Consultation on the guidance to provide impartial information and advice - This consultation invites LAs, schools and other key stakeholders in the 14-19 Partnership, to comment on draft statutory guidance linked to the duty on local authority maintained schools, set out in the Education and Skills Act to provide impartial information and advice. Closing date 30 July 2009.
Action Plan for the 14-19 Prospectus and Common Application Process (CAP) sets out the ambition to 2013 for the further development of the 14-19 Prospectus and implementation of CAP.
14-19 Reform Toolkit is available to help disseminate key information about the 14-19 Reforms to staff. There is a toolkit for schools & a toolkit for colleges. For more information on 14-19 Reforms visit the website.
Universities’ acceptance of Diplomas - Students on the first five Advanced Diploma lines will be able to apply to 80% of undergraduate courses across the country, according to data released on 5 May by UCAS. University admissions requirements for undergraduate courses from 2010 include the Diploma for the first time. Read more here.
Handling allegations of abuse made against adults who work with children and young people -Following the review of the implementation of guidance on handling allegations of abuse against those who work with children or young people, the Government made a commitment to publish additional practice guidance. Teachers and youth workers who have been cleared of alleged abuse against children will be able to wipe the claims from their records, as part of the plans in this consultation. Closing date Friday 7 August 2009.
New Ofsted arrangements for the inspection of children’s services - details how inspections will be conducted under the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). The frameworks published are the arrangements for the new Ofsted rating for council children’s services and the programme of inspection of safeguarding and looked after children.
Safe and effective SNS applications for young people a working paper on considerations in building social networking applications for under 19 year olds has been prepared for Substance. The
paper is designed to provide information, advice and recommendations.
Local Area Agreements refreshed in London to reflect the changing landscape for local strategic partnerships. To find out what’s changed in each local authority, click here.
New research highlights the importance of apprenticeships – To mark the launch of the new National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), new research is being published which highlights the importance of Apprenticeships to individuals, businesses and the economy.
The protection of children in England: Action plan – The Government has now published an action plan, setting out its detailed response to the recommendations in Lord Laming's report on safeguarding children and young people.
Future Jobs Fund -The £1 billion fund is to help generate 150,000 new jobs particularly for young people in areas of high unemployment and is part of the Budget 2009 announcement to deliver an extra £3.1 billion to help people looking for work. Local authorities and third sector organisations across the country can submit innovative bids for jobs. This could include sports coaching, crime prevention, tourism and working with children.
Mobility for young people in London – The Integrated Working Without Boundaries – the London Common Assessment Framework Protocol is the latest protocol to be produced under the
Mobility and Young London Board.
Government funds firms to expand apprenticeships – More apprenticeships will be open to young people thanks to £11 million in Government funding as part of a new approach to help employers train the skilled workers of the future, Skills Secretary John Denham and Schools Secretary Ed Balls has announced.
A Stitch in Time: Tackling educational disengagement an interim
report from Demos that looks at how to prevent children and young people becoming disengaged from learning. It suggests organisations working with children and young people should be inspected by ‘an Ofsted-style body’ that could issue a ‘national Kitemark of quality’.
Making the case published by the Young Equals coalition makes proposes for the Equality Bill that comes into force in 2010. The report challenges the Government position that there is “little evidence” of harmful age discrimination against children and young people, and questions why the Government is failing to extend legal protection from age discrimination to under 18s.
Functional skills consultation - In the coming months, QCA will be consulting on the key regulatory criteria documents which will form the basis of the next generation of functional skills qualifications. Closing date 31 August 2009. All the latest updates on the consultation will be posted on the functional skills section of the QCA website.
Work-related Learning Guide has the latest information on providing work-related learning and work experience and the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved.
Entries are invited for the 2009 National Career Awards - The Awards include a wide variety of project awards, including individual awards for Career Guidance Practitioner of the Year. Closing date 3 July 2009