ELATT win the coveted Tes FE Award for Training Provider of the Year a second time!

ELATT have triumphed in the Tes FE Awards for the second time, adding Training Provider of the Year 2021 to our plethora of awards and nominations. We’ve been shortlisted and won several awards over the past 7 years. In 2016 we took home the employer engagement and training provider of the year awards, as well as the overall FE provider of the year title- the first time a training provider had won the title since the awards started. We also won the award for ‘Contribution to the local community’ award at the annual Tes FE Awards 2018.

Tes judges were particularly impressed with our pandemic response, including the ‘no learner left behind’ mentality, where students were supplied with internet access, devices including smartphones and laptops, and even printed learning packs where needed - 300 of these were delivered during the first few months of the lockdown.

Despite often having special educational needs (SEND) and/or challenging circumstances, ELATT students continued to achieve exceptional success rates above national averages, with a 93.7% pass rate and ELATT achieving 96.8 per cent student retention

Tes FE Awards 2021 lead judge Jane Hickie said: “ELATT has excelled during the pandemic by further extending its reach into communities in London with its mix of full- and part-time or evening classes, which are delivered online or in small classes. ELATT has an almost unrivalled reputation for an inclusive approach to learning and its focus on employment goals has never been more needed.”

ELATT CEO Anthony Harmer said: “We’re delighted to have won Training Provider of the Year, our response to the pandemic was rapid and focussed on our students and the training and support they need, and it’s brilliant to have that recognised by such a prestigious organisation as Tes. This award is dedicated to our hardworking staff, volunteers and students alike.”

Partner organisations said,
“ELATT’s commitment to improving the skills and lives of people living in our local community is a journey that we at UBS have been proud to be a part of. The confidence workshops and presentations skills sessions we run together have been hugely rewarding to UBS employee volunteers and valuable for our beneficiaries. ELATT plays a fundamental role in the positive impact we achieve through our Community Affairs programme.” - Sarah Payne, Executive Director, UBS

“We really do love partnering with ELATT to offer young people a platform through our creative programmes. ELATT’s learning environment is truly unique in the way it supports its learners’ mental health, social wellbeing and confidence in their own ability to progress in their studies and in their life. The learners themselves are keen on voicing their enthusiasm when talking about the positive difference the college has made to their life in a way we seldom heard from students in other educational institutions.” - Emilia Teglia, Artistic Director, Odd Eyes Theatre

“ELATT provides an incredibly important service to the local migrant community as they offer free ESOL classes to many residents who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access formal learning provision. Their inclusive ethos of welcoming learners of every background, regardless of immigration status, and of meeting the often-complex needs of our students has had a very positive impact on the most vulnerable residents in Waltham Forest.” - Michela Pomati, Senior Programme Manager, Community Participation ESOL, London Borough of Waltham Forest 

Students and volunteers said,
"ELATT really deserve this award. They helped me overcome my technophobia and learn to use a computer. I was really nervous about learning and joining online classes on Zoom, but my tutor was so welcoming, kind and helpful. ELATT is such a supportive environment, I am not afraid to ask questions or for additional help when I need it. I was so delighted when I passed my Level 1 Assessment. I have felt my confidence grow week by week, and I can’t believe I am now completing Level 2! - Inger, adult learner studying IT for the Office

“ELATT helped me a lot, I’m really thankful that I can speak English now a little bit and she give me equipment that I can use at home with my learning that can be easy for me. It was very helpful so I can study and see people in lockdown time” - Manjit – ESOL learner with ELATT’s Digital Communities project – March 2021

I have been studying at ELATT since September 2019 and I couldn't be happier! The teachers are friendly towards SEN students like me and are always a pleasure to have around! Thanks to the skills I’ve learned at ELATT, I’d like to become a computer technician and open my own shop one day. Recently, I've had the opportunity to take part in projects including Headliners #Unfiltered project where we get to go on trips and take photos, and Wild London's Keeping it Wild project. These projects get us out of the classroom and learn lots of different things with a new perspective. I am really proud of my stunning photos that have been included on websites like Headliners. - Alfie, Sixth form student

I’m so pleased ELATT have been celebrated by Tes FE awards again. I started volunteering with ELATT after I found myself jobless during the pandemic in 2020. The team are so flexible and accommodating, and the training is great. My time volunteering with ELATT opened so many doors and given me the confidence to pursue a new career in Speech and Language Therapy. It has been an absolute game changer for me! Robyn, volunteer ESOL TA in 2020