Agenda item

The Committee were updated on current participation and NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) rates, alongside a summary of activities both undertaken and planned for the future to ensure that the Council was shaping and influencing opportunities where possible for Oldham’s 16-18 year olds.  Further to the submitted report, the Committee was advised of the proposed development of a Post-16 Partnership and Strategy, to which all providers of services to support young people into EET, and other interested stakeholders, would be invited to participate and contribute.

The Council continued to fulfil its duties around encouraging, enabling and assisting young people to participate in education or training and tracking those aged 16 and 17 through the commissioning of the targeted support offer delivered by Positive Steps, this included some dedicated resource for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the Children Looked After (CLA) cohort.  The effects of the pandemic on young people had been well reported, with concerns still in place about the effects on their education and wellbeing and the implications of their missing out on social and learning skills.  These issues, alongside young people’s own concerns about the future, all affected levels of engagement and motivation. 

The approach across partners in Oldham was to ensure that young people can access the advice and support they require and that opportunities are made available to engage with young people to hear their voices and respond as best as possible. In discussion, a reported shared concern across providers related to behaviours arising from maturity issues resulting from pandemic lockdowns and showing itself through low level disruptions to engagement with education or training was noted.

It was reported that currently 94.4% of Year 12s were participating in some form of EET, this rate being consistent in the past 12 months despite the additional challenges brought by the pandemic.  The impact of the pandemic had been disproportionate on CLA and Care Leavers and the struggle to re-engage and re-adjust to in person participation had required a higher level of support.  The NEET rate was reported at 3.25% and had been relatively steady over the past 12 months. At January 2022, 205 young people were recorded as NEET, with 191 actively seeking EET opportunities; some of these had been waiting for Covid restrictions to be lifted while others with health issue were a little further away from EET.

The following specific issues highlighted by Committee members were considered –

·         With regard to targeted, localised focus on particular areas, it was reported that that a commissioned service knows where higher levels of those NEET are and that attention could thereby be focussed.  The Cabinet Member suggested that, when formed, the Partnership could look more closely at interventions in particular areas;

·         The success of the Stepping into the NHS scheme was noted, but it was confirmed that the funding secured locally to provide this scheme would end later in the year.  It was noted that the Northern Care Alliance was considering options as to how to mainstream this provision;

·         It was confirmed that a Network currently covered all the organisations providing support to young people to engage and obtain skills for EET through which updates, problem solving and good practice was shared.  It was through this Network that the above mentioned behaviours issue had been highlighted.  It was hoped to develop the Network into the more formal Partnership arrangement.

In noting the submitted data, it was queried whether there was more detail available to demonstrate progress and the passage of those who were NEET into, for example, college or apprenticeship.  It was confirmed that Case Studies could be provided to demonstrate this.

RESOLVED that -

1.            the current landscape and experiences of 16-18 year olds which is impacting on their participation in education, employment or training be noted;

2.            a further report be submitted to the Committee in early 2023 providing updates on rates of participation and of those not in education, employment or training, the development of the proposed Partnership and Strategy, and further matters considered by the Committee, alongside individual Case Studies showing the pathways of individuals into education, employment or training.