Developing a Network of Centres of Excellence for Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities within Post 16

2. Developing a Network of Centres of Excellence for Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities within Post 16 Education and Training Providers • Researcher - Steven Horan, Register Services. • Action Research 1 Coordinator – Simon Vines, Orchard Hill College • Action Research 2 Coordinator – Ros Jellis, Mencap Pathway Project Funded by London South Learning Skills Council

3. Aims and Objectives • Identify gaps and capacity issues in current post-16 provision. • Identify future LLDD post-16 demand • Present provider development models for improving provision to cater for future demands

4. Project Structure • Research Project • Current and Future Demands • Models for developing provision • Action Research 1 • Orchard Hill College • Identification of requirements of learners attempting to enter college

5. Project Structure • Action Research 2 • Mencap Pathway • Assessing and training of transition/NEET LLDD to support employment

6. Current and Future Demand • Comparison of current and future demand • Current Population – Based on Connexions data • Future Population – Based on PLASC data • Only 5 years of data is available

7. Current and Future Demand • Destinations of current population

9. Current Demand • Total of 5844 known to Connexions • Almost 800 people in the NEET category • Information on post-19 clients is severely lacking

10. Future Demand • Despite national research showing a rise in PMLD, this data suggests that it is falling in the region • Communication disorders are increasing, especially in the boroughs of Richmond and Kingston • Autistic Spectrum Disorders is the fastest growing demand across the region

11. Future Demand - ASD

12. Current Provision • Additional Information • Gaps and capacity issues were identified directly by consulting: • Connexions borough advisors • Providers • Other education professionals

13. Capacity Issues • Gaps and capacity issues highlighted by Connexions borough advisers: • Providers and opportunities for training and entering employment • Lack of appropriate curriculum provision for specific disabilities/difficulties: • ASD • Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties • SLD and PMLD • MLD and Mental Health Issues

14. Capacity Issues • Lack of overall support, training, and access to therapies • Funding and organisation of transport • Funding for a greater range of providers

15. Current Provision - Barriers • During consultation with providers, three general barriers were identified: • Staff training • Gaps and capacity issues in provision • Information sharing

16. Action Research Projects • Assessment of Needs by Orchard Hill College • Assessment of 12 LLDD to determine support needs to and recommendations for future education and/or training • Transition to Employment by Mencap Pathway • Four LLDD received 2 weeks in-house employment training before entering a supported work experience placement in their employment field of choice

17. Proposals - Specific • Submitted by other organisations • Orchard Hill College and Carshalton College • Student Vocational Progression Unit for learners with ASD, severe/profound LDs, mental health issues, challenging behaviour, physical, medical and sensory difficulties/disabilities • Bromley Autistic Trust • Re-establish their outreach service to support learners with ASD into college and employment

18. Proposals - Specific • Kingston College Crescent Resource Centre Progression Unit • Collaboration with Workstart to provide training and support for LLDD into employment • Connexions Partnership LLDD IAG • Novel IAG provision focussed specifically on LLDD • Links with Orchard Hill action research on assessing needs of LLDD and identification of suitable provision

19. Draft Proposals - General • Wide variety of issues, some of which are identified in other literature: • London South LSC to employ a LLDD Partnership and Development Officer • Gather and share more information on LLDD and LLDD providers • Improve the level of training among all providers with a dedicated training budget

20. Draft Proposals - General • Work with Children's Trusts to tackle cross agency issues

21. Consultation Event • Comments and discussions from the event focused around 6 areas. • Funding – Many of these issues were based around the organisation of funds • Changes to ALS • Funding Silos • Conflicts between the variety of LLDD courses and LSC targets

22. Consultation Event • Transition – A key area that many people believe would benefit from a better planned multi-agency approach • Collaborative Working – Most common topic • Positive and negative views on the effectiveness of Children’s Trusts • Recommended that local planning should be shared • General willingness by specialist providers to share expertise and good practice

23. Consultation Event • Information – General frustration over lack sharing of information on LLDD • Transport – General concerns over the organisation and funding of transport for post-19 LLDD • Planning – Specific issues raised • Geographical considerations in the Centres of Excellence model • Population changes in specific LDD types with age

24. Conclusions • Demand for ASD provision will increase approximately 3-fold over the next 5 years • Provision for learners with ASD is not meeting current demand and urgently requires development • Limited information on post-16 learners shows a NEET group of almost 800 people

25. Conclusions • Gaps in provision are also present for learners with: • Moderate, severe, and profound learning disabilities/difficulties • Behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties • Mental health issues • Work Based Learning and employment training urgently needs development

26. Conclusions • The LSC regional and borough strategic development teams to coordinate and implement solutions to the issues surrounding LLDD provision • More data on learners currently in post-16 provision is required for future strategic planning and development

27. Questions

28. Thank you Contact Details Steve Horan Tel. 020 8770 8154 Email. steve.horan@smpct.nhs.uk