www.wiltshire.gov.uk
LPSA Target 12: NEET
- Promoting accessibility to Lifelong Learning and ensuring the improvements of the skills base in the workforce.
Confidence in achieving at least 60% stretch
High
Targets
Reduce % of young people in Wiltshire aged 16-18 not in education, employment or training to 4.1% (0.4% points)
How and when targets are measured
Measured at 31 January 2009. The percentage of young people in Wiltshire aged 16-18 who are not in Education, Employment or Training (as measured by the DCSF adjusted NEET indicator) = 4.1% (average of November '08 to January '09) (reduced by 0.4% points). Special condition: 50% of the performance reward grant for this indicator will be withheld if on target measurement in November 2008 the percentage of young people in Wiltshire aged 16-18 whose situation is recorded as not known is higher than 5%, and 100% will be withheld if the level of unknowns exceeds 5.5%.
Key Issues identified at the last NEET Reduction Group
There is a drop in the NEET figure in this quarter although we might have expected a small rise at this time of year. The adjusted average figure is 5.89% at the end of Quarter 1 2007 as opposed to 6.03% for the same period 2006
This equates to 578 young people NEET
A large number of the NEET cohort are those leaving education “drop outs”. No particular months or type of course show higher drop outs.
A large concentration occurs in West Wiltshire with 17 year olds making up the largest cohort across each area of Wiltshire
2/3 are NEET for less than six months
the cohort is transient with 81 young people leaving the NEET cohort but 68 new young people joining in June
Progress planned at this stage
Connexions key work support
Both the universal and targeted teams support young people NEET and the service level agreement with the targeted team states that 50% of the case load should be NEET. It is proposed that a review of Connexions support, including issues of referral and numbers supported is undertaken with a report to the NEET steering group in September.
NEET Definitions
From April 2006 young people participating in activities that fall into the category of Personal Development Opportunity (PDO) were counted in the NEET group. Previously, these young people had counted as EET and this change had the potential to increase the numbers NEET.
A PDO is an activity undertaken to improve employment opportunity or the possibility of gaining an education place. They do not lead to qualifications, are not recognised as formal training and may not have a wage or financial bonus associated with them. However, a PDO will be a structured programme. An example of a PDO might be a series of workshops on writing a CV and job applications.
The national guidance is ambiguous about what is NEET and EET .This may lead to differences between how partnerships count their NEET figures. Currently in Wiltshire and Swindon we do not count most of our “alternative” learning commissioned through Targeted activity and voluntary sector programmes. Connexions commissions a number of accredited opportunities some of which require a long term commitment by young people. A review of these programmes and counting and recording processes is underway and a report will be brought to the next NEET Reduction Group
Provision
E2E programme starting at Salisbury College in Sept/October for 30 Learners
Pre E2E Accelerate programme to be continued post September on completion of ESF funding. This to be renamed Resolve and will offer 200 places across Wilts and Swindon
Tasters and bespoke courses to be commissioned for young people on targeted programmes initially for Wise Up and potentially including the wider targeted teams PAYP, YIP and New Challenge, Summer Challenge etc
Rolling programme for NEETs at Salisbury college to continue
Focused Mentoring Programme with EB Plus
£10,000 agreed for work with Salisbury High, Avon Valley and one school in North yet to be agreed in order to pilot an employer focused mentoring project as a means of reducing NEET. This will be through North West Training (Devizes).
Prevention Programme for Schools
Through PAYP Connexions will fund 3X 8-10 week programmes in schools in targeted schools with high NEET conversion figures.
The programme will support
School NEET and 14-19 targets, improving absence, exclusion and attainment
Supports the new 6 day rule on exclusions
In 2006/07 over 90 young people have benefited from this provision with over 80% of those participating gaining accreditation
45 young people who participated in the summer activities programme were direct referrals from the Schools Referral Projects. 85% of the overall cohort who participated in the main programme entered a positive destination or returned to school.
Summary of the programme
The proposed programme will offer 2X8 week courses in each area, e.g. West Wilts, North Wilts and Salisbury & Kennet
Targeted year 11’s
Maximum places on each course 10
Start dates October to December 07 and February to March 08
Progress achieved at this stage
It is important to note that the definition and calculation of NEET for Connexions services nationally was subject to change at April 2006. The LPSA target uses the new definition and calculation of NEET but the effect of the changes is that the partnership is reporting higher NEET figures than previously.
The table below uses the new definition of NEET for 2006/07 and 2007/08.
Wiltshire
|
16-18 Year Olds |
Cohort Total |
NEET |
EET |
Not Known |
Not Known % |
Adjusted NEET % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Q1 2007/08 |
10528 |
578 |
9597 |
346 |
3.29% |
5.89% |
|
Jun-07 |
10135 |
531 |
9240 |
358 |
3.53% |
5071% |
|
May-07 |
10523 |
574 |
9636 |
306 |
2.91% |
5.76% |
|
Apr-07 |
10927 |
630 |
9915 |
375 |
3.43% |
6.18% |
|
Q1 2006/07 |
9767 |
539 |
8847 |
373 |
3.82% |
6.03% |
|
Jun-06 |
9384 |
516 |
8533 |
328 |
3.50% |
5.94% |
|
May-06 |
9767 |
532 |
8853 |
373 |
3.82% |
5.97% |
|
Apr-06 |
10150 |
569 |
9154 |
419 |
4.13% |
6.18% |
Please note too that these figures are adjusted to take into account the level of unknown destinations in the cohort. The Partnership's continuing excellent performance with low unknown figures has lessened the impact of the adjustment on the NEET proportion.
Real NEET numbers in Wiltshire increased by 15 to 531 in the year to June 2007. However, 407 of the 531 who were NEET at the end of June 07 were not counted in the NEET group the year before. This is not a phenomenon unique to Wiltshire. From a baseline in 2004 the following neighbouring or regional partner authorities have seen an increase in the 16-18 NEET percentage: Swindon, Bournemouth, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Plymouth, Poole, Somerset and West Berkshire.
Initiatives in Place
A number of initiatives have been put in place over the past 6 months to help reduce NEET.
The 14-19 area groups in West Wiltshire, North Wiltshire and the City and Plain have submitted local area plans setting out initiative to tackle NEET. £20,000 has been awarded from LPSA funds to each area for this work. The NEET Reduction Steering group will consider the plans on 23rd July with a view to agreeing them for implementation with a timeframe up to November 2008 when the target measure begins.
The NEET Strategy Coordinator is now in post and will support the work within the strategy. Other notable contributions to NEET reduction are below:
Vacancy Canvassing and employer work
The detailed report shows an increase in vacancy’s available but take up by young people seems to be relatively low. This may be an issue of recording rather than a reflection of actual take up and Connexions is investigating how processes can be improved to ensure an accurate picture is reflected. The progression workers will be able to help with encouraging better take up of vacancies once in post.
Under Strategy Aim 3: NEET focused interventions and provision are in place for 16-18 year olds. Over represented groups within NEET are identified and appropriate interventions provided, the following has been achieved
Work with Offenders
Wise Up (OLASS)
WISE UP is a regional ESF – Offender Learning & Skills Service (OLASS) funded project to provide IAG and learning support for young offenders (Gloucestershire, Swindon & Wiltshire, West of England, Somerset and Bournemouth Dorset & Poole)
The project will develop programmes aimed at increasing the engagement of young offenders into sustainable employment or training
It provides a range of IAG, activities and learning interventions for young offenders
The Wiltshire and Swindon programme is lead by Connexions and Swindon and Wiltshire YOS
Locally the programme commenced in May 2007 and will complete in June 2008
2) Eligibility criteria: Offenders in the community (aged 16 – 19) including those who:
Young people 16-19 known to the YOTS who are not undergoing training and employment and are economically inactive or are at risk of dropping out of EET
ISSP clients on the brink of custody (30-35 Clients a year) across Wilts and Swindon
Young people 16+ released from custody
Young people who have received a final warning, and following assessment have been offered support from a Youth Offending Team
6) Outcomes for Young People
61 young people recruited
50% working towards units of a full Level 2 qualification
25% achieving a qualification contributing to Skills for life targets
25% other informal and formal learning
60% in work or further study on leaving
17 colleagues from YOS, CX and Youth Development Services trained in 4X4 sessions of training
|
Measure 3.2 |
Wiltshire and Swindon (2) |
|---|---|
|
Numbers participating in lifelong learning |
61 |
|
Number of women receiving support |
9 |
|
Number competing activities that contribute to the offender's learning journey |
54 |
|
Number working towards a qualification |
52 |
|
Number of trainers trained |
17 |
|
Number of leavers gaining a qualification |
35 |
|
Number in work or further study on leaving |
56 |
3) Programme provision
Access to intensive IAG (including assessment and action planning), mentoring and Positive Activities whilst on the programme I.E. climbing, team building days etc
Individual support through a dedicated key worker
Access to a wide range of bite sized learning tasters at entry levels one and two (mainly units of NVQ’s). Example course tasters - include Hair & Beauty / Construction / Childcare / Parenting Skills / Health & Safety / ICT / Food Handling / Skills for Life / Job Seeking Skills/first aid delivered through the wider Targeted Interventions Programmes
Potential to complete a full qualification (NVQ or equivalent)
Access to funding for travel and equipment expenses as required
4) Locations and resources
1 FTE Personal Adviser attached to Melksham YOS
1 FTE personal adviser attached to Salisbury YOS now in post and now recruited 7 young people
Teenage Parents
The Wiltshire-wide steering group isaiming to develop provision (there is some new funding available) to develop a coherent progression route for young parents, starting with “young mums to be programmes and ending with mainstream provision (with a range of flexible link/progression programmes in between). A clear gap in Salisbury has been identified. Once provision is established a leaflet will be produced, for which funding is already secured, for young parents to outline all the provision, show entry points and progression routes.
Progression Support Workers
Funded through the LSC and Connexions a pilot project providing 2x0.8 posts in Salisbury and North Wiltshire and 1.4 post in West Wiltshire (provisionally 1 FTE within the Connexions teams to support personal adviser and 0.4 within an identified school). The aim of the posts is:
To facilitate the active engagement of targeted young people in education, employment and training through group and 1:1 engagement sessions so that these young people make progress and gain outcomes in terms of attendance, achievement and progression.
Support the implementation of the September Guarantee to all young people
They will:
Working alongside Personal Advisers, provide specific time-bound interventions with young people aimed at encouraging them back into EET. Young people include yr 11's not in school, year 12's NEETs and early leavers of FE/WBL and employment without training
Identify and support the unemployed and seeking work group, providing practical support to young people such as assisting with the completion of forms, applications and letters. This will include organizing job search job clubs and workshops, helping with applications, job preparation and attending and supporting the interview process.
Follow up and support young people enquiring about vacancies, supporting them in the completion of applications, attending interviews
Develop and establish rapport with young people who are “hard to engage” with the aim of motivating them to participate or re-engage in learning or work supporting their engagement in activities and non school based learning
Work with community partners to provide support to young people on holiday, term time and out of school activitiesand support and encourage participation and attendance
Supporting young people in the implementation of agreed parts ofpersonal action plans to address specific issues and barriers and referring back to their personal adviser where necessary.
Assist with completion of contact records of the allocated caseload in accordance with data protection regulations, ensuring accurate and up to date database entries.
Provide practical support to young people such as assisting with the completion of forms, applications and letters for progression and support young people to gain accreditation where appropriate
Work with parents and carers to encourage their involvement to support young people
New Challenge NEET focused activity programmes
The ESF project is due to finish in December 2007 but LSC funds have allowed 3 months additional funding to allow the programme to run until end March 2008
New Challenge outcomes Wiltshire and Swindon Jan-July 2007
|
Number of young people Key Worked |
Number of young people gaining accreditation |
Number of young people securing a positive post 16 destination |
|---|---|---|
|
77 |
30 |
28 |
Youth Inclusion Programme
YIP’s provide targeted voluntary programmes for young people in Trowbridge aged between 13 & 17 who are identified as being at risk of committing anti social acts
The programme which began in August 2006 has supported 22 of the hardest to reach young people in Trowbridge and shown good results with many joining E2E or college after finishing the first 6 months of the programme.
Summer Challenge/PAYP Outcome Jan-July 2007
Many of the young people are still being worked with and have not yet moved on to a positive destination. This is expected after the summer period
Area: North and West Wilts
|
Number of young people Key Worked |
Number of young people gaining accreditation |
Number of young people securing a positive post 16 destination |
|---|---|---|
|
56 |
35 |
8 |
Area: Salisbury and Kennet
|
Number of young people Key Worked |
Number of young people gaining accreditation |
Number of young people securing a positive post 16 destination |
|---|---|---|
|
46 |
36 |
18 |
Aim 5: Effective marketing products and events are in place and the information needs of the NEET and potential NEET cohort are met.
Amesbury Jobs Fair 6th July 2007
New drop-in centre opportunities every other week in Marlborough & Pewsey. Publicity produced in-house.
New CX vacancy website launched - marketing posters & business cards produced in-house.
Job-hunting booklet in development.
SEN transitions currentlyleaflet being updated for Oct '07
On line prospectus - 16-19 coursesdue to go liveSept 2007, 14-16 courses later in autumn
Aim 6: Effective strategies are in place to work with employers to maximise employment and training opportunities for 16-18 year olds
All FTE Connexions PA staff have employer time and targets - approx 1/2 day per month (with approx 80 FTE staff this equates to 40 days per year)
Currently working on 'leavers forms' to provide updated picture. Pilot work with New College Swindon to clarify procedures about sharing (and using) information on year 11s who have applied for post 16 learning
A new practice guideline on referrals to WBL being drafted.
Vacancy Canvassing function to be embedded within the Connnexions workforce aiding retention of indiividuals
Significant problems encountered/predicted
Not applicable
Recovery actions in hand (where applicable)
Not applicable
External assistance required
Not applicable
Comments
See above.
Contact Details
By Post
Mike Abbott
Performance & Quality Manager
Connexions
1 Wicker Hill
Trowbridge
By Telephone
01225 716070
By Email
mikea@connexions.org.ukOpening Hours
Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm
