The Adult Learning Inspectorate research has shown that e-learning significantly increases the accessibility and practicality of further education and skills development for adult learners, with:

• Hard-to-reach learners directly benefiting from e-learning
• Rising numbers of professionals now confident in using ICT in teaching and learning

In 2005 the Department for Education and Skills published its e-strategy ‘Harnessing technology:  transforming learning and children’s services’, which highlights significant aims to introduce widespread use of e-learning in the post-16 education sector.  These include:

• Improved access, flexibility, coherence and continuity for learners throughout life
• Support for practitioners and leaders to make best strategic use of ICT and e-learning
• The use of ICT and e-learning embedded into initial teacher training, leadership support and continuing professional development
• Extensive access to online digital resources, service and networks

An essential part of effective integration of e-learning into post-16 teaching and learning is to ensure that practitioners are provided with sufficient training and development. 

In the ACL sector, integration of e-learning has been supported by the successful rollout of the E-Guides project, whereby trained e-guides introduce e-learning skills to ACL Tutors via local training courses.

In addition to this organisations such as BECTA, ACLearn, NIACE and JISC have been involved in national research projects and the production of resources to support ACL professionals in the uptake of e-Learning.

Rotherham’s ACL sector has been actively involved in equipping ACL professionals working in the borough with e-Learning abilities.  The Rotherham Community Strategy explicitly outlines e-Learning as one of the main areas of development in the borough;

“Rotherham Partners are deeply involved with the Learning and Skills Council and other sub- regional partners in the development of an e-Learning Strategy for South Yorkshire, which will see major investment in sectoral employer networks, learning centres in companies, community learning centres and measures to bridge the digital divide by providing access to e-learning and the internet for children and adults across the sub-region”