LS6
'Proposed Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure’
(Saesneg yn unig)
Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Written response from Rathbone Cymru
September 2008
Introduction
Within Wales, Rathbone is one of the leading voluntary sector providers seeking to provide young people aged 14-25 with the necessary skills, experience and qualifications to progress and achieve.
The work of Rathbone dates back to 1916 and we believe that every young person has the ability to learn, make progress and to achieve. As such we seek to give young people who are experiencing significant disadvantages the right opportunities to learn and to achieve.
Rathbone in Wales supports just under 2000 learners each year from ten centres - Aberdare, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Crumlin, Llanelli, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath, Newport, Pontypridd and Swansea.
The majority of the work in Wales centres around work-based learning - with Rathbone being the largest voluntary sector provider of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Skillbuild Scheme. Through our Skillbuild programme we offer learners a week long induction followed by a tailor made 12 week learning plan which offers a work placement, and provision of key and basic skills qualifications. 71% of the young people we deal with, progress from this 13 week programme onto further training, education or employment.
Learners are then able to progress onto a six or nine month programme where they can gain qualifications up to NVQ Level 2 in particular vocational skills whilst in their supervised placement. At present we deliver business administration, hair dressing, construction, care, retail and customer service. 73% of the young people who complete this stage progress onto further education, training or employment.
Rathbone in Wales is developing further services - 2008 will see the appointment of a team of youth engagement officers - working in conjunction with selected local authorities in Wales. These officers will engage and progress some of the hardest to reach young people in some of the most disadvantaged valley communities. Further to this we are also seeking to introduce our pre-16 learner support programmes for young people facing barriers within the school environment. This will be introduced into selected educational institutions over the forthcoming year.
Response to specific questions -
Rathbone Cymru has previously responded to consultation on 'Proposals for a Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure 2008’ in April 2008, please contact us for further details of this written response.
i) Is there a need for legislation to re-organise 14-19 provision?
Yes, Rathbone Cymru broadly welcomes the Measure’s principle of 14-19 provision and a local area curriculum for learners that represent the diversity of learning options from all learning providers in the local area.
ii) Does the proposed Measure achieve the policy objective or could changes be made without legislating?
No comment.
iii) What are the views of stakeholders who will have to work with the new arrangements?
The proposed Measure is valuable as it will mandate co-operation of partners within the planning of learning opportunities and it is important that this includes engaging voluntary sector organisations such as work-based learning training providers who have the specialist skills and capacity to add value to the mainstream education provision. These providers offer a valuable service, especially within the context of broadening the learning opportunities. Often these organisations provide vocational training options and specialist services for those young people who are / at risk of being NEET. This can complement the mainstream provision offered by schools, LEA’s and FE Institutions.
Rathbone for instance works with some of the most disengaged young people - enabling them to re-enter learning and to gain qualifications and skills. Many of the young people we support are cautious of learning in traditional environments and as such are more prepared to engage with a provider from the third sector.
iv) What might be the barriers to delivering the policy agenda and does the proposed Measure take account of them?
Rathbone Cymru has previously evidenced that barriers may exist within the joint working proposals of the Measure. Rathbone Cymru believes that this collaboration needs to be wider to ensure that organisations such as work-based learning training providers and the Third Sector are represented within the proposed joint working agenda.
Co-operation may lead to providers having to address duplication in service within a curriculum area; and this would have to be addressed. Co-operation will be a cultural change; and will need time to embed. To really work the 'curriculum-consortia’ should be empowered to share greater levels of learners, to cross refer and develop particular responsibilities within an area.
The proposed Measure makes reference to barriers within the education system but must also take account of the, often multiple, barriers young people who are / at risk of being NEET may experience that will impact on their learning choices. In Rathbone Cymru’s written response to the consultation paper 'Delivering Skills that Work for Wales’ we recommended that NEET be prioritised within 14-19 provision and that the proposed implementation of Learning Coaches with the appropriate skills to support the NEET cohort should provide much of the additional support these learners need.
In acknowledging that a number of young people need significantly intensive support to address barriers that prevent them engaging in learning Rathbone Cymru are excited to be taking part in the Skill Build Pilot, as a major deliverer of 16-18 Skill Build. Rathbone Cymru has proposed incentives are offered to third sector organisations to engage specialist skills and flexibility in new learning environments, offering new and innovative learning options to disadvantaged young people in some of our most deprived communities in Wales.
Richard Newton
Director for Wales
Rathbone
richard.newton@rathboneuk.org
www.rathboneuk.org
