Raising the Participation Age Learning Visit 27 th November 2012

1. Raising the Participation Age Learning Visit27th November 2012 Workshop 3: Tracking and Monitoring Tackling the Not Knowns in Kingston

2. Background No Connexions service since spring 2012 High levels of Not Knowns in summer 2012 – over 10% (around 500 young people) We pledged to address our Not Knowns in our RPA action plan so we could: Reclassify young people into EET or NEET Apply the learning process to the RPA cohorts coming through the system Improve our stats!

3. How we went about it We used our Not Known list from June 2012 as a a baseline = 320 learners We matched these to Council Tax records and got a positive match for 184 In September we ‘cleaned’ the list, removing those of academic age 19, bringing list down to 170 64 of these were Council Tax records matched and of the 64, we secured phone numbers for 44 so were able to establish destinations for them The list then stood at 114 – now the basis of a door to door survey, from 12/11/2012 to 06/12/12

4. Planning the door to door survey The pros of outsourcing the survey were that: We would not need to set it up and monitor it and they would be contracted to deliver We could use a research company whose experience in similar surveys could contribute to developing the survey They may have more staff resource so could complete the list more quickly Useful resource for the future The cons were: More expensive Less access to the interviewers Timescales dictated a quick start

5. Planning the door to door survey The pros of undertaking the survey in house were that: Using RBK employees (or people who had worked for RBK previously in this role) We used electoral services canvassers with relevant experience It was more cost effective The cons were: Time intensive to set up: eg. ‘recruiting’, updating CRB checks etc Risk of people not completing their allocation or ‘dropping out’ Ongoing monitoring required

6. Setting up the door to door survey There were a number of ‘set up’ tasks, which were to: Develop survey form and accompanying notes for interviewers Agree payment profile – paid on outcomes: ‘finder’s fee’, destination fee and complete survey ‘Allocate’ addresses to each interviewer Ensure they have appropriate ‘kit’ to carry out the job Put safety procedures in place with CCTV team Provide a detailed briefing as to the essential information needed Agree reporting procedures Arrange ‘debrief’ and mince pies!

7. Doing the survey Interviewers found that: Many young people had moved away – although may be still in borough Sometimes people were in but didn’t answer the door! There were other young people living at the address who were not on the list Interviewers had to go back to some addresses several times Responses were variable Positive and negative outcomes Survey experience provides a forerunner for similar tracking the future

8. Findings so far ..... As of 22 November, 35 young people had been visited and their destinations are as follows:

9. Findings so far ..... We also asked: What were they doing before they became NEET? What happened to result in their becoming NEET? What would have helped (him/her) at any stage to participate in learning or to find a job? Doorstep survey resulted in a range of answers that will help us to shape future strategy

10. Next steps We will: Complete the survey and analyse all the findings Follow up the learners who are NEET to signpost them to support, including ESF and Youth Contract Run a further survey in the new year to incorporate the Not Knowns from this academic year Take action on the feedback as appropriate, ie feedback to schools on IAG provision, develop relationship with Jobcentre Plus, promote Apprenticeship provision more widely as part of our Youth Employment Strategy Ann Mason, 14-19 Manager, Royal Borough of Kingston Ann.mason@rbk.kingston.gov.uk or 020 8547 6989