There have been a number of key policy changes impacting on 13 – 19 services to improve outcomes for young people. Youth Matters outlined the need to develop integrated youth support for young people with a focus on high quality Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG), Targeted Support and access to good Positive Activities. Following the 14 – 19 Education and Skills White Paper there are also changes taking place nationally in educational provision for learners over the age of 14 which include the radical development of new courses. We invite everyone with an interest in 13 – 19 services and the 14 – 19 curriculum to read this in order to find out about what we are doing in Swindon to make the national changes happen locally. The content should be of interest to learners, their parents and carers, professionals working with young people, teachers, lecturers, training providers as well as employers, councillors and governors.

The Swindon 13-19 Team

Swindon’s 14-19 Team has merged with a wider 13 – 19 Development Team, now based in the centre of Swindon at The Plus One Centre in Euclid Street. This is an expanded team leading on collaborative curriculum developments and integrated youth support including the provision of sound Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG). The team supports the work of education providers in the local partnership comprising the secondary schools, the two colleges, the special schools, the pupil referral unit, training providers and those involved in alternative provision. The Education Business Plus Organisation has also been integrated into the wider team, setting up a huge range of useful links with local, regional and national employers.

Amongst its many responsibilities, the team is responsible for:

•    Developing and implementing strategies for     Integrated Youth Support including the NEET Strategy

•    Planning the implementation of the IAG standards

•    Coordinating the Diploma line Development Network Groups and supporting their submissions for the Gateway process

•    Implementation of protocols drawn from the recommendations from a Feasibility Study on partnership arrangements

•    Implementing the Key Stage 4 Engagement Programme

•    Managing the local area prospectus

•    Planning for employer participation in the partnership

•    Implementing work experience guidelines

•    Advising local providers on developments in the 14 – 19 curriculum

•    Proposals for new Young Apprenticeships

•    Implementing strategies to ensure young people have access to positive activities

•    Promotion of links with local Higher Education Institutes

•    Development of a transitions project to sustain learning for local young people

13 - 19 Team Contact Details

The 13-19 team and contact details are:

Joyce Birnie
13 – 19 IAG Transitions Adviser
Telephone: 01793 463712
E-mail: jbirnie@swindon.gov.uk

Sally Burnett
Integrated Youth Support Manager
Telephone: 01793 463061
E-mail:sburnett@swindon.gov.ukLink

Julianna Forrester
NEET Strategy Coordinator
Telephone: 01793 464628
E-mail:jforrester@swindon.gov.ukLink

Nicola Gregson
14 – 19 Coordinator
Telephone: 01793 463157
E-mail: ngregson@swindon.gov.uk

Michelle Moore
Key Stage 4 Engagement Project Manager
Telephone: 01793 466547
E-mail: mmoore2@swindon.gov.uk

Neil Reaich
Employer Engagement Project Manager
Telephone: 01793 466547
E-mail: nreaich@swindon.gov.uk

Carol Simmons
Business Support
Telephone: 01793 463245
E-mail: csimmons@swindon.gov.uk

Chris Walton
14 – 19 Coordinator
Telephone: 01793 463477
E-mail: cwalton@swindon.gov.uk

or office e-mail: 14-19group@greendown.swindon.sch.uk

Address:

13 – 19 Development Team
Plus One Centre
Euclid Street
Swindon SN1 2SG

The Education Maintenance Allowance

The 14 – 19 Team urges all organisations involved with young people locally to publicise the Education Maintenance Allowance in order to encourage more learners to take up the allowance.The Education Maintenance Allowance, or EMA for short, is managed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).Young people in education or training could receive up to £30 a week to help out with things like books, travel and equipment. There are also cash bonuses for those who complete their courses and do well.

Information is provided on the DCSF website at www.dcsf.gov.uk/financialhelp/ema

Local contact for more information:

Wiltshire and Swindon Learning and Skills Council

Annabel Billett

Tel : 01793 608039

email Annabel.billett@lsc.gov.uk

Area Wide Prospectus

All learners looking for courses in Swindon and Wiltshire can find out what all local providers are offering on the Wiltshire and Swindon Area-wide Prospectus at: www.futures4me.co.uk/wiltshireswindon

The Diplomas

These new applied courses have to be available to all young people in Swindon (as is the case nationally) by 2013. Swindon will be able to deliver some of the courses before 2013. They become available to authorities that succeed in getting through the ‘Gateway’ as follows:

2008:

Construction and the Built Environment

Creative and Media

Engineering

Information Technology

Society, Health and Development

2009:

Business, Administration and Finance

Hair and Beauty Studies

Hospitality Environmental and Land Based

Manufacturing and Product design

2010:

Public Services

Retail

Sport and Leisure

Travel and Tourism

2011:

Humanities

Languages

Science

Gateway Submission - Diplomas  In Swindon

The following Diplomas have started this year in Swindon:

Construction and the Built Environment

Creative and Media

Engineering

Starting in September 2009:

Business, Administration and Finance

Hair and Beauty Studies

Hospitality

Information Technology

Strategy and Implementation Plan

Swindon 14-19 Implementation Plan (being revised)

This provides a summary of the strategic aims, which focus on developments in the following areas:

1.Collaboration

2. Raising aspirations and engagement in learning

3. Achievement and progression

4. Information, advice, guidance and support

5. Establishing clear learning pathways

6. Employer engagement

Foundation Learning Tier

Following a successful submission, Swindon is one of fourteen consortia in the country to be piloting the Foundation Learning Tier Progression Pathway from September 2008. The programme offers learners working at Entry Level or Level 1 the opportunity to achieve a range of qualifications leading to a clear progression route identified through an individual learning plan.

The initial pilot will build on a very successful project developed collaboratively by our special schools, and will also involve students from the pupils referral unit and a secondary school.

Employers

The introduction of the new applied Diploma lines offers a real chance for employers to enhance their partnership with education and at the same time support their own aims so that Swindon young people become the future employees of choice. It will support this by offering motivating and rewarding sector based opportunities for young learners. Work related learning is essential in providing our young people with employability skills and experience. Such work related learning can take many forms, from work experience opportunities through to business related activities and visits. It can be tailored to meet employers’ needs and capacity. If any local employer, in any size or scope of business, service or enterprise, is interested in finding out more about the developments, please contact Neil Reaich, our Employer Engagement Project Manager on 01793 466547.