Traineeships Rachel Searle Regional Provider Advocate South Wales rachel.searle@ntfw

1. Traineeships Rachel SearleRegional Provider Advocate South Wales rachel.searle@ntfw.org

2. Traineeship Overview • Begins in August 2011 • Successor programme to Skillbuild • Employment is the key outcome, with the programme feeding into clear progression routes • Aimed at 16-17 year olds but eligible 18 year olds can also participate • 3 strands – Entry, level 1 & level 2 Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

3. Engagement strand • For learners not focussed on a specific occupation or those with barriers preventing immediate entry to vocational or other learning at Levels 1-3 • Attendance 12-21 hours • Range of learning environments to prepare learner for employment or further learning • Targeted at young people who would likely become NEET. • Although the ‘entry level’ strand its target audience could be a broad range of ability levels who are not occupationally focused Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

4. Level 1 strand • For occupationally focussed learners who are able to follow a programme at Level 1 or equivalent • Could be direct level 1 strand entry or have progressed from engagement strand • Focus on delivering qualifications which assess occupational competence at Level 1 but • Can also have programme elements to address barriers which would prevent progression onto employment, vocational or other learning at Level 2 and above Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

5. Level 2 strand • No direct entry at this level • Only open to learners who have progressed from level 1 strand, who are still within youth guarantee group and prepared for employment • Learning offer to include learning aligned to apprenticeship framework in the learners chosen occupational area • WBL providers expected to source recruiting employers who will be encouraged to offer employment once learner had completed short (up to 10 week) period of bespoke training Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

6. Summary Progression Entry route Engagement Further learning at levels 1-3 in 6th form or FEI etc; Apprenticeship; Employment Directly via referral from careers Level 1 Level 2 Employment or apprenticeship Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

7. Facts for learners • Entry onto programme through referral from Careers Wales • Learners on Engagement strand receive non means tested ‘Training Maintenance Allowance’ equivalent to £30 week means tested EMA if in school/college • Learners on Level 1 or 2 receive £50 non means tested training allowance for minimum 30 hours per week learner development. Reduced pro rata for part time attendance • Entitled to 2 days holiday per calendar month plus statutory holidays Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

8. How do Traineeships improve on Skillbuild? • Each strand within traineeships clearly defined • Engagement strand focuses on addressing barriers to employment/learning at a higher level • Learners have a clear progression pathway • Alignment with other options within 14-19 pathway through hours and TMA level • Learning Provider contractually obliged to provide learning coach support and guidance, in line with 14-19 learning Pathways for all youth programmes Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

9. Steps to Employment 18+ • For 18+ adults not in employment with confirmation of eligibility for Jobcentre Plus. 2 defined options:- • Work Focussed Training in a range of learning environments undertaking: • vocationally focused training at levels 1, 2 and 3; • address barriers to learning; • gain breadth of skills needed to get employment, further learning or progress on to Route-ways to Work • Route-ways to Work • Links learners with employers or train learners to meet specific local labour market need • Learners can engage in bespoke learning for up to 8 weeks Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

10. Other Key Changes • ‘Youth Guarantee’ extended to mean placement of any eligible young person into any post-16 learning options rather than, presently, only WBL. • No direct entry L2 in youth programme • As for Skillbuild previously and other WBL programmes, WAG will set minimum contractual performance targets with progression into employment or further learning at a higher level a key outcome. Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org

11. Key issues for providers and learning networks • The ‘Engagement’ entry strand of Traineeships designed so now placed within 14-19 Pathway options as part of 16-19 options menu, aiming to engage learners who would otherwise not be in education, employment or training • How can communication between schools, networks, careers, WBL providers be enhanced to ensure proactive network planning and timely progression to chosen route including securing appropriate placements and employment? • WBL provider contractually obliged (as other 14-19 pathway routes) to provide learning coach support. Will learning coach training support be offered to Traineeship providers by networks? How can traineeship provider learning coaches be involved in network co-ordinated learning events? Learner Engagement through Work Based Learning www.ntfw.org