Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement introduced a report on cross-cutting proposals to accelerate the reduction in the number of young people who were not in education, employment or training (NEET), with particular attention to care leavers, those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and teenage parents.

The Cabinet Member advised that despite recent improvements in some areas, including a reduction in the number of young people whose education status was ‘unknown’ from 13.7% in 2013 to 6.6% in 2016, there was still a considerable amount of work to be done particularly in respect of a core of approximately 200 NEETS. 

The current work was guided by the Borough’s 14-19 Participation Plan and support was also received via the local Providers’ Forum, made up of 35 local organisations that were funded to deliver pre-NEET and NEET work.  Workshops earlier in the year had led to the development of a series of core proposals and an action plan and the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration referred to several of the proposals, which included a commitment by the Council to supplement the income of care leavers in apprenticeships to ensure that they had money to live on after paying their rent and other bills.

It was acknowledged that the action plan was not overly challenging as it was seen to be a ‘work in progress’ and other Cabinet Members were encouraged to join future workshops.  Other issues that arose from the discussions included:

·  The Council’s and councillors’ roles and responsibilities as corporate parents;

·  Seven care leavers had graduated in the current academic year and the Council would be supporting them into their preferred internships;

·  The need for the Council to set an example in relation to offers of apprenticeships, internships, work experience placements etc.;

·  The importance of early intervention and the role of foster carers; and

·  The work of the Council’s Trident team, which was responsible for delivering the work experience programme.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the report and the work being undertaken to reduce NEETs, particularly within key vulnerable groups, as well as secure resources and enhance leadership and accountability; and

(ii)  Approve the Action Plan, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report.