Click for more information on working with key agencies. The information below relates to national, strategic relationships that inform policy in both England and Wales.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC)
The Learning and Skills Council [opens in new window] is responsible for post-16 education and training (with the exception of higher education) in England. From 2010 the responsibility for 16-19 year olds in England will transfer from the Learning and Skills Council to Local Authorities. In Wales it is currently the responsibility of the Department of Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) [opens in new window].
Individual Local Authorities in England will be responsible for the continuous education of all young people in their area. This will of course include those who become involved in the criminal justice system. Read more about these and other changes in the Green Paper Raising Expectations [opens in new window].
Given the age profile of young people in the young justice system, the education and training of at least 50% of them will be the responsibility of the LSC and DCELLS.
While local LSCs are not statutory partners of YOTs in the way that local authorities are, they have an important role to play in ensuring there is adequate provision as part of their remit to improve engagement among those young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The commitment of the LSC to this work is set out in its publication Successful Participation for All: Widening Adult Participation [opens in new window].
The YJB and LSC have a partnership agreement [opens in new window, 130Kb Word document], signed in 2005, that sets out how we work together to ensure easier access for all children and young peoples who offend to mainstream post-16 education such as Entry To Employment (e2e) (in England), GCSEs and GNVQs. Click for more information on e2e [opens in new window].
For information careers and employment in Wales visit the Careers Wales Online [opens in new window] website.
Offender education
The Offender Learning And Skills Service (OLASS) provides offender education, including that of young people. The operational focus for OLASS comes from the LSC, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the YJB, along with other education and employment partners.
Wales
A separate strategy is being adopted in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Director of Offender Management Services – Wales. Click to read more about Joining Together in Wales: The Wales Reducing Re-offending Strategy [opens in new window].
In addition, the All Wales Youth Offending Strategy has been updated. It was first published in 2004 by the YJB and Welsh Assembly Government and set out a holistic approach to end-to-end youth justice in Wales in accordance with our shared belief that prevention is better than cure. Between 2008 and 2009 the Welsh Assembly Government and the YJB reviewed and refreshed delivery mechanisms for the All Wales Youth Offending Strategy.
The document All Wales Youth Offending Strategy: Delivery Plan 2009-2011 describes the changes we have made and sets out the priority themes we will address and the actions we will take. It also shows how we will work with the UK Government to take forward those aspects of the criminal justice system that apply to England and Wales, such as the Youth Crime Action Plan [opens in new window].
DCSF Improving Behaviour and Attendance Programme
www.dcsf.gov.uk/behaviourandattendance [opens in new window]
This programme is designed to improve behaviour and attendance in schools where it represents a barrier to learning. Schools with Behaviour and Education Support Teams (BESTs) [opens in new window] include those with high proportions of pupils with, or at risk of developing, behavioural problems as demonstrated in levels of exclusions and attendance. Given the links between truancy and crime, this initiative is of great importance to the YJB’s education, training and employment agenda.