Best Value Review of Lifelong Learning, March 2004

Draft Contribution to Strategy - age band 14 - 19

The Working Group for 14-19s have researched and considered the following issues affecting lifelong learning for young people:-

Understanding the Lifelong Learning needs for 14 - 19 year olds

The challenge for the Lifelong Learning strategy will be to respond to the needs of this age group. The response must take into account:

· education provided by the reform of the National Curriculum 14-19

· changes to local services for children that will occur as a result of the Children Bill (Every Child Matters).

A key objective will be "self-managed learning", including "knowing how to learn", in order to cope with the choices available in relation to education and employment. It will be critical to hear from the young people themselves, and be able to provide learning, which is attractive to this age group and keeps them engaged with learning and work.

Key objectives from the National Curriculum, the Children Bill and the DFES document "Transforming Youth Work", are brought together here:-

· Independence in learning

· Enjoyment of learning

· Competency in literacy, numeracy and ICT

· Effective communication, oral, written and electronic

· Creative thinking and problem solving

· Personal and social skills, including staying safe

· Managing and adapting to change

· Team and collaborative skills

· Decision making and entrepreneurial skills

· Healthy living skills

· Making a positive contribution

· Economic well-being

A number of cross-cutting themes for Lifelong Learning have an impact on the services for 14 - 19s:-

E-government & e-service - the use of text-messaging and web-based information will be important, in order to engage young people in different ways of learning.

Sustainable development - engaging young people in the issues and working with them to develop services.

Community safety - citizenship, hearing what young people have to say and responding to local issues.

Equalities - rights, respect and responsibilities; improving the channels for young people with special needs to have a voice; target services.

Partnership working - with agencies, organisations and community groups.

An Overview of Current Strategy and Provision

HCC has a number of strategies, and a wide range of services, that support the needs of young people aged 14 - 19. Strategies include:-

· Education Strategy

· Youth Strategy

· Developing the 14 - 19 approach

· Statutory plans and duties for Education and Social Services

The delivery of the services and opportunities are provided in secondary schools, in the community and for specific groups, e.g. those with special needs. These services and opportunities are delivered through: direct delivery of services; in partnership with other agencies and organisations; direct grants to voluntary and community groups; and formal contracted work.

The current lifelong learning environment covers a number of distinct stages (see below) with transition points at the typical ages of 16 and 18.

14 16 16 18 19+

Current Funding Strategy

The following funding streams are available to support lifelong learning:-

· Hampshire County Council

· DFES

· Contracts

· Partnerships

· Specific Grants

· Learning and Skills Council

The Future for Lifelong Learning for 14-19s

Lifelong learning will need to be more flexible in order to meet the needs of young people, who will be faced with a variety of choices for education and employment from aged 14 onwards. The proposed Curriculum will allow young people to make choices about vocational education at 14, which will mark the beginning of an overlap between school, further education and employment, which could continue for several years. Young people who choose an academic route will, within the proposed Curriculum, be able to progress quickly without having to obtain a diploma qualification at each level. A move to self-managed learning will need a greater level of mentoring and support for individuals, to enable well-informed choices and also facilitate changes in career direction.

Schools

Higher Education

Further Education

Vocational Education in the Workplace, including work experience

Support services to re-engage young people not involved in education or training - Connexions (funded by DfES)

HCC Community Support - Youth Strategy, Social Services, Recreation & Heritage

Voluntary sector, charitable organisations, counselling

14 16 18 19+

Improvements identified by the Working Group

A number of possible improvements have already been identified by the Working Group for 14-19s:-

i) Promote actively the voice of young people

ii) Promote the concept of mentors for young people with specific needs

iii) Support changes in vocational and academic education, ensuring that the flexible learning paths available will meet the needs of young people

iv) Improve the quality, relevance and timing of work experience placements to suit the needs of young people at different stages in their learning

v) Valuing alternative routes to education and workplace learning in the County Council

vi) Ensure an easy route for young people to return to learning at any time

vii) Promote the use of the Connexions service to provide support for young people

viii) Closer links with the Connexions service and the Youth Justice Board to improve the support for young offenders

ix) More sustained partnership work, breaking down service barriers through development of multi-agency teams

x) Engage young people in the development of delivery of HCC services

xi) Create accountability for young people in all HCC services

xii) Review the strategies in relation to recruitment and retention of young people across HCC

xiii) Monitor provision and identify gaps

xiv) Evaluate Lifelong Learning throughout the 14 - 19 age band to ensure its continuous improvement

xv) Improve study support, especially during transition periods

xvi) Develop the right, responsibilities and respect programme and citizenship education

xvii) Develop ICT, text messaging, web-based and distant learning opportunities

xviii) Ensure the work of the Youth Service as an integral part of learning and in support of the inclusion agenda

xix) Ensure a range of skills based learning opportunities to develop economic prosperity

xx) Support a range of opportunities to prevent young people from becoming disengaged from education, training and work

xxi) Promote volunteering more proactively through programmes such as the Millennium Volunteers and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

xxii) Develop centres of learning in communities through the development of specialist and extended schools