NEET Prevention and Preparation for Employability Gill Nunn Manager of Operations KEY Training Services Part of Community Learning and Skills

Background to the NEET Prevention Programme March to May – KEY approached 45 schools offering our NEET Prevention programme, for KS4 students identified as potential NEETs June 2012 – Commenced delivery of the NEET Prevention Programme to 4 schools in Kent 19 students progressed to KEY’s Foundation Learning Work Ready! programme

Background to the NEET Prevention Programme Development of the Work Ready! Programme Begin to work in partnership with KCC ELS, Skills and Employability Service to develop Thanet Pilots January 13 – Delivery begins to a further 8 schools and one PRU in mid Kent area Summer Term 2013 – KCC led pilot for NEET prevention programme to commence at 4 schools and 4 PRUs in Thanet

Schools that are engaged with KEY’s NEET Prevention Programme Sittingbourne Community College Westlands School Astor College Maplesden Noakes School Chaucer School Cornwallis Academy The Isle of Sheppey Academy Towers School The Abbey School The Charles Dickens School Hartsdown Technology College St Georges School King Ethlebert School Shepway/Thanet PRUs

NEET Prevention Testimonials “Our Year 11 group have been enjoying the sessions and the tutor has established a rapport with them. It is important for our Year 11 lower ability group that they have a reinforced message that they too have a future after school and it is not just the ‘bright’ students who can have aspirations. At the same time as this managing expectations can perhaps be an issue if their aims are beyond their academic abilities and helping students to find their level without destroying their dreams is something KEY has helped us with. Having an outside tutor come into their lessons has helped them take on board more seriously the support they are being given, which has been evidenced in them talking to me about what they have got out of the sessions. I very much hope that KEY will be available to us in the future to continue this good work for future years”. Maplesden Noakes 11/3/13

NEET Prevention Testimonials “KEY are essential partners in our NEET 2 EET meetings- since we started them they are doing early intervention work in 10 schools across mid Kent, plus the PRUs. EG this morning Chaucer fed back on a programme being started with 18 Year 11S! Mark Deveson has also started some innovative work with a Swale EHE cohort and we really appreciate his support.” Simon Bounds, ELS “We are finding Phil a delight to work with…..he is very good with the students. They are obviously a challenging, if needy, bunch and he handles them well considering it is last period on Friday. The students like and respect him”. Cornwallis

Participants on NEET Prevention Programme……. Disengaged in school curriculum/Irregular attendees Socially or economically disadvantaged Offenders/at risk of offending The bullied Substance users Challenging behaviour Lack confidence/over confident Low academic ability; or high academic ability, but low achiever due to behaviour or external pressure Have no aspirations, and likely to disengage still further prior to undertaking any examinations

Student Voice

NEET Prevention Programme Initial meeting with group 1-1Initial assessment Soft edged skills delivery including confidence and motivation, relationship building, team work and building aspirations for the future Employability skills: CVs, Application forms, Interview techniques for college, employer or apprentice interviews Support from Apprentice Ambassadors Information and Advice – leading to the development of a personal “Route map” with destination plan, focused on the world of work and further training An off site visit to destination goals (Work Ready! FE or other provider) Phone buddies

Outcomes 17/19 students achieve the NOCN Award in Progression and improve Functional Skills by one level 4 continuing with Work Ready! programme 3 return to 6 th form 2 (so far) to apprenticeships or work with training 2 to employment without training 2 to FE college (Horticulture and Plumbing) 3 to Level 2 in Electrical engineering 1 to Princes Trust 2 destination unknown

KEY’s Work Ready! Programme (Post 16) Seamless transition from NEET Prevention programme Developed in 2012, to enhance existing Foundation Learning programme and in response to The Study Programme model and needs of young people in Kent Piloted November 2012 Continuous improvement and evolving curriculum Highly work focused with accredited qualification outcomes, including Employability training and Functional Skills Meaningful work experience opportunities Progression to Apprenticeships

Next Steps KCC Pilots in Swale and Thanet to be delivered and evaluated Funding source or charge policy to be confirmed for The NEET Prevention Programme offer Refine Study Programme offer and promote to schools in partnership with KCC ELS Strategies, other Stakeholders, providers and colleges

Any Questions? Contact: Gill Nunn, Manager of Operations Mobile: E mail: