Hertfordshire S Raising the Participation Age Strategy 2010-2015

16-24 Education, Employment and Training (EET) Participation Strategy

September 2014-August 2016

Hertfordshire County Council

16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 1 1. Vision

The overarching purpose for Hertfordshire County Council’s16-241 Education, Employment and Training (EET) Participation Strategy is to meet the statutory duty of ‘Raising the Participation’ and to minimise the number of young people who are NEET (not in education, employment or training - some of whom will fall outside the RPA age criteria).

The two challenges are:

 To maintain contact with young people to sustain the progress that has been made to reduce the proportion not in education, employment or training (NEET). An emphasis will be placed on those groups who are at greater risk of becoming NEET in order to improve their long term economic and life prospects. (See Appendix i)

 Promote the growth of quality provision to give all 16-24 year olds a choice of education, employment and training opportunities.

2. Background

A 16-24 Education, Employment and Training (EET) Participation Strategy Group was established in 2014. Chaired by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) officers, it is multi-agency in its membership (Appendix ii). The group will report into the Children’s Services Board and the Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP’s) Employment and Skills Board. The remit of this group is to meet the challenge of the agreed vision and to monitor the delivery of an evolving action plan.

A continuing programme of research and evaluation informs the gaps in provision to address the changing profiles and needs of 16-24 year olds and take into account Hertfordshire’s economic growth and youth employment opportunities.

3. Raising the Participation Age: statutory duties and priorities

The Hertfordshire 16-24 EET Participation Strategy is informed by national policy.

3.1 Raising the Participation Age

The government is introducing RPA in two stages:  From summer 2013, young people without a level 3 qualification and resident in England have been required to stay in education and training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17, and  From summer 2015, this will be until their 18th birthday.

Young people can participate in education, employment or training through any one of the following ways. They can:  Remain in full-time education on a 16-19 Study Programme at school or college or with an independent training provider or in home education  Choose work-based learning, such as a Traineeship or an Apprenticeship  Be in part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week.

3.2 The role of Local Authorities in RPA Local Authorities in England have statutory duties to support young people into education, employment or training and reduce the number of NEETs. The duties are outlined in the DfE’s ‘Participation of Young People Statutory Guidance’ (September 2014) – appendix iii.

1 Up to the young person’s 25th birthday

16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 2 3.3 RPA and Ofsted

The Ofsted Handbook for the inspection of Local Authority arrangements for supporting school improvement includes three clear references to ‘Raising the Participation Age’ under the effectiveness descriptors. These pick up the statutory duties and are as follows (LA rag ratings in brackets):

 Elected members and senior officers exercise their duties in relation to securing sufficient suitable provision for all 16-19 year olds and in respect of raising the participation age (RPA) requirements. (Green)

 The LA promotes the effective participation of all 16- and 17-year-olds in education and training and makes arrangements to identify young people who are not participating. (Green)

 The LA provides a comprehensive range of performance data, including data about the local performance of different pupil groups, local benchmarking and post-16 destinations comparative data. Schools and other providers have high regard for this, which is influential in helping them to identify school based performance priorities. (Green)

Although the above are currently rated ‘Green’ continuous review, monitoring and evaluation will be required to ensure we work towards the achievement of 100% participation amongst 16 to 19 year olds.

3.4 Hertfordshire’s EET Participation priorities

From the statutory duties, HCC has drawn up four priorities. They are to:

. Shape the education and training provision for 14-24 year olds in Hertfordshire by working with partners to identify gaps, enable the setting up of new provision and develop existing/new provision to take account of the emerging needs of the local labour market.

. Monitor the quality of the education and training offer to 16-24 year olds, challenging and supporting providers to maintain consistent high quality and outstanding provision and research and promote best practice.

. Identify and target young people at risk of becoming NEET and those who are, providing them with impartial, independent, comprehensive and up-to-date information, advice and guidance and to provide intensive support to ensure their participation post-16 and to enable them to make a successful transition from education to employment.

. Reduce the numbers of 18-24 year olds at risk of becoming NEET by helping them to manage their own career paths and become economically viable adults.

Underpinning all of the above is the importance of accurately tracking young people to ensure a lost contact rate of less than 5%.

4. Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)

Since September 2013, careers guidance has had a higher priority in school inspections and in judging the leadership and management Ofsted takes into account how well the school delivers advice and guidance to all pupils.

The statutory duty for schools requires governing bodies to ensure that all registered pupils at the school are provided with independent and impartial careers guidance from year 8 (12-13 year olds) to year 13 (17-18 year olds). Schools should help every pupil to maximise their potential, develop high aspirations and consider a broad and ambitious range of careers.

16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 3 In the same period, further education (FE) colleges and sixth form colleges in England have been subject to the requirement to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance. This has formed part of the funding agreements and the delivery of the 16-19 Study Programmes.

Ofsted ’16-19 Study Programmes: guidance for inspecting school sixth forms’ (April 2014) requires inspectors to consider the extent to which leaders and managers: “provide students with high-quality impartial information, advice and guidance, both prior to starting post-16 courses (about where as well as what to study and the range of post-16 options available) and during their post-16 study programme”.

5. Strategic Plans

The EET Strategy contributes to, and is informed by, the following local strategies. These are:

5.1 Hertfordshire’s Corporate Plan for 2013-17: Hertfordshire – County of Opportunity

One of the key objectives of the Corporate Plan is for businesses and residents to have the opportunity to prosper. In order to achieve this objective the Corporate Plan has a number of priorities which are as follows:

 All young people inspired to develop the skills to flourish in the workforce having received sound career guidance (including young people with SEND with or without an Education Health and Care Plan)

 An even higher proportion of young people in education, employment or training

 Employers providing young people with greater opportunities for apprenticeships and workplace training when they leave school2

 More people participating in training programmes to help them gain new skills to get work

5.2 The Local Enterprise Partnership Apprenticeship Strategy

The work of the 16-24 EET Participation Group contributes to one of the strategic priorities for the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) - to maintain and improve the skills and employment prospects of Hertfordshire residents. It particularly supports the three objectives and actions of the Apprenticeship Strategy (May 2013). These are to:

 Increase apprenticeship opportunities across Hertfordshire  Support potential apprentices  Ensure quality provision

5.2 The Local Enterprise Partnership’s Skills Strategy

The Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership is working with Hertfordshire County Council and Department for Work and Pensions to produce a Hertfordshire Skills Strategy and associated action plan in response to a county Skills Summit. There will be a section on developing skills for 16-24 year olds and this will reference and be partly informed by the EET Participation Strategy.

5.3 The SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) Reforms

22. This relates also to learners from RE colleges and independent private providers. 16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 4 There is a close link between the EET Strategy and the priorities identified for Hertfordshire as part of these reforms. To support participation into education, employment and training is:  the introduction of a structured programme of support into employment and supported internships

 the introduction of a new Education, Health and Care Plan to replace the statutory statement

 a Local Offer website to inform parents, carers and practitioners working with young people with special education needs and disabilities.

5.4 Hertfordshire’s Strategy for School Improvement 2014-2017

The EET Strategy supports Hertfordshire’s Strategy for School Improvement 2014-2017 ‘to promote standards so that children and young people achieve well and fulfil their potential’. The focus is on:

 ensuring a good or outstanding school for every child and young person,

 closing the gap between underachieving groups, particularly those in receipt of free school meals and children looked after, and all Hertfordshire children and young people, and

 eliminating the discrepancies in attainment at ‘district’ level across the county.

6. Targets

To meet the priorities identified in section 3 the following targets have been set for 2015/2016 when the second phase of RPA implementation comes into effect. The ability to achieve these targets is dependant on political and economic factors.

By August 2016:

 98% of young people in Hertfordshire opt to stay in education and training and are participating at 16 (96.5% in 2012) (96% with lost contacts included in the cohort)

 5.3% of young people (16-17) undertake an apprenticeship pathway (3.5% in February 2012)

 95% (discounting lost contacts) of young people who have had a statement of SEN (Special Educational Needs) or have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Hertfordshire opt to stay in education or training at 16 (89% in 2012)

To enable us to address the priorities outlined in section 3 and deliver the targets above HCC will:

Across the stakeholders

 Embed a focus on participation and progression throughout its education and children’s services.  Work in partnership across services that support or should support the vision.  Critically evaluate current practice, joint working arrangements and provision in order to identify skill sets and strengths and influence improvement plans.  Provide an up-to-date, relevant and accessible programme of continuing professional development for all stakeholders, focusing on the development of 16-19 Study Programmes.  Actively promote the statutory duty for impartial and independent careers guidance to education providers.  Provide an independently assessed quality offer of traded careers guidance and work- related learning offer to Hertfordshire schools, colleges and independent private providers. 16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 5  Track and monitor young people from the end of KS4 to their 19th birthday enabling accurate targeting and the production of destination information.  Agree data sharing agreements with education providers and other public bodies to enable effective tracking and monitoring  Be innovative, responsive and flexible in developing new products, programmes and methods of delivery to complement the existing offer.

16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 6 For the young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming so

 Develop specific actions to improve their education and employment prospects  Deliver targeted work e.g. 1:1 and re-engagement programmes, providing access to independent, impartial and up-to-date information, advice and guidance and work-related experiences.  Identify and successfully utilise opportunities to draw in funding to deliver enhanced activities and services with a focus on the priority groups (see appendix i).  Act on information received about a young person who is about to drop out or has dropped out, contacting them at the earliest opportunity and supporting them back into education, employment or training.

For all young people

 Secure provision that reflects the needs of the young people and the future needs of the Hertfordshire labour market, building on existing best practice and creating new education and training opportunities  Develop relationships and engage with Hertfordshire employers to improve the number of opportunities for young people to experience the workplace and secure employment in which they can develop their skills addressing occasions where young people may be in work without training.  Deliver the ‘September Guarantee’ and offer every young person who reaches the age of 16 or 17 in any given academic year a suitable place in education or training by the end of the month.  Ensure that as a significant Hertfordshire employer, the LA maximises opportunities for young people to gain experience of work and employment as apprentices

7. Success measures

The impact of the16-24 EET Participation Strategy will be measured by:

 The participation in education, employment or training of identified priority groups  The proportion of young people aged 16-18 participating in education, employment and training  Reduction in 18-24 claimants who are in receipt of JSA benefits and increased numbers in employment.

8. Accountability

Accountability for this strategy lies with Andy Manson, Service Manager, IAG Strategy and Widening Participation and Juliet Whitehead, 14-19 Planning and Development Manager, 14-19 Education and Skills Strategy team and Patricia Walker, LDD Strategy and Commissioning Manager.

16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 7 Appendix i. The priority groups

The priority groups are:

 Asylum seekers and refugees  Care leavers  Children looked after  Children missing education  Elective home educated  Excluded young people and those at risk of exclusion  Hospital educated  LLDD (Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities)  Persistent non-attenders  Those with caring responsibilities  Those living independently from their families  Those with emotional wellbeing and health issues  Travellers  Unemployed for six months or more  Young parents to be  Youth offenders

This is not an exhaustive list and other priority groups could be added as identified.

16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 8 Appendix ii: Membership of the 16-24 EET Participation Strategy

 Services for Young People Service Manager (HCC)

 14-19 Planning & Development Manager (HCC)

 LDD Strategy & Commissioning Manager (HCC)

 14-19 Progression Manager (HCC)

 Business Manager (CS, Herts CC)

 Youth Connexions Employment and Progression Team Manager (HCC)

 Youth Connexions Team Manager (Youth Connexions, HCC)

 IAG Development Worker (CS, Herts CC)

 Employment and Progression Team Manager (CS, HCC)

 IAG Team Leader (Youth Connexions, HCC)

 School Effectiveness Adviser, Herts for Learning

 Manager, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Provider Network

 Jobcentre Plus Partnership Manager, Job Centre Plus

 Youth Justice Policy Manager (HCC)

 Learning, Training and Employment Manager, CLA / Virtual School (HCC)

 Area Managers, Integrated Services for Learning, County Leads for Behaviour and Attendance (HCC)

16-24 EET PARTICIPATION STRATEGY Sept 25 2014 9 Appendix iii. The Local Authorities in England Statutory Duties (September 2014)

The duties:

 Local authorities must promote the effective participation in education and training of 16 and 17 year olds in their area with a view to ensuring that those persons fulfil the duty to participate in education or training. A key element of this is identifying the young people in their area who are covered by the duty to participate and encouraging them to find a suitable education or training place

 Local authorities are required to collect information about all young people so that those who are not participating, or are NEET, can be identified and given support to re-engage. Robust tracking also provides the local authority with information that will help to ensure that suitable education and training provision is available and that resources can be targeted effectively

 Local authorities must make arrangements – i.e. maintain a tracking system - to identify 16 and 17 year olds who are not participating in education or training. Putting in place robust arrangements to identify young people who are not engaged in education or training or who have left provision enables local authorities to offer support as soon as possible

 Secure sufficient suitable education and training provision for all young people aged 16 to 19 and for those up to age 25 with a learning difficulty assessment (LDA) or Education, Health and Care (ECH) plan in their area. To fulfil this, local authorities need to have a strategic overview of the provision available in their area and to identify and resolve gaps in provision.

 Make available to all young people aged 13-19 and to those up to age 25 with an LDA or EHC plan, support that will encourage, enable or assist them to participate in education or training

For RPA Frequently Asked Questions go to: http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/1419/participation/index.shtml#herts

Contact: [email protected]

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