In May 2002, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published the first self-evaluation framework for community learning and development (CLD) in Scotland. HM Inspectors used "How Good is Our Community Learning and Development?" (HGIOCLD?) to conduct a programme of inspections of local areas within all 32 local authorities. A revised framework, "How Good is Our Community Learning and Development?" (HGIOCLD?2) was introduced in March 2006 and since then a further nine inspections have been carried out, of which six have so far been published. The strategic leadership of CLD has also been inspected within six inspections of the education functions of local authorities. In the period from December 2004, follow-up inspections have been carried out in 28 authority areas. Since February 2002, HMIE has conducted reviews of 25 national voluntary organisations on commission from Scottish Executive departments. This report is based on the evidence from these inspections and reviews. It also takes account of the legislative and policy changes that have impacted on this aspect of public service provision during this period. The intention is that the report illustrates good practice and identifies areas for development as a means of assisting local authorities and their community planning partners to secure further improvements. The main findings of the report are that there is much good practice in CLD in Scotland. All authorities are endeavouring to implement the agenda set out in "Communities: change through learning" and the more recent guidance to community planning partnerships, "Working and learning together to build stronger communities." CLD providers also have a significant role in implementing the community engagement elements of community planning in line with the "Local Government in Scotland Act 2003." However, there is too much variation in the overall performance of authorities and their partners and also variation in performance within the CLD national priorities. There is still a way to go for some authorities to match the standards of the best. It is encouraging to find that most CLD partnerships are effective in working across council services and with other statutory and voluntary services to provide more integrated ways of addressing the needs of children, young people, adult learners and communities. A bibliography is appended. (Contains 1 footnote.)