Stephen Jones’ column poses the question, “I often wonder what the folks at LSN and LSIS do all day - and how much of it helps my students.”

At the college I work at, the Learning and Skills Network has done a lot for students and staff.

Over the years, the college has received support in consultancy andor training from the LSN in Skills for Life, Key Skills, Functional Skills, new diplomas and Foundation Learning.

In almost every case, the support has helped tutors improve their teaching and learning and, consequently, their students. I hope this goes some way to answering Mr Jones’s question.

I cannot answer the question when it applies to the Learning and Skills Improvement Service.

This is a quango as defined in the article and appears to people like me on the “front line” to offer nothing tangible for teachers or students.

Yet they continue to receive much-needed funds, even in this time of austerity. By all means pour petrol on quangos (such as the LSIS), but spare those organisations that are not quangos and benefit those working and learning in FE.

Emma Mowbray, FE lecturer, Birmingham.