Provision for Young People Policy

Scope

It is important to read this policy alongside the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA) document 16 to 19 education: funding guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). 

The document sets out the ESFA funding conditions for the provision to students who meet both the eligibility requirements in section 3 of the document and the following criteria taken:

  • are aged 16 to 19, or
  • are aged 19 to 24 and have either a Learning Difficulties Assessment (LDA) or an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

Advice on funding and eligibility of learners is to be sought from the Business Support Team Leader.

This policy covers all Young People on a learning programme with Learn Devon or an external provider formally sub-contracted by Learn Devon.

Learn Devon’s strategy outlines that we will prioritise government funding to support, groups and individuals who have found it difficult to participate in the past. This policy enables this statement to be extended to young people. Funding for Young People moved from funding per qualification to funding per learner (although all qualifications have to be listed as fundable) and the intention is that a programme of study will be developed with a typical young person at the outset. However, the role of Learn Devon is to work with young people who are not able to engage in a typical FE institution or equivalent and need assistance to engage and progress. 

Aim

To engage with young people in Devon who are not in education, employment or training and to use the frameworks to design programmes to:

  • engage
  • fill a gap for a young person
  • progress a young person from their starting point towards further learning or employment.

National perspective: All young people leaving school need to be in education, employment or training. Careers South West (CSW) keeps track of all these young people in Devon and actively works at maintaining contact and working with them to ensure they are participating.

Young People in full-time education, employment and training are classed as participating. It is less clear when a young person is studying part-time or working part-time as to whether they are classed as participating and this is decided by CSW in conjunction with Devon County Council (DCC).

580+ hours of study is full-time and providers are funded an amount per learner depending on which block of annual hours they fall in.

What this means to Learn Devon

Enquiries: The Learning Support Team (LST) and Centre Staff have a role in helping a young person access learning – this may be with Learn Devon or a referral to the young person’s existing or planned training provider or to CSW (a referral to CSW is required if a young person is Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), see below). Enquiries will most likely be from those who have just missed getting their GCSE grade C in English or maths and those wanting to enrol on another of our courses. In any case, information and advice is to be offered to young people wanting to join these classes.

What to do if a young person is:

    • In full-time work and has not got English and maths at GCSE grade C /4or above: The young person can enrol on a GCSE / Functional Skills maths or English course with us free of charge at an appropriate level.
    • In part-time work –as above for full-time work but the LST to liaise with CSW as CSW will need to record if the learner is classed as participating
    • In full-time or part-time education and not achieved English and maths at GCSE grade C /4 or above: the young person will need to be referred back to their education provider as they are obliged, and funded, to ensure all students attain this.  
    • In full-time education and achieved English and maths at GCSE grade C/4 or above: the young person is not entitled to further free education unless their full-time provider can provide.  
    • In part-time education and achieved English and Maths at GCSE grade C/4 or above: the young person is entitled to further free education and should be referred back to their education provider for the provision of the additional subjects they wish to study. If the provider does not provide those subjects then they can enrol on a qualification course with Learn Devon free of charge if the qualification is fundable for 16-18 year olds. They would be entered on the ILR. The LST to liaise with CSW over this to ensure the learner does not exceed the full-time hours to ensure that there are enough hours left for Learn Devon to be able to claim the funding from the ESFA for the additional provision (CSW does not fund the course, they will know what the young person is committed to and what hours are left to make up to full-time participation).An enrolment and payment (at the advertised fee) can be taken. They would be registered on EBS and entered on the ILR if the qualification is fundable for a 16-18 year old. If the course is not accredited or accredited but not fundable for a 16-18 year old, they would be entered onto EBS but not be entered on the ILR.In this case it will not matter if the full-time hours are exceeded as this additional, paid for provision is not subsidised and does not count.
    • Not in education, employment or training (NEET)-there is quite a lot of provision available for 16-18 NEETs as this is an important target group from the point of view of participation in learning. This is also a constantly changing provision.DCC has, in the past, funded some NEETs projects of which CSW are aware. If you are receiving enquiries from young people, their families or partners / agencies, please refer them to CSW for information. CSW is commissioned by DCC to provide advice, guidance and support for 16-18 year old NEETs and will have full knowledge of all the learning options available. They will assess the young person and put them in touch with appropriate provision that meets their needs. More information about Careers South West can be found on their website.
    • If a young person is referred by CSW –then liaise with CSW over what would be appropriate provision. It may be they are ready to embark on a recognised qualification fundable for 16-18 year olds.
    • A young parent aged 16+ –can enrol onto a non-accredited WFL / FEML course. If they wish to do an accredited course then the process outlined above will need to be followed.
    • 16-18 year olds flagged up after enrolment-learners do enrol direct onto courses, usually online, and this is flagged up after their enrolment has been completed. As long as there is no conflict with the above, then the enrolment and payment (at the advertised fee) can be continued. They would be registered on EBS and entered on the ILR if the qualification is fundable for a 16-18 year old. If the course is not accredited or accredited but not fundable for a 16-18 year old, they would be entered onto EBS but not be entered on the ILR.

 

Learner support

On-programme:
Learning Support Coordinators (LSC) provide on-going communication / contact with identified learners as identified by the appropriate Area Coordinator. This will include pastoral support particularly to those on distance learning programmes and electively home educated students. LSCs are required to inform CSW if a young person (aged 16 or 17) has dropped out of learning. This is so the young person can be contacted swiftly and offered support to help them re-engage.

Learners who are not entered on to the ILR do not have access to additional support funds. However, it is likely there will be very few learners participating in this way and should a learner be identified as having a learning support need the LSC to explore and consult with the Business Support Team Leader to see what support may be available.

Discretionary Bursary Fund
Learn Devon may be able to offer help to learners who face the greatest financial barriers to participation. This includes the costs of transport, meals, books and equipment. The fund is administered in accordance with Learn Devon 16-19 Discretionary Bursary Fund Policy and Procedures and managed by the Business Support Team Leader. This fund is not available to learners who are not recorded on the ILR.

Safeguarding

Learn Devon’s Safeguarding and Prevent Duty Policy covers the following:

      • DBS checks
      • Safeguarding training
      • Prevent Duty training
      • Lone working risk assessment to be undertaken by staff undertaking home visits to ensure the safety and safeguarding of staff, families and children / young people.
      • Young People taking part in courses provided by Learn Devon infilling into adult learning sessions.
      • Invigilating and assessing Young People taking exams. An additional member of staff will also be present on the rare occasions a single child or young person is taking an exam.

Updated March 2023