West Lancashire
Education Partnership Officer
Claire Fox
Period
Autumn – Nov 2024
Priority
Explore the pathways of support for young people who are not/at risk of not being in education, employment and training (EET) in West Lancashire.
Intended Outcomes
To explore the number of young people across West Lancs who are NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) and develop a pathway of support, advice and guidance to improve their outcomes and ensure key services are connected.
Activity last period
NEET working group meeting held including West Lancs Borough Council, West Lancs College, NEST team (Network, Employability, Skills and Training) LCC Post 16 lead and Participation Relationship Manager. Data shared amongst the group with some analysis around targeted wards which was beneficial for NEST and the college.
Planned activity next period
- Termly meetings planned for the next academic 24/25 to bring together all partners.
- To work with West Lancs College around their NEET project/ Careers event (autumn term) to include secondary careers leads and key partners who offer advice and support to young people around aspirations and employability/training.
- EPO to align this work with existing NEET drop in based at The Zone/Targeted Youth.
- EPO to establish who the careers leads are in the secondary schools and discuss the transition process.
Impact so far
A working group has been established which will align existing partners/ work and connect professionals with the same priority. The sharing of data has aided the discussions around those learners within the college who won't progress with the provision and will not gain a qualification, as well as those who have high support needs.
Exit Strategy
By utilising existing networks and teams who offer advice, guidance, and support for young people post 16 and creating effective connections, pathways will be sustained. The plan will continue into 24/25.
Priority
Support the development of school-to-school support networks in West Lancs – specifically small and rural schools.
Intended Outcomes
- To facilitate discussion of the importance of whole school ethos and multi-agency working; particularly relating to early help approaches.
- To improve access to local knowledge, information, funding, CVFS organisations, experiences, and good practice.
- To strengthen school to school support underpinned by local and national drivers.
- To enable the group to have a mechanism for addressing challenges they are facing via TASS Locality Group and have relationships with wider partners to offer solutions.
Activity last period
The first network meeting this academic year has been held, with a reduced attendance.
There continues to be a significant increase in support provision for children and families via WL Family Hubs including health clinics & play sessions held in community centres.
Planned activity next period
- Termly meetings for the community/school network are planned for 2025 with half termly working group meetings to be held to progress the actions.
- Secondary rep from Tarleton Academy to attend the next meeting in the autumn term, re: transition.
- Police rep has been invited to attend the next meeting to offer an overview.
- More community reps have been invited to attend the next meetings.
- Review of attendees and promotion needed by all partners.
Impact so far
The schools, along with key partners have expressed how effective the network has been in delivering an increased offer to families. The CFW team have engaged with the local community and positively brought them along with the network to aid their understanding of what we are trying to achieve and have agreed to host some groups which will benefit local families. Although this work has not been delivered directly in schools, the group acknowledge that an increase in support for families at the earlier stages will have a positive impact for the children they will receive.
Schools and partners have requested that this is replicated in Ormskirk and Upholland.
Exit Strategy
It is evident that this group, although attended in the main by schools is heavily focused on the increasing development of Family Hubs and provision for CYP in the northern areas of WL. Discussion to be held at the next meeting around hand over.
Priority
To develop a more coordinated SENDCo network in WL to include all schools (between private and LA offers).
Intended Outcomes
To work with Elm Tree and West Lancs Community High to establish a SENDCo network for all primary and secondary schools. The network will share good practice, ensure school SENDCo's are aware of all the available training and support available locally and develop a good understanding of the wider strategic plans. To link SENDCo's with key people in the district relating to SEND, Inclusion and early help partners.
Activity last period
WL Inclusion Hub discussed the benefits and value of SENDCo's coming together regularly to share information and practice.
Elm Tree and WL Community High feel this would support their provision and welcome a more formal and coordinated network being developed.
EPO met with Elm Tree in the Autumn term to develop a plan to engage heads and SENDCo's with an initial network meeting.
EPO met with WL Community High to discuss their current offer for SENDCos.
Planned activity next period
To develop a Term of Reference and explore the current meetings which are led by WL community high, Elm Tree etc with a view to bringing these together.
Meeting planned for autumn term with all special schools to plan how the networks could operate.
EPO to ascertain LA position around offer of support and advice via the already established SENDCo network and how they can be aligned but with different remits.
Impact so far
The Inclusion Hub raised the various support that schools are able to access, specifically around SEND and training. By working with WL Community High and the links to their existing forum along with the relationships between Elm Tree and SENDCo's, schools within the Inclusion Hub felt confident that consistent key messages can be shared to all schools.
Exit Strategy
EPO will support the development of the network and ensure key services are connected with SENDCo's. Elm Tree in partnership with other special schools will continue to facilitate as part of the Inclusion Hub work.