LA ACTION PLAN

R5: OVERALL STATEMENT This Action Plan will facilitate improvement in levels of young people not in Education, training or Employment within Blaenau Gwent. This will be achieved via effective systems for early identification, tracking and monitoring outcomes, responsive intervention and support, appropriate curriculum provision and effective joint working with Regeneration and the employment sector to bridge the gap between training and employment. The Action Plan is designed to ensure consistency of approach, effective use of data, sharing best practice and targeting support appropriately to meet need. Evidence of our success will be seen in reduced levels of NEET and improved learning outcomes for children and young people. Priorities for action Cost/Resources Lead Success Criteria Monitoring / / Risk Responsibility Evaluation assessment R5 work with partners to secure sustainable improvements in the percentage of post 16 learners in full time education training or employment To provide effective management and leadership in order to construct a visible way for stakeholders to work together taking full ownership of the NEET reduction strategy
December 2010 Hold a NEET Summit to identify need May 2011 develop draft NEET Strategy for consultation May 2011 Establishment of Raising Aspirations Group (cross-directorate and other partners) to ensure effective delivery of priorities in the strategy via strong strategic leadership, working towards key priorities, supporting and challenging partners and effective joint working Cost: Met from existing resources Risk: Not full buy in from relevant partners NEET levels remain the same Uncertain economic climate, impact on NEET levels Community Development Manager CYP Manager Community Development Manager CYP Manager Community Development Manager CYP Manager School Improvement Service 14-19 Coordinator Adult Education manager Improved coordination of NEET agenda Improved partners buy in Targets in Outcome Agreement met : % of young people (16-18 year olds) who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) 2010/11 8.5% 2011/12 8.0% 2012/13 7.5% Annual NEET Strategy Review By Raising Aspirations Strategy Group Quarterly reporting to 14-19 LAN, CYP Partnership, LSB, Regeneration Board Annual monitoring of no Qualifications Data/ NEET levels/destination data by Raising Aspirations Group Monitoring of schools via link adviser

Key milestones

Priorities for action

Key milestones
Sept 2011 - Agree final version of NEET Strategy and formally launch (priorities already in CYP Plan) Sept 2011 - Ensure accountability amongst partners via appropriate reporting arrangements October 2011 implement and monitor policies and procedures for NEET with specific reference to quality assurance, safeguarding, transport, data sharing, equality and diversity, wellbeing and evaluation Feb 2012 - (date agreed to bring in line with Performance management timeframes) Undertake annual review of NEET Strategy and develop further action plan and use to inform future action planning

Cost/Resources Lead Success Criteria / Risk Responsibility assessment

Community Development Manager CYP Manager Community Development Manager CYP Manager No quals: 2010/11 0.7% 2011/12 0.6% 2012/13 0.5%

Monitoring / Evaluation

Cost: Met from existing resources until April 2012 Risk: Failure to secure ongoing funding leads to weaker coordination

Community Development Manager CYP Manager

As above

Annual NEET Strategy Review by Raising Aspirations Strategy Group

Priorities for action

Key milestones
Funding arrangements beyond 2012 Source funding opportunities to support role of NEET coordinator to ensure that young people are appropriately supported to reflect their needs Sept 2011 Utilise EMS to develop data to support early identification of young people at risk of becoming NEET Nov 2011 - Provide data on regional and local economy, skills demand, skills shortage, current vacancies and labour market information Dec 2011 - Use retrospective data to consider if destination survey offers made are converted to actual starts and increase awareness of potential unsuitable offers Evaluate effectiveness of current KIT tracking processes to maximise their impact.

Cost/Resources Lead Success Criteria / Risk Responsibility assessment

Community Development Manager CYP Manager

Monitoring / Evaluation

To create a data sharing culture amongst relevant stakeholders (but particularly School Improvement), ensuring accurate information is available to all

Cost: Met from existing resources Risk: Working in uninformed environment; unable to make effective decisions owing to poor data

Performance Management Unit

Improved tracking and monitoring of young peoples progress leading to more responsive intervention

Monitoring of no Qualifications s Data/ NEET levels/destination data Analysis of Outcomes for vulnerable pupils

Regeneration Quality Manager

Careers Wales Youth Service

Priorities for action

Key milestones
Mar 2012 - To develop a system to be used to identify young people who repeatedly enter and re-enter the NEET group following periods of education, employment or training Establish robust mechanisms for tracking outcomes of vulnerable groups, (YOT, GYPSY Travellers, ALN, PRU Pupils, etc) Using appropriate reports to identify and monitor attendance and progress Hold Half-termly meetings with LAC , Gypsy Traveller, YOT coordinators to identify issues and put in necessary support. Sept 2011 - Implement new model for early identification of young people vulnerable to becoming NEET (based upon Swansea model ) Oct 2011 Ensure that partners, across all relevant agencies, are contributing to early identification system

Cost/Resources Lead Success Criteria / Risk Responsibility assessment

As Above Careers Wales As Above

Monitoring / Evaluation
As above

CYP manager Performance Management Unit Primary School Improvement Adviser YOT, GYPSY Travellers, ALN, PRU Coordinators

To ensure the early identification and appropriate support of young people at risk of becoming NEET (1425)

Cost: Met from existing resources Risk: Inconsistent approach or poor buy in from partners could result in low identification

CYP Manager

Improved identification of potential NEET leading to more responsive intervention

Annual NEET Strategy Review Analysis of individual outcomes and trend data PREVENT 14-19 data analysis Review of adult education data specific to 18-25

CYP Manager

Priorities for action

Key milestones
Dec 2011 - Review areas in which young people are potentially NEET and may need support to prevent them becoming NEET post 16,e.g. those on elected home education in PRUs, persistent non attendees, Dec 2011 - Review mechanisms for reengaging young people who are NEET Sept 2011 - Develop NEET toolkit for practitioners Jan 2012 - Establish robust mechanisms for transition from Key Stage 2 to 3 for young people who are vulnerable of becoming NEET, e.g. Nurture Team Sept 2011 - Undertake a piece of research to inform use of social marketing approaches to target young people at risk of becoming NEET and implement findings

Cost/Resources Lead Success Criteria / Risk Responsibility assessment

CYP Manager Youth service manager Adult Education Manager

Monitoring / Evaluation

As above

Youth service manager Adult Education Manager CYP Manager Youth service manager CYP Manager Youth Service Manager

As above

Annual NEET Strategy Review

CYP Manager Youth Service Manager

Priorities for action

Key milestones
Sept 2011 - Establish policies and protocols for PreVENT 14-19 including referrals, panel arrangements and keyworker approaches June 2012 - Ensure consultation with young people is ongoing and use feedback from existing consultation as a baseline to identify barriers and look at ways to overcome them Jan 2012 - Identify barriers which disproportionately affect young people from deprived neighbourhoods and respond through a neighbourhood management approach Sept 2011- Deliver initial training linked to outcomes from market segmentation exercise Dec 2011 - Develop a rolling programme of practitioner training and awareness events

Cost/Resources Lead Success Criteria / Risk Responsibility assessment

Youth Service Manager

Monitoring / Evaluation

CYP Manager Youth Service Manager

Young person evaluation

Contd

As above

CYP Manager Community Safety Coordinator Youth Service Manager

As above

Annual NEET Strategy Review by Raising Aspirations Strategy Group

CYP Manager Youth Service Manager

Priorities for action To improve curriculum provision and training opportunities in order to promote the longer term employability of young people at risk of becoming NEET

Key milestones
Dec 2011 - Undertake an audit of education, training and learning opportunities for young people at risk of becoming NEET, and those who are NEET, to build into programmes such as PreVENT KS3 and PreVENT 14-19 Dec 2011 - To monitor and track the impact of alternative curriculum solutions including off site provision Comply with Learning and Skills ( Wales) Measure for 14-19 Sept 2011- ensure that social clauses are used effectively to provide opportunities for young people at risk of NEET (particularly in relation to The Works developments in the Ebbw Fawr Valley) Oct 2011 - Consult with local and regional employers to establish skills required

Cost/Resources Lead Success Criteria / Risk Responsibility assessment

Cost: Met from existing resources Risk: Inappropriate curriculum offer which does not facilitate later employment Pre-VENT 1419 Co-ordinator Pre-VENT Key Stage 3 Coordinator Adult Education Manager Appropriate choice of curriculum provision resulting in improved opportunities for young people

Monitoring / Evaluation
Annual NEET Strategy Review Analysis of pathways Monitoring of No Qualifications data Destination data to be monitored by Raising Aspirations Strategy Group

14-19 Learning Pathways Coordinator

Bridge the gap between training and employment via effective pathways

Cost: Met from existing resources Risk: Low buy in from businesses will lead to limited employment pathways

Community Development Manager / Quality manager

Training opportunities agreed with local and regional business, offering clear routes into employment

Annual NEET Strategy Review Destination Data analysis Local Labour Market Trends/ data

Regeneration Quality Manager

Future Skills Wales Survey Analysis of work based learning

Priorities for action

Key milestones
Dec 2011 - Map local and regional employment opportunities and match with relevant skill base July 2012 - Develop robust arrangements for volunteering as a means of gaining experience and becoming work ready Mar 2012 - 14-19 Network to identify annual programme of work based learning placements and apprenticeships with its partners

Cost/Resources Lead Success Criteria / Risk Responsibility assessment

Quality Manager

Monitoring / Evaluation
opportunities and apprenticeships

GAVO Volunteer Bureau

14-19 Coordinator