Agenda item

Report ED14016

The Committee considered a report providing background on the statutory context and performance reporting arrangements for the participation and non-participation of young people in education, employment or training in Bromley.  The report also outlined the Borough’s performance relating to the identification of young people at risk of not participating in education, employment or training and the full range of strategies in place to improve participation by young people who had been identified as being not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The Head of Bromley Youth Support Programme advised Members of the Committee that there was a focus on early intervention with young people at risk of being NEET.  Regular telephone contact was made with these young people to give them information on the support and services available, and referrals could also be made to support organisations such as local children and family centres where appropriate. A Member queried the support that was given to parents and carers, and was advised that information, advice and guidance surgeries were available to both young people and their parents and carers, including drop-in sessions at local youth centres as well as through family events such as the Bromley Youth Activities Summer Programme.  The Bromley Children Project provided information to parents on the wide range of support available, and worklessness continued to be a key area targeted as part of the Tackling Troubled Families Project.

The Vice-Chairman noted the wide range of projects and services available for young people at risk of being NEET and was concerned that some services might be duplicated.  The Head of Bromley Youth Support Programme confirmed that work was currently being undertaken with schools to identify the scope of information, advice and guidance services available to their pupils with a view to ensuring services were not duplicated into the future.

A Member highlighted the impact of low self confidence or poor literacy skills on young people in accessing education, employment or training.  The Head of Bromley Youth Support Programme advised Members that poor literacy levels continued to be targeted.  A key factor which also contributed to young people at risk of being NEET also included poor attendance following transition to secondary school.  Work was being undertaken with primary schools to support identified pupils through this transition, and a range of panels operated in the Borough that worked to identify the support needs of children and young people identified as being at risk of exclusion or having other difficulties. 

The Chairman underlined the additional challenges faced by young people who were homeless.  The Youth Programme Manager confirmed that young people who were homeless were supported into suitable accommodation, such as a homeless persons unit, and that they were provided with information, advice and guidance to move into education, employment or training. 

A Member was concerned that the internship element of the Bromley Youth Employment Project, delivered by Bromley College of Further and Higher Education on behalf of the Local Authority was currently being reviewed.  The Chairman reported that there had been low take-up of the internship programme by young people and businesses, and that the Executive and Resources PDS Committee would consider the future delivery of the project at its meeting on 5^th February 2014.

A Co-opted Member of the Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee highlighted the categories in the level of need analysis within the report.  The Youth Programme Manager confirmed that categorisation of young people supported statistical analysis but that all young people received the same level of assessment, regardless of categorisation, and their individual needs were targeted to assist them in moving into education, employment or training.  A Co-opted Member of the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee noted that some young people would choose not to engage in education, employment or training.

Additional information providing comparative data for Bromley against neighbouring boroughs to put the number of young people who were at risk of not participating in education, employment or training into context would be provided to Members when it became available, as would information on whether the average duration a young person was classified as NEET had reduced from previous years.  A Member requested that information also be provided on the proportion of young people at risk of not participating in education, employment or training who had statements against other young people with statements.

The Chairman commended Officers for an excellent report and thanked Councillor Peter Fookes and Co-opted Members, Derec Craig and Abdulla Zaman of Public Protection and Safety PDS Committee, and Ross Stanford, Co-opted Member of Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee for attending the meeting for consideration of this item.

RESOLVED that strategies to improve participation by young people identified as being not in education, employment or training (NEET) be noted, and that additional information requested by Members be circulated by email as soon as it was available.