Commissioning 16-19 learning in partnership with local authorities: Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
On 1 April 2010, the functions previously carried out by the LSC relating to 16-19 education and training transferred either to local authorities or the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA).
Local authorities have the lead commissioning role for all 16-19 provision as well as for learners with a learning difficulty or disability (LLDD) up to age 24, and for young people in youth custody up to age 18. The Shared Commissioning Services (SCS) is the new team that carries out this commissioning role on behalf of the four individual local authorities in the West of England. Although local authorities do not have direct responsibly for funding sixth form places in academies or apprenticeships, commissioning plans will include an assessment of the number of places required.
The four local authorities are working as a sub-regional group. This sub-regional level of working is coherent with the cross-boundary travel to learn patterns, economic development and other key strategies within the West of England area. Working in this way provides a forum for local authorities to work and plan together. Other benefits of a sub-regional arrangement include a clear lead commissioner for providers (enabling one conversation with providers, particularly those serving several local authority areas) and efficient deployment of LA resources . This enables local authorities to build a picture of local needs and demand through individual LA 16-19 commissioning plans which are coherent and affordable . The plans will take into account the cross boundary flow of learners, the quality of provision, as well as other factors such as LLDD and specialist provision.
The SCS was established in April this year as a separate arm of the local authority controlled company Learning Partnership West (LPW) which also delivers the Education Business Partnership (EBP), Information Advice & Guidance (IAG) and Connexions West services across the area. There is a clear separation of the commissioning and delivery of services within the company.
The SCS is based at LPW’s Colston Avenue offices in central Bristol. The team are employed by the local authorities and seconded to LPW. The team includes a 16-19 Director, a 16-19 Manager for each local authority area and a small team of 16-19 Advisors working across the West of England sub-region on areas such as LLDD, Apprenticeships, Data, Contracts and Finance.
The SCS links in with the Young People’s Learning Agency and Skills Funding Agency, on behalf of the individual local authorities and has responsibility for preparing the 16-19 commissioning plan for the West of England sub-region. The SCS team also works with each local authority to produce local 16-19 commissioning plans which inform the sub regional plan.
To find out more about the Shared Commissioning Services visit http://lpw.org.uk/pages/commissioning or contact 0117 9074466.
