1. 1 Priorities for Youth

2. 2 Why does DE fund youth work? - DE has a statutory responsibility for the provision of youth work. - It is part of the education continuum and contributes to the DE vision of every child fulfilling his or her potential. - It provides safe, fun opportunities for young people to develop personally and socially outside the formal school environment. - It provides opportunities for marginalized and disengaged young people to reconnect with education in a setting of their choosing and it works with them to overcome barriers to learning.

3. 3 What is the DE funded Youth Service? DE invests approximately £29million in resource funding and £5million in capital funding = approximately 1.5% of DE budget. Around 30% (157,000) young people access youth services annually. There are about 2,000 youth groups, including statutory and voluntary units and outdoor education centres. There are almost 22,000 volunteers and over 1,700 staff.

4. 4 Who is it aimed at? Currently available to all children and young people aged 4 - 25. Currently available to all children and young people aged 4 - 25. Regarded as universal. Regarded as universal. Can be particularly relevant for marginalised young people. Can be particularly relevant for marginalised young people.

5. 5 ETI Chief Inspector’s reports highlighted: ETI Chief Inspector’s reports highlighted: – –Insufficient tracking and recording of progress of young people; – –Sector sits separately from the rest of education and related policies, such as Extended Schools, Alternative Education Provision and the development of Area Learning Communities; – –Not a strong enough link made between non-formal learning in the youth service and skills and attributes being developed through the formal curriculum. Weaknesses in existing system

6. 6 Pre consultation Priorities for Youth was informed by extensive engagement across the youth sector using: Priorities for Youth was informed by extensive engagement across the youth sector using:  Questionnaires completed by children and young people, youth workers, leaders, volunteers and managers in youth or relevant children’s settings;  Youthnet – focus groups/individuals;  Youth Forum – focus groups/ street based/ questionnaires. Engagement with about 4,000 young people, 340 workers/volunteers, 106 managers. Engagement with about 4,000 young people, 340 workers/volunteers, 106 managers. Visits to schools/ clubs. Visits to schools/ clubs. Youth Work month: Series of Conferences/ workshops entitled ‘Thinking Seriously About …’ Youth Work month: Series of Conferences/ workshops entitled ‘Thinking Seriously About …’ Workshops. Workshops.

7. 7 Weaknesses identified during pre consultation Provision not strategically aligned to DE vision or DE’s education priorities; No clear strategic or operational plans for youth work; Legacy of supporting what is available rather than what is assessed against education priorities as needed; Six different youth funding schemes, leading to inconsistency in practice and quality of provision; Capital support for youth estate not assessed in line with need or revenue requirements, and voluntary capital managed separately by DE;

8. 8 Weaknesses identified (continued) Inconsistent evaluation of outcomes or public value achieved by funded organisations; Performance targets tend to be outputs focused - numbers attending; Lack of system for, or method of, sustaining the levels of volunteers, strengthening governance arrangements or supporting improved practice; Not enough support structures in place to drive up quality of practice; Lack of active participation opportunities for young people.

9. 9 Priorities for Youth – the proposals 5 Priorities and 30 Actions Priority 1 - Raising Standards for All Priority 2 - Closing the Performance Gap, Increasing and Equity Priority 3 - Developing the Non-Formal Education Workforce Priority 4 - Improving the Non-Formal Learning Environment Priority 5 - Transforming Non-Formal Education Management

10. Planning 10

11. Planning, funding and delivery of youth work based on ESA composite assessment of need and will support requirements linked to DE priorities. [Priority 1.1] Planning, funding and delivery of youth work based on ESA composite assessment of need and will support requirements linked to DE priorities. [Priority 1.1] ESA will carry out baseline audit of currently funded/supported provision to inform the development of the needs assessment. Audit to include a review of statutory youth estate and OECs. [Priority 4.1] ESA will carry out baseline audit of currently funded/supported provision to inform the development of the needs assessment. Audit to include a review of statutory youth estate and OECs. [Priority 4.1] Advisory Groups to be established in line with emerging RPA District Council structures. DE to determine membership & function and issue guidance, if necessary. [Priority 1.2] Advisory Groups to be established in line with emerging RPA District Council structures. DE to determine membership & function and issue guidance, if necessary. [Priority 1.2] 11

12. ESA to develop a strategic 3 year Regional Youth Development Plan (RYDP), to be approved by DE. This will be informed by Advisory Groups [Priority 1.2] ESA to develop a strategic 3 year Regional Youth Development Plan (RYDP), to be approved by DE. This will be informed by Advisory Groups [Priority 1.2] RYDP to be implemented via Annual Youth Development Plans across all levels. [Priority 1.2] RYDP to be implemented via Annual Youth Development Plans across all levels. [Priority 1.2] ESA to design a framework of expected outcomes, proportionate to support provided and in line with the RDYP. [Priority 1.4] ESA to design a framework of expected outcomes, proportionate to support provided and in line with the RDYP. [Priority 1.4] ESA to design & implement a Management Information System of all DE-funded youth work. [Priority 1.5] ESA to design & implement a Management Information System of all DE-funded youth work. [Priority 1.5] 12

13. Age bands Four distinct age bands for ESA-funded youth work: 4 – 8; 9 – 13; 14 – 18; 19 – 21. Four distinct age bands for ESA-funded youth work: 4 – 8; 9 – 13; 14 – 18; 19 – 21. Services for age range 22 – 25 only where there is a compelling and evidenced need for youth work intervention. Services for age range 22 – 25 only where there is a compelling and evidenced need for youth work intervention. Age range 4 – 8, through general youth work provision linked to Youth Work Curriculum. Age range 4 – 8, through general youth work provision linked to Youth Work Curriculum. Priority age bands will be 9 – 13 and 14 – 18, in line with priority needs identified. Priority age bands will be 9 – 13 and 14 – 18, in line with priority needs identified. Age range 19 – 21, issue based programmes, volunteering and leadership opportunities. Age range 19 – 21, issue based programmes, volunteering and leadership opportunities. [Priority 1.7] 13

14. In developing the RYDP, ESA should: Reflect the age bands for ESA funded youth work, including the priority age bands. [Priority 1.7] Reflect the age bands for ESA funded youth work, including the priority age bands. [Priority 1.7] Include actions designed to ensure greater progression for young people in revised age ranges. [Priority 1.8] Include actions designed to ensure greater progression for young people in revised age ranges. [Priority 1.8] Include an element of non-targeted/generic provision, particularly for the 4 – 8 age group. [Priority 2.2] Include an element of non-targeted/generic provision, particularly for the 4 – 8 age group. [Priority 2.2] Include targeted provision to help meet the needs of specific groups of young people. [Priority 2.3] Include targeted provision to help meet the needs of specific groups of young people. [Priority 2.3] 14

15. In developing the RYDP, ESA should: Reflect key actions for youth as set out in other relevant DE policies. [Priority 2.4] Reflect key actions for youth as set out in other relevant DE policies. [Priority 2.4] Prioritise access to, and longer opening times for, centres operating within areas of disadvantage or on or near interface areas. [Priority 2.5] Prioritise access to, and longer opening times for, centres operating within areas of disadvantage or on or near interface areas. [Priority 2.5] Ensure that outreach and detached youth workers are deployed in response to need identified, rather than historic deployment patterns. [Priority 2.6] Ensure that outreach and detached youth workers are deployed in response to need identified, rather than historic deployment patterns. [Priority 2.6] 15

16. Funding 16

17. DE to allocate global youth budget to ESA. Funding distribution mechanism, weighted according to disadvantage, will determine a notional distribution amount for each District Council area. ESA will determine actual allocations. [Priority 2.1] DE to allocate global youth budget to ESA. Funding distribution mechanism, weighted according to disadvantage, will determine a notional distribution amount for each District Council area. ESA will determine actual allocations. [Priority 2.1] ESA will administer both revenue and capital support for voluntary units/clubs who meet future funding criteria. This will be done through Youth Development Plans. DE will no longer administer a separate Voluntary Youth Capital Scheme [Priority 4.2] ESA will administer both revenue and capital support for voluntary units/clubs who meet future funding criteria. This will be done through Youth Development Plans. DE will no longer administer a separate Voluntary Youth Capital Scheme [Priority 4.2] Historic funding arrangements for local and regional programmes and organisations will be phased out and replaced with a converged approach to securing services on the basis of identified need. [Priority 5.1] Historic funding arrangements for local and regional programmes and organisations will be phased out and replaced with a converged approach to securing services on the basis of identified need. [Priority 5.1] 17

18. New funding scheme, which will be developed by ESA, will support local and regional services assessed as needed in the RYDP, rather than services available. [Priority 5.1] New funding scheme, which will be developed by ESA, will support local and regional services assessed as needed in the RYDP, rather than services available. [Priority 5.1] ESA to consider funding only those organisations that demonstrate that their services are required in terms of delivery of the RYDP. [Priority 5.2] ESA to consider funding only those organisations that demonstrate that their services are required in terms of delivery of the RYDP. [Priority 5.2] ESA to publish the RYDP to facilitate merged or aligned investment in response to identified need which cannot be addressed by ESA. [Priority 5.4] ESA to publish the RYDP to facilitate merged or aligned investment in response to identified need which cannot be addressed by ESA. [Priority 5.4] 18

19. Funding – RVYOs Funding to support RVYOs will be capped at no more than 10% of the youth budget available to support provision at local level (excluding ESA admin, which will be kept to a minimum). [Priority 2.1] Funding to support RVYOs will be capped at no more than 10% of the youth budget available to support provision at local level (excluding ESA admin, which will be kept to a minimum). [Priority 2.1] ESA will support innovative schemes to effect the rationalisation of regional support structures – sharing back office functions, amalgamation or clustering arrangements. [Priority 5.3] ESA will support innovative schemes to effect the rationalisation of regional support structures – sharing back office functions, amalgamation or clustering arrangements. [Priority 5.3] 19

20. Reporting, Reviewing, Evaluating 20

21. ESA will support and encourage development of robust quality assurance systems in all parts of youth service. [Priority 1.3] ESA will support and encourage development of robust quality assurance systems in all parts of youth service. [Priority 1.3] ESA will develop an annual report for youth work to provide high level summary of investment, activities & outcomes achieved. [Priority 1.6] ESA will develop an annual report for youth work to provide high level summary of investment, activities & outcomes achieved. [Priority 1.6] ESA will develop robust and proportionate quality assurance systems to monitor and evaluate youth service provision, taking into consideration ETI standards and inspection findings. [Priority 1.9] ESA will develop robust and proportionate quality assurance systems to monitor and evaluate youth service provision, taking into consideration ETI standards and inspection findings. [Priority 1.9] 21

22. ESA to devise a Management Information System for all DE-supported youth work to inform future planning and evaluation. [Priority 1.5] ESA to devise a Management Information System for all DE-supported youth work to inform future planning and evaluation. [Priority 1.5] Management and reporting arrangements for youth work staff to be linked to the achievement of agreed outcomes in the RYDP. [Priority 3.6] Management and reporting arrangements for youth work staff to be linked to the achievement of agreed outcomes in the RYDP. [Priority 3.6] Practitioners will need to provide evidence of how they have supported an ethos and culture of active participation and how young people are involved. ETI will continue to evaluate the quality and culture of participation within units during inspections. [Priority 4.4] Practitioners will need to provide evidence of how they have supported an ethos and culture of active participation and how young people are involved. ETI will continue to evaluate the quality and culture of participation within units during inspections. [Priority 4.4] 22

23. Workforce and Practice Development 23

24. ESA to establish and manage a Practice Development Unit (PDU). It will identify, co-ordinate and secure a range of functions, including:   Relevant and proportionate training;   Continuous professional development opportunities;   Application of the non-formal curriculum and its links to revised curriculum;   Advice on governance, legal and regulatory requirements, participation and development;   Support for self-evaluation. A separate unit for developing the curriculum will no longer be required. [Priority 3.1] 24

25. Proportional support may be available where practice has been evaluated as needing development, or where inspection findings are that provision is inadequate or unsatisfactory. [Priority 3.2] ESA to commission appropriate additional or specialist support where necessary. [Priority 3.2] PDU to establish a forum for sharing information across all education sectors, including HEIs, to commission or develop support materials and assess the need to develop capacity for good governance and continuous improvement through best practice. [Priority 3.3] 25

26. ESA to support a continuous professional development programme. [Priority 3.4] ESA to support a continuous professional development programme. [Priority 3.4] ESA to explore the potential for youth workers to have access to additional support services for young people with additional needs. [Priority 3.5] ESA to explore the potential for youth workers to have access to additional support services for young people with additional needs. [Priority 3.5] ESA to agree a system with employers to link management and reporting arrangements to the achievement of agreed outcomes in the RYDP. [Priority 3.6] ESA to agree a system with employers to link management and reporting arrangements to the achievement of agreed outcomes in the RYDP. [Priority 3.6] The need to recruit, train and retain volunteers to be reflected in Management Committee/leader duties, SLAs and contracts. [Priority 3.6] The need to recruit, train and retain volunteers to be reflected in Management Committee/leader duties, SLAs and contracts. [Priority 3.6] 26

27. 27 Participation

28. ESA, in collaboration with key sectoral partners, to develop options for a flexible, contemporary model for strengthening participation at all levels. ESA, in collaboration with key sectoral partners, to develop options for a flexible, contemporary model for strengthening participation at all levels. Pilot model, to be approved by DE, must: Pilot model, to be approved by DE, must:   Take account of existing and emerging participative structures;   Must link effectively to delivery of the RYDP;   Take into consideration the outworking of the Big Deal, the agreed ‘Network of Networks’ option for Network for Youth and other good practice in relation to participation; Young people must be enabled and supported to help further develop the proposals for participation. [Priority 4.3] 28

29. Practitioners to demonstrate and provide evidence of: Practitioners to demonstrate and provide evidence of:   How they have supported an ethos and culture of participation; and   How young people are involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of programmes/projects, proportionate to support provided. ETI to continue to evaluate the quality and culture of participation within units during inspection. ETI to continue to evaluate the quality and culture of participation within units during inspection. The remaining elements of the 1979 Circular will be withdrawn. The remaining elements of the 1979 Circular will be withdrawn. [Priority 4.4] 29

30. ESA to provide access to a regionally managed small grants programme, which will allow young people to administer grants to other young people. ESA to provide access to a regionally managed small grants programme, which will allow young people to administer grants to other young people. The programme is to be aimed at strengthening the participation of young people as decision-makers. The programme is to be aimed at strengthening the participation of young people as decision-makers. [Priority 4.5] 30

31. In summary, Priorities for Youth will: Assess the need for youth services in line with education priorities and set goals to improve educational attainment; Assess the need for youth services in line with education priorities and set goals to improve educational attainment; Provide more help for those who need it most; Provide more help for those who need it most; Engage young people as active partners and develop new participative structures; Engage young people as active partners and develop new participative structures; Recognise the important role of the youth sector, including the voluntary youth sector; Recognise the important role of the youth sector, including the voluntary youth sector; 31

32. Priorities for Youth will also: Address the needs of the whole workforce, paid and unpaid; Address the needs of the whole workforce, paid and unpaid; Reshape the way frontline operations are delivered and supported; Reshape the way frontline operations are delivered and supported; Ensure more consistency across regional and local/tailored provision; Ensure more consistency across regional and local/tailored provision; Establish and measure clear outcomes and progress. Establish and measure clear outcomes and progress. 32

33. Next steps Consultation runs until 10 December 2012 Analysis of responses Engagement with the sector Ministerial approval Finalise & publish document Implementation - phased 33