Learner Needs


Effective careers education and IAG are led by and responsive to young people’s needs. To ensure that local arrangements help young people to progress, make choices that work for them and experience smooth transitions, strategic planning activities should take account of the following types of need.

 

Core needs – these are the needs that all young people have in common. National requirements, advice and guidance identify these needs and the action required to meet them. Core needs include:

 

Specific needs – these are needs arising from, for example, particular gifts or talents, learning difficulties and disabilities, gender, race and socio-economic background. Practical advice on how best to meet these needs is available from specialist staff (e.g. special educational needs and other co-ordinators), Connexions and other external IAG providers, and specialist organisations (e.g. the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, the Equal Opportunities Commission and Skill). The resources on this page provide further information and ideas on how to meet young people’s specific needs.

 

Individual needs – all young people have individual needs. Information sources that can help with their identification include management data, the outcomes of assessment, planning, review, and guidance processes and the outcomes of learner voice strategies (e.g. feedback on the value and impact of careers education and IAG activities). Meeting individual needs is best achieved by personalising career learning and providing personalised support and guidance.

 

Local needs – the area in which young people live has an impact on their career-related learning and IAG needs. Provision should take account of the local Children and Young People’s Plan and factors such as local demographics, the influence of past progression patterns and career aspirations within the community, opportunities in learning and work and the transport infrastructure.

 

Questions to ask yourself

  • Do your careers education and IAG provision flow from an accurate picture and understanding of young people’s needs?
  • Do your provision and practice challenge stereotypes, promote equality, broaden young people’s horizons, raise aspirations and open up new opportunities?
  • How do you know?
  • What can you do to improve your understanding of young people’s needs and enhance provision and practice so that they better meet those needs

 

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