Decision details

RESOLVED:

That the following recommendations be agreed to be included in the Committee’s review:

1.    That LB Lewisham supports schools and careers advisors across the borough to identify and use up to date labour market information to ensure they are providing the best CIAG to young people and that there is an emphasis on 1:1 sessions wherever possible, as most effective Careers Information Advice and Guidance (CIAG).

2.    That LB Lewisham ensures that governor training highlights the recommendation from the Gatsby Report to have a governor with oversight of CIAG, and that this is included in the annual governor training programme.

3.    That LB Lewisham ensures looked after children not educated in Lewisham get as good CIAG offer as those that are, including 100 hours of experience of the world of work;  further, there is an increased focus on partnership working with other local authorities and providers to enable this outcome.

4.    That the focus on tracking, supporting and monitoring NEETS is maintained and that tracking and monitoring of ‘unknowns’ is improved. LB Lewisham should continue to look at good practice to ensure the numbers and percentage of both NEETS and unknowns are reduced.

5.    The Committee notes that apprenticeships and traineeships and are not uniform in quality and recommends that support should be put in place to help young people assess the quality and relevance of potential apprenticeships and traineeships. For example the use of the National Apprenticeship Framework ‘kite mark’ system.   Advisors should be receiving training and guidance as to how to support young people to gauge the relevance and quality of potential offers.

6.    That traineeships, apprenticeships and alternative education routes be understood and promoted as equally valid progression routes as Higher Education and degrees.

7.    That the LB Lewisham 14-19 Team continues to support schools to improve their careers offer and emulate good practice both through the peer review on careers provision and through the careers guidance network and forum and the positive relationships these have fostered.

8.    The planning policy on targets for numbers of apprenticeships as part of large developments should be monitored and their impact measured to ensure developers are meeting their obligations.

9.    Taking into account concerns raised by the Young Advisors, the Committee recommends that advisors, schools and other education settings should ensure they take into consideration young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing when providing careers advice.

10.  That LB Lewisham should put an increased focus on supporting young carers to access high quality information, advice and guidance. Statistically this group of young people are very much more likely to be not in education, employment or training.

11.   Support should be put in place to ensure young people are apprenticeship/work or college ready. This should include skills such as time management, financial awareness, resilience, emotional support and understanding their rights and requirements.  Further, a children’s  rights officer should be appointed to work across the borough and support young people,