PEOPLE NOT WORKING NEED PROPER SUPPORT

5/6/2008 7:17:00 AM

Graham Hoyle; The Guardian 6 May

Gordon Brown wants 400,000 young people to start apprenticeships in England, which is very welcome, but a big ask when there are just over 250,000 apprentices currently training. At the same time, the government is facing a challenge in reducing the proportion of 16- to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (the Neet group), which began to rise again last year to above 11%. Independent providers and colleges would like to work with the government to see if more Neets could be attracted to an apprenticeship programme, but many of these young people need proper support before they are ready to embark on a full apprenticeship. For more than two years, member organisations of the Association of Learning Providers (ALP), who start their annual conference in Nottingham today, have been waiting for a comprehensive strategy outlining the support available for young people and adults not yet capable or ready to engage in a full apprenticeship. Our expectation was that the proposed Foundation Learning Tier (FLT), which was set out in last month's consultation document from the Department for Children, Schools and Families on 14-19 qualifications, was to be this strategy. It is not. The proposals appear to reinforce a policy, and therefore restrict government support, solely to the achievement of predetermined approved qualifications. This approach has merit, but in reality will prove unhelpfully restrictive in moving young people, especially on to, and through, a skills ladder that will take them to a full apprenticeship.Experiences over the past three years from the successful Entry to Employment programme have clearly demonstrated that the most positive outcome for a large proportion of the pre-level 2 qualification group is getting them successfully ready to gain employment, with or without formal qualifications.Guardian

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