Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development and the report of the Director of Children’s Services detailing progress made against recommendations in the inquiry into increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development and the Director of Children’s Services submitted reports which provided information relating to pathways for young people who are SEN or leaving care and also provided local NEET information by Cluster. Tracking information was also provided which enabled the Scrutiny Board to monitor progress in accordance with recommendation made in the Scrutiny inquiry.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Appendix A – Recommendation Flow Chart

-  Appendix B – Review of increasing the Number of Young People in Education, Employment or Training (September 2014)

-  Annex 1 – Performance Tables

-  Annex 2 – The journey to sustained employment

-  Annex 3 – From Care2Work

-  Annex 4 – Post 16 Infrastructure Collaboration

-  Annex 5 – Progression Routes for young people on the Devolved Youth Contact

-  Annex 6 – Data Flow in and out of the Local Authority for 16 – 18 Year Olds

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Councillor Judith Blake, Executive Member, Children and Families

-  CouncillorJane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children's Services

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Early Help Services

-  Richard Amos, Senior Partnership Manager

-  Lynne McLaughlin, iGen

-  Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Advisor.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The significant progress to reduce the number of ‘not knowns’ and improvements in data sharing.

·  Youth contract program, figures are significantly better than other city deal youth contract program and the national youth contract programme.

·  The targeted and focused work by iGen in Clusters.

·  Concern regarding young people who have difficulty staying EET or who have not attained sufficient GCSE’s to secure a destination. In response the Board were advised hat work is being done to work with schools in high NEET areas to bring in colleges and training providers during year 11 before young people leave school. Many of those year 11 young people are already working with iGen undertaking various programs to suit their individual needs.

·  Meeting the needs of young people with complex SEN. The Board were advised that this is currently being looked at working with schools and colleges to improve provision.

·  The improved IAG provision that is now provided by iGen as a result of access to schools.

·  Providing opportunities for young people to learn skills outside the core curriculum and meeting the needs of the young person and not the requirements of the educational establishment.

·  Working with businesses and the need to provide in work support particularly for vulnerable young people.

RESOLVED –

The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families):

(a)  Agree the recommendations which no longer require monitoring and were satisfactory progress is being made as follows:

Ø  Recommendation 1 – 6

Ø  Recommendation 2 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 3 – 2

Ø  Recommendation 4 – 2

Ø  Recommendation 5 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 6 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 7 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 8 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 9 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 10 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 11 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 12 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 13 - 2

(b)  Considered and noted the information relating to SEN, Care Leavers and local NEET information.

(c)  Requested NEET figures table 8 by age, to identify the numbers of NEET young people who should be fully engaged due to RPA.