path. We offer the following opportunities: Accounting, Adult Care, Business Administration, Business & Finance, Care Management, Childcare, Customer Service, Healthcare, Leadership & Management, Project Management, Residential Childcare, Schools Business Professional and Teaching Assistant.
To apply or speak to a member of our apprenticeship team, please contact us by email at
[email protected] or call us on 03330 139 502
Higher Education
Access to Higher Education
Access programmes are designed for anyone that left school or college without the required grades to apply to University. Our courses will equip you with the tools & skills that you need to study at degree level – the sky’s the limit!
We currently offer Access to Higher Education Diplomas in the following subject areas:
- Science
- Social Science
Our programmes support applications for degrees and degree apprenticeships in: Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work, Paramedic, Teaching, Law, Policing, Pharmacy and most health-related subjects.
Pre Access courses are also available – these start in January 2020 and prepare students for the demands of the Diploma.
Accredited Courses
We offer a wide range of accredited courses to enable you to gain qualifications to support your career aspirations. Opportunities include: Accounting, Leadership & Management, Bookkeeping, Childcare, Barbering, Hairdressing, Counselling, Beauty & Complementary Therapies, First Aid, Support Work in Schools, Housekeeping, Floristry, and Photography
Adult learners and Professional Qualifications
Accredited Courses
We offer a wide range of accredited courses to enable you to gain qualifications to support your career aspirations. Opportunities include: Accounting, Leadership & Management, Bookkeeping, Childcare, Barbering, Hairdressing, Counselling, Beauty & Complementary Therapies, First Aid, Support Work in Schools, Housekeeping, Floristry, and Photography
Health and wellbeing programmes
ACL provides a range of short online courses dedicated to supporting and improving mental health and wellbeing. Each course is facilitated by two qualified specialist tutors who have professional and lived experience and knowledge of mental health to provide learners with a holistic perspective of mental wellbeing. The group learning environment is designed to develop collaborative learning and encouragement of peer support. All courses include plenty of practical tips and strategies to improve personal wellbeing contextualised to the learner’s circumstances and aspirations. The suite of courses on offer is varied and flexible with daytime, evening and weekend provision of either two or six sessions so that they are accessible and fit around our learners’ busy lives.
ACL also offers a wide range of courses promoting personal development, wellbeing and healthy lifestyles, and courses leading to preparation for employment in the counselling profession. Our spring programme includes courses in wellbeing such as Yoga Nidra, Pranayama Breathing, Healing and Balancing Chakras, Mindfulness, and Nutrition in addition to a range of courses in topics of personal development in life coaching skills. The curriculum also includes subjects supporting wider wellbeing such as introductory courses in Counselling Skills and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and progression to Counselling Skills at Level 2 and Level 3, providing foundation to further studies leading to professional Counselling qualifications in higher education.
For details and to enrol on courses, please see website:
https://aclessex.com/mental-wellbeing
For enquiries, please email [email protected]
Learning for Personal Development
If you’re looking to develop new skills, learn for leisure or improve your wellbeing then look no further. Choose from: Foreign Languages, Mindfulness, Art, Drawing & Painting, Pottery, Cookery, Mental Health Recovery, Hair, Beauty & Complementary Therapies, Textiles, British Sign Language and Creative Writing
Our website has full details for all of the above including our offer for Family Learning and Supported Learning www.aclessex.com
Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected] or call us on 0345 603 7635
Support for Employers
Investing in staff training programmes and apprenticeships is the perfect way to grow your business and develop an efficient and skilled workforce.
Our apprenticeship programmes are available across the county with start dates all year round.
Taking on an apprentice is a brilliant way of investing in the future of your business. You can recruit and train fresh talent that will grow with your company. As your delivery partner we will put together a programme that is appropriate and applicable to your business and support you and your apprentice throughout the whole process.
If you need help in recruiting, we can assist with that too. We seek out motivated and enthusiastic individuals who are bursting with potential.
The great news is that apprenticeship programmes are also available to your existing workforce. They can support individuals who are moving into a new role, have recently gained line management responsibilities or simply need to develop their current skills sets.
Our Apprenticeships last between 15 and 24 months depending on the subject area and level. Everyone who undertakes this type of programme will be required to spend 20% of their contracted hours in some form of ‘off job’ learning activity over the lifetime of their programme.
The cost of an apprenticeship depends on the programme and its level. Larger employers will use their Apprenticeship Levy to fund the programme. Employers not paying into the levy will be required to pay 5% of the overall cost. Our Business Development team will discuss prices with you and agree a payment schedule prior to any apprentice starting a programme.
A bursary of £1000 could be available if you employ less than 50 people and your apprentice meets the eligibility criteria.
For more information, please visit www.aclessex.com/employers
