Youth Engagement and Progression Framework Kara Richards Head of Youth Engagement Welsh Government

Youth Engagement and Progression Framework

Kara RichardsHead of Youth Engagement

Welsh Government

Background• Need for significant and sustained reduction in young

people not in education, employment and training.

• Ongoing commitment to increase engagement and progression of young people in the Programme for Government and the Tackling Poverty Action Plan.

• New targets were set out in the plan to:– reduce the numbers of NEETs aged 16-18 to 9% by 2017

– reduce the proportion of young people aged 19-24 who are NEET in Wales relative to the UK as a whole by 2017.

• Our response - Youth Engagement and Progression Framework

Young people not in education, employment or training in Wales: Comparison of estimates in the Statistical First Release and using the Annual Population Survey1 (calendar year)

(p) SFR: Year end 2012 is provisional1For years 2001-2003 the source is the annual Local Labour Force Survey for Wales

The Framework

Early identification & Tracking

• Setting core standards for early identification in Wales

• Developing effective early identification systems pre and post-16

• Using early identification to start identifying support needs

• Strengthening school and LA tracking pre and post 16.

Brokerage

• Setting out a clear specification for the lead worker role

• Targeting lead workers to support those at most risk of disengagement

• Supporting effective practice in the delivery of lead worker roles

Provision

• Stronger mapping of existing provision

• Implementing the new Youth Guarantee

• Working with providers to improve the existing offer

• Targeting new provision at unmet needs

Employability & Progression -Traineeship Provision

• Flagship non-employed status training programme for 16-18 year olds, not otherwise engaged in post 16 education or training.

• Barriers preventing take up of employment or work ready programmes

• Unsure of career path to follow

• Helps development of confidence and motivation and tackles barriers to learning

Traineeship Review • York Consulting, in conjunction with Old Bell 3,

Cardiff University and IFF research

• Review of Work Based Learning Programme 2011-15

• Includes specific evaluation of Traineeships provision.

• Establish whether programme is operating as intended, and consider future development of the programme

Initial Findings

• Developing a flexible learning programme- flexibilities of the programme could be better utilised, and support more individualised.

• Employer Engagement- difficulties associated with securing and retaining employer engagement means some providers not offering sufficient work based activities.

• Bridges to Employment – low levels of take up possibly attributed to open ended provider risk

Initial Findings (cont.)

• Positive outcomes- good progression from entry level to level 1 but less progression above level 1.

• ESF programmes- alternatives being utilised rather than referral by Careers Wales to Traineeships.

• Marketing- lack of clarity around profile and positioning and benefits of programme.

Conclusion and next steps

• Need to consider structure of programme in addition to its profile and positioning

• Review will evaluate if the programme is being utilised to its full potential and whether it meets the needs of the intended cohort of young people.

• Recommendations will be made for the future development of the programme.

• Review to conclude in November 2015, after which, programme revisions will be implemented.

Thank you

Queries to: youthengagementand@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK

Workshop questions• How do you define or identify someone at risk of

disengaging in a Work Based Learning environment?

• Do Work Based Learning providers have a part to play in the Lead worker role?

• What are the challenges for WBL providers in supporting framework implementation?