Agenda item

(To receive a report from Stuart Carlton, Assistant Director of Children's Services, which sets out the current position in relation to post 16 education and training and invites the Committee to make recommendations on the Strategic Priorities therein)

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director of Children's Services, which provided the Committee with an update in relation to post 16 education and training, identifying the changes to the mix and balance of provision required to ensure full participation to the age of 18.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Nigel Shier, Chairman of Growing Futures in Lincoln, to the meeting.  Mr Shier was accompanied by his son, Matthew, who was congratulated by the Committee, having just received his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

At 10.07am, Councillor Ms T Keywood-Wainwright joined the meeting.

The Chairman invited Mr Shier to give his presentation regarding the Growing Futures facility within Queens Park Community Hub in Lincoln.  Mr Shier explained that the idea for the community hub had emerged following the closure of Queens Park School and was specifically focussed on supporting young people and adults with learning difficulties.

The aims of Growing Futures were also identified as below:-

·       To provide opportunities to access therapeutic, vocational and creative activities for adults with learning difficulty, physical disabilities, complex needs and profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD)

·       To provide opportunities to access training and personal development leading to work based opportunities.

·       To provide opportunities to access an alternative curriculum and vocational education.

·       To provide opportunities for further education involvement in conjunction with local educational providers.

·       To provide opportunities to further the development of independent living skills and build and maintain their social network.

·       To provide support to young adults to access their local community including social, leisure, voluntary work, education and employment activities and opportunities.

·       To manage and maintain premises/properties deemed fit for purpose for delivery of the above aims, or, to lease rooms/space out to qualifying organisations who deliver services and/or activities that meet one or more of the above aims.

Organisations who support Growing Futures and provide training/courses in the centre include Action for Children, Lincoln College, Welfare to Work, the Pelican Trust, Busy Days, Lincoln Portage and CANadda as well as a number of Outreach Services being provided by the centre.

The centre has a café called Futures which is run with the assistance of their service users, who gain the necessary catering skills.  The centre also has a hydrotherapy pool and is quickly becoming a central part of the community in the South Park area of Lincoln.  Mr Shier concluded by inviting the Committee to visit the centre or contact him should any further information be required. 

Details below:-

Mr Nigel Shier

Chairman

Growing Futures

Queens Park Community Hub

South Park

Lincoln LN5 8EW

Telephone 01522 878112

Website www.lincolngrowingfutures.com

The Chairman thanked Mr Shier for his presentation and, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated him on the success of the centre, which was both impressive and of real benefit to the community.

Maggie Freeman, Head of Service 14-19, introduced the report which outlined issues which were anticipated from 2016 onwards.  Whilst preparing the report, it was reported that the Children and Families Act had been considered and the raise in the participation age included.

During discussion the following points were noted:-

·       Members commended the honesty of the paper and agreed that this was a key area for future consideration of the Committee due to the implications.

·       The drop in the participation rate was a key concern and it was felt that more information, support and guidance were needed to assist young people into the most appropriate course.  Although online prospectuses were available, other ways of engaging with young people, via social media for example, were being explored.

·       Information sharing between schools and colleges in relation to families who needed support was highlighted but Members were advised that this data in relation to free school meal eligibility would be available to the colleges.

·       It was acknowledged that further work was required with regard to raising aspirations.  A pilot programme of internships had resulted in a good percentage of those young people moving into full-time employment.  Building links with the Economic Development Team was also being actively pursued.

·       Momentum in relation to collaboration of sixth forms was with the schools themselves – some had made progress whereas progress was slow for others.  Although there was no single reason for the loss in momentum, schools needed to be committed and this was not universally accepted.  The Local Authority had stressed to schools that this was a good opportunity to provide good provision to young people although it was agreed that more pressure was required.

·       A suggestion was made that a number of young people were leaving AS Level courses or choosing not to progress on to A-Levels due to having restricted choice provided by schools.  This suggested to Members that some schools were not providing fair and impartial advice and encouraged young people into courses which were unsuitable for them resulting in increased numbers of students dropping out.

·       Young single mothers were highlighted as a group who could be targeted for encouragement back into education and training.  Feedback received from parent groups had suggested that a lot of young women were ready to return to education once their children are older but that they were unsure who to approach to be able to do this.  Single mothers should be contacted on a regular basis in the same way as any other young person, via the tracking system already in place.  This would be investigated to ascertain why this particular group had not been contacted, but it was normal practice. 

·       Having attended a recent conference, the Executive Director of Children's Services reported that the government were considering introducing the concept that there would be a requirement for collaboration with another school.  It was suggested to write to both Ofsted and the Department for Education to highlight the views of the Committee as this was supported.

·       Not enough structured careers guidance was being provided to support young people to enable them to successfully decide their future.  Although some service provision had been agreed in a number of schools, it was thought this could be significantly improved.  However, careers guidance was a school responsibility so it was inappropriate to insist that they utilise services provided by Lincolnshire County Council.

·       Independent guidance was also required in sixth forms as well as colleges, who also have a huge range of other options to offer students should they make a decision that their current path was the wrong one.  Again it was noted that this was the responsibility of the colleges.

·       Timetabling issues remained an concern in Lincolnshire due to the rurality of the county and the problems this inevitably caused both for young people accessing courses and schools to provide sufficient teaching resources where collaboration was in place.  Further detail of problems arising due to timetabling and travel was requested.

·       Detailed analysis of the coastal area of Lincolnshire and the lack of FE provision was requested also.

The Chairman summed up the discussion by reiterating that the Committee had huge concerns in relation to the report and that this was a worrying situation for young people aged 16-18.  In addition to the discussion points noted above, the Chairman requested that strategic leadership be offered countywide to encourage a collaborative approach.  The difficulties in enforcing the proposals suggested were recognised but the Committee was keen to show that some options and aims had been considered for the County.  The Executive Director was asked to raise these concerns at future meetings with the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum and the Head Teachers meetings.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted;

2.    That a letter to Ofsted and the Department for Education be drafted by officers for the Chairman's approval; and

3.    That specific proposals, addressing the concerns of the Committee, be brought back to the next meeting scheduled on 12 September 2014.