Adult education courses
North Yorkshire Adult Learning and Skills Service welcomes over 9,400 learners each year to more than 1,400 courses at venues across the County.
Course finder
Coursefinder is available to search for 2010/11 courses
Course finder
The facility to enrol and pay for Autumn courses online is now available through course finder.
If you experience any problems using this facility please contact your local education office. The contact details for your local education office can be found below.
Adult learning and skills prospectus 2010/2011
Adult learning and skills courses for 2010/11 [919kb]
Supportive learning courses 2010/11
Supportive learning courses for 2010/11 [395kb]
Skills for life
Free Skills for Life courses in numeracy and literacy give you the opportunity to work towards a nationally recognised qualification from Entry 1 to Level 2.
- We offer longer programmes starting at Entry 1 to Fast Track courses where learners brush up their existing skills.
- Courses are also available for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners and again are available from Entry 1 to Level 2.
- There is a charge for these courses and they are being run as longer programmes or Express courses which are offered over a shorter period of time.
Brief summary of a selection of our courses
Creative arts
A huge range of accredited and non-accredited courses are available, including creative writing, card craft, painting and drawing, batik, jewellery, mosaics and textiles. We also offer courses in the digital arts (digital photography, Photoshop, desk top publishing (DTP) and web design). If you need further inspiration take a look at our courses in pottery, furniture restoration or steel pan drumming!
Family learning
Family Learning encompasses a whole range of activities and programmes to enable adults and children to learn together or to enable mothers and fathers or carers to learn how to support their children's learning:
- Programmes to encourage family members to learn together
- Programmes to develop skills and knowledge of the whole family
- Family literacy, language and numeracy programmes
- Family Learning Impact Funding programmes
There are currently about 120 schools and other organisations actively involved and this figure is expected to increase significantly in the future.
Hospitality, catering and commercial enterprise
Our courses offer nationally recognised qualifications in food safety and hygiene, customer service, beauty therapy and hairdressing. There are also leisure courses in seasonal cookery, sugar craft and cake decoration.
Information and communication technology or computer skills.
Foundation ICT skills:
- Switch on and get going
- Next steps
Progression to internationally recognised certification:
- Certificate or Diploma in IT User Skills (CLAiT or ECDL) (iTQ)
- ECDL Advanced is also available.
Leisure courses in digital imagery / photography, Desk Top Publishing (DTP) and Web Design are also available.
Languages, literature and culture
We offer a wide range of language courses for holidays, to practise and maintain conversation skills, accredited and for work. The languages we offer include French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Arabic and Spanish.
In addition there are opportunities to study English language and culture courses, British Sign Language, Deaf Awareness and Lip Reading Classes.
We look forward to welcoming you on one of our courses.
Leisure and sporting activities
There are numerous opportunities to take part in leisure activities including swimming, golf, keep fit, Tai Chi, Yoga and dance classes (Belly, Salsa and Ballroom).
Supportive learning
(Adults with learning disabilities and/or difficulties)
The Adult Learning Service within North Yorkshire County Council offers a variety of learning opportunities for people with learning disabilities and or difficulties.
We are committed to the aims and objectives set out in the government's documents Valuing People and Valuing People Now and encourage and support learners to access, where possible, mainstream opportunities.
The underpinning principles of our courses are:
- Work preparation
- Promoting independence
- Increasing self confidence
- Involvement in the local community
- Developing interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- Self expression and awareness
- Social and emotional development of ICT skills
