The role of the Connexions service in supporting the transition from school to post-16 education, employment training and work for young people with a history of specific speech and language difficulties or learning difficulties

The transition from school to the world of post-compulsory education is a major landmark in the lives of young people with special educational needs (SEN). In England the Connexions service set up to support young people during transition was planned to provide both a universal service and one that provided special support to vulnerable young people, particularly those at risk of not being in education, employment or training (NEET). The present paper reports the findings of a study of 46 Connexions personal advisers (PAs) who were supporting young people with specific speech and language difficulties (SSLD) or general learning difficulties, as part of a longitudinal study of these young people's development. Interviews were held with the PAs to identify patterns of organisation, the nature of services delivered to these young people and the factors that influenced successful support. The findings highlight the diversity among Connexions services, the limited expertise with young people with SEN and the structural barriers that may limit effectiveness. In addition, the Assessment, Planning, Implementation and Review Framework was not consistently used. The Connexions service has the potential to provide important support to young people with SEN at this key transition point but our study indicates the need for modifications to its operation

Delivering NEET policy packages? A decade of NEET policy in England

This article explores the way in which government policy shapes the lives of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). In particular it examines how the concept of NEETs is set within a specific infrastructure and discourse for managing and supporting young people. The article provides a brief history of the NEET concept and NEET initiatives, before moving on to scrutinise the policies of the Coalition Government. A key distinction is made between those policies and practices that seek to prevent young people becoming NEET from those that seek to re-engage those who are NEET. It is argued that the Coalition has drawn on a similar active labour market toolkit to the previous Labour administration, but that this has been implemented with fewer resources and less co-ordination. It concludes that there is little reason to believe that Coalition policy will be any more successful than that of the previous government, and some reason to be concerned that it will lead to young people becoming more entrenched within NEET

The active involvement of young people in the Connexions Service Managers guide and practitioners guide

Contains an inserted booklet 1, 'A guide for managers' and 2, 'A practitioners guide' integrated into a folderAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m01/31304 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Working together Connexions and social services

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m01/38830 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Implementing the Connexions service in colleges

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m02/21810 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

A little book of evaluation

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m01/35895 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo