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: [email protected]
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?