The ColegauCymru Independent Living Skills (ILS) Network has completed another successful year of activity, bringing together practitioners, curriculum leads and partners from across Wales to share expertise, strengthen provision and improve outcomes for learners with additional learning needs and/or disabilities. Throughout 2025-26, the network has provided a valuable forum for collaboration, supporting colleges to respond to sector developments, share effective practice and contribute to the ongoing development of Independent Living Skills provision across further education.
Supported through funding from Medr, the programme has enabled a wide range of activity, including network meetings, working groups, peer exchange activity, programme specification development and a national conference focused on sharing best practice across the sector.
During the academic year, the ILS Network delivered three national meetings, bringing together college leads and representatives from across Wales to discuss key developments affecting the sector. Topics included the Estyn Thematic Report on the ILS Curriculum in FE and its recommendations, updates to the ILS programme specification, and developments relating to Additional Learning Needs (ALN) reform.
Alongside the network meetings, dedicated working groups continued to support important areas of development. This included progressing work around Pathway 4 and Supported Internships, contributing to the review of programme specifications, and further strengthening the peer exchange process, helping colleges to learn from one another and drive continuous improvement.
A particular focus throughout the year was the ongoing review of ILS programme specifications. Working collaboratively with colleges and Medr, the network played an important role in informing the development of future specifications, ensuring they reflect both sector priorities and the needs of learners.
The year culminated in the ILS Network Conference on 24 June 2026, bringing together representatives from all FE institutions in Wales, alongside colleagues from Estyn, Medr and Natspec. The conference focused on sharing effective practice and exploring priority development areas identified by network members. Sessions included insights from Estyn on inspection findings and recommendations, presentations on inclusion panel processes and evidence-based decision making, and discussions on developing Welsh-medium provision within ILS settings. Delegates also participated in workshops covering initial assessment processes, learner voice and stakeholder engagement, person-centred learning approaches, and quality frameworks for non-accredited learning.
Feedback from participants highlighted the value of the event and reinforced the ongoing need for opportunities to share learning, access training and develop resources that support high-quality ILS delivery across Wales.
ColegauCymru would like to thank Medr for its funding and continued support of this important work. The achievements of the network over the past year would not have been possible without the commitment and engagement of colleagues from colleges across Wales, partner organisations and sector stakeholders who have contributed their expertise, experience and enthusiasm throughout the programme.
Special thanks are also extended to Eifiona Williams and Gary Handley for their leadership, expertise and dedication in supporting the network's activities and conference programme, helping to ensure meaningful opportunities for collaboration and professional learning across the sector.
As the network looks ahead, it will continue to play a vital role in supporting colleges, sharing emerging practice and helping to shape the future of Independent Living Skills provision for FE learners across Wales.
Further Information
Estyn Thematic Report
The Independent Living Skills (ILS) Curriculum in Further Education: Building a person-centred skills-based curriculum
September 2025
Vicky Thomas, Project Officer
Vicky.Thomas@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
