Local Authorities Group
This group is for local authority representatives. The purpose of the group is to ensure local authority colleagues receive the information they need ahead of the Machinery of Government changes.
Meeting Outputs
The main focus of the meeting on 30 October was how the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) will work with local authorities (LAs). In relation to this, staff from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who will be transferring to the YPLA provided the following updates:
- An overview of the Young People's Learning Agency's role in 14-19 learning and the functions of difference organisations in the new FE landscape.
- How the National Commissioning Framework will work, and information about the forthcoming draft consultation document, which will outline the Framework in full.
- How the YPLA's regional integrated analytical teams plan to meet the information needs of local authorities.
As planning for 2010/11 commissioning is already underway, discussions related to the processes that will apply to commissioning from 2011/12 onwards. Some of the main issues raised included:
- The need for reliable information, at provider level, on the quality provision being delivered, to inform commissioning decisions.
- How LAs can ensure that providers in their area offer a wider range of provision, to ensure that learner demand is being met, and that all providers are not competing for the same learners.
- Consistent data standards are essential. LAs currently manage multiple systems (such as schools, Connexions, social care) which hold information on the same people, but these people may appear differently in each database (different identification numbers and codes).
- LAs should make more use of their Connexions data, as it contains data on all young people in their area, not just those in further education.
- The role of LAs in commissioning provision, including the perception that different approaches are used by the LSC and LAs when terminating contracts with learning providers.
Meeting papers
Local Authorities Group - Agenda - 30 October 2009 (113Kb)
The role of the Young People's Learning Agency in the new delivery system for 14-19 learning (71Kb)
How the Young People's Learning Agency is preparing to take up its new responsibilities (37Kb)
YPLA: National Commissioning Framework (94Kb)
Sharing Data with Local Authorities (26Kb)
Date of next meeting
The meeting due to be held on 25 February 2010 has been cancelled. Please see our news item for further details.
Interested in joining the group?
Please send a email to cst@theia.org.uk if you are interested in joining the group.
