Youth support services
Section 123 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 gives the Welsh Assembly Government powers to direct local authorities in Wales to provide youth support services for all 11 to 25 year olds; to secure the provision from others and to participate in the provision of youth support services with others. The section goes on to define "youth support services".
The statutory basis for the inspection of these youth services in Wales is set out in Sections 127 and 128 of the Act. Section 127 provides for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales to advise the Welsh Assembly Government on youth support services and, when requested by the Assembly, to inspect and report on the provision of such services. As local authorities will have a major role in the provision of youth support services in Wales in accordance with Section 124 of the Act, some inspections of these services may be carried out alongside Best Value inspections of local education authorities.
Each year Estyn inspects a sample of local authority and voluntary sector youth services and undertakes surveys of aspects of provision and issues which have policy priority. Further to these, Estyn also carries out regular monitoring to advise the Welsh Assembly Government on trends and changes in the pattern of resourcing, management and organisation of local services. The purpose of inspection is also to give information to providers about the quality of the services to encourage them to build on their strengths and rectify weaknesses, to inform the public, and to disseminate information and publicise examples of good practice throughout Wales.
All inspections are conducted in accordance with Estyn’s Common Inspection Framework for Education and Training in Wales and the Guidance on the Inspection of Youth Support Services.
Click for:
Post-Inspection Questionnaire
Inspection guidance
Youth support services inspection reports
Relevant publications for youth support services
Youth support services inspection schedule
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