Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 51
51
Accepted
Care leavers face significant challenges transitioning into further education, employment or training.
Conclusion
Care leavers face significant challenges transitioning into further education, employment or training. Care leavers aged 19–21 are three times more likely not to be in education, employment or training than their peers. There is insufficient support for those transitioning into further education or training. There is also a lack of official data on post-16 education pathways, attainment and outcomes for those with care experience. (Conclusion, Paragraph 195)
Government Response Summary
The government states "PLANS ALREADY IN PLACE", detailing the Youth Guarantee for 18-21 year olds and Skills White Paper commitments to strengthen identification and support for NEET young people, including care leavers, through improved data sharing, revised guidance, auto-enrolment pilots, and strengthened attendance tracking.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
PLANS ALREADY IN PLACE The Get Britain Working White Paper announced the Youth Guarantee for 18–21-year-olds in England to ensure young people are either learning and earning. This includes access to high-quality training, apprenticeships, and personalised support to find work. Through the Guarantee, support is available to young people aged 18 to 21, with a focus on those who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), or at risk of becoming NEET. This includes care leavers and others facing multiple or complex barriers. The programme also has flexibility to support 16–17-year-olds who are most at risk of becoming NEET, ensuring targeted support reaches those who need it most. Skills White Paper Commitments We will strengthen how young people at risk of becoming NEET are identified and supported. Local authorities, Strategic Authorities, schools, and further education providers will be enabled to share and use data more effectively, supported by new “Risk of NEET” indicator tools and guidance. Artificial intelligence will enhance this process, and collaboration with organisations focused on tackling NEETs will improve data collection and sharing to support smooth transitions. Schools will play a stronger role in ensuring every pupil has a clear post-16 destination. Revised guidance will require targeted support for those at risk, and Ofsted’s framework will reflect these expectations. Updates to the Raising Participation Age Guidance and the September Guarantee will clarify schools’ responsibilities for providing high-quality careers advice and working with local authorities to secure places for vulnerable young people. In order to prevent 16- and 17-year-olds from dropping out, any young person without a post-16 plan will automatically be allocated a place at a local college or FE provider, with wraparound support. Pilots will test an auto-enrolment model to ensure this approach works. Attendance tracking will also be strengthened across all 16–19 providers, adapting best practice from schools to identify early signs of disengagement. Local oversight will be enhanced, giving Strategic Authorities a greater role in accountability and data sharing.