Agenda item

To receive reports from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development and the Director of Children’s Services which provide an overall progress update with focus on destinations for SEND young people and information with regard to the outstanding recommendations made in the Scrutiny inquiry in March 2013. 

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented information in relation to increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Recommendation tracking flowchart

-  Review of increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training

-  Report submitted by Children’s Services providing a detailed update on key areas of activity to increase the number of young people in employment, education or training

-  Performance information containing city-wide and cluster level data

-  A plan of the journey to sustained employment

-  Employability support work plan

-  Details of post 16 infrastructure collaboration

-  Success and progression for young people on devolved youth contract (June 2015)

-  Data flow into and out of the Local Authority for 16-18 year olds.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Board Member (Children and Families

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member (Children and

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Paul Brennan, Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Learning)

-  Barbara Newton, Head of Complex Needs

-  Richard Amos, Partnership Team Senior Manager 14-19

-  Sally Lowe, Partnership Manager 14-19.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  Concern regarding the quality of independent careers advice and guidance for young people due to the reduction in Aspire, IGEN and Connexions service.

·  Concern regarding a number of funding streams that had been reduced or due to end.

·  An update on the network arrangements in place across schools in Leeds, including details of a survey being undertaken in relation to independent careers advice and guidance.  The Board requested to be updated on the outcome of this survey.

·  Development of the Leeds pathways website and online prospectus.

·  The perceived benefits of starting careers advice at an earlier age, in year 7 and 8.

·  Transition from education to training, including an update on development of the Leeds Universal Technical College (UTC) specialising in advanced manufacturing and engineering (opening September 2016)

·  The role of the Leeds Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA), particularly in terms of supporting young people into small and medium sized businesses.

·  The provision of short courses and other study programmes aimed at the 16-19 year group.

·  An update on work undertaken by Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) and Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to support long term NEETs. The Board asked to receive an update on this.

·  Breaking the cycle of worklessness in families to reduce the risk of NEET and the need to focus on supporting young people to develop ‘soft’ skills such as communication and presentation.

·  Development of supported internships for special educational needs (SEN) group.  Details of a pilot being undertaken later in the year to be included as part of a future reporting update. 

The status of recommendations for the Board’s inquiry into Increasing the Number of Young People in Education, Employment or Training were agreed as follows:

·  Recommendation 1 – Stop monitoring

·  Recommendation 2 – Achieved

·  Recommendation 5 – Achieved

·  Recommendation 6 – Not achieved (Progress made acceptable.  Continue monitoring.)

·  Recommendation 7 – Not achieved (Progress made acceptable.  Continue monitoring.)

·  Recommendation 8 – Achieved

·  Recommendation 9 –  Stop monitoring

·  Recommendation 10 – Not achieved (Progress made acceptable.  Continue monitoring.)

·  Recommendation 11 – Not achieved (Progress made acceptable.  Continue monitoring.)

·  Recommendation 12 – Achieved.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Board approves the status of recommendations as set out above.

(b)  That the above requests for information be provided.