Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her department is taking to support young people not in education employment or training, in Harpenden and Berkhamsted.

The government has announced a package of measures aimed at preventing young people from becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET). A central challenge is that too many young people are identified as at risk too late, when disengagement has already occurred.

To address this, the government is strengthening early identification and intervention, including improved data sharing between local authorities, schools, and further education providers, alongside the introducing a ‘Risk of NEET’ indicator tool. Schools will also have a stronger role in ensuring every pupil has a clear post-16 destination.

The Youth Guarantee is a major part of this wider package of NEET prevention measures, with additional investment of £2.5 billion in support for young people and employers over the next few years including a Youth Jobs Grant, Youth Hubs, a Jobs Guarantee and apprenticeship incentives.