SYeLP was founded in 2001 as an Objective 1-funded educational investment programme. With the support of the four local authorities in South Yorkshire and partner organisations, a total of £88 million has been invested in South Yorkshire, with £33 million going to Sheffield.
The programme was established to invest in new and innovative ways of teaching and learning for young people, jobseekers and the employed to improve their skills and confidence. It aimed to close the digital divide and widen accessibility to personalised learning.
Latest figures from SYeLP show that the average number of computers per secondary school in Sheffield has almost doubled since receiving funding, and the significant provision of ICT facilities has helped the city's GCSE results improve at twice the national trend.
At Sheffield College a selection of online courses are now available, meaning that students who would not have been able to study in the traditional classroom - single parents, disabled and homebound students, those with caring responsibilities and shift workers - can study from GCSE through to foundation degree level.
Julie Hooper, Online Learning Manager at Sheffield College, says: "The opportunity to study courses online has enabled many people to gain qualifications they wouldn't have been able to otherwise. SYeLP has been invaluable, not only in its financial and business support, but also in its advice on how we can best equip our students with the skills required to meet the needs of regional employers."
For more information see http://www.syelp.org/
