Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
On 12 November 2009 the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act received royal assent. The Act contains a raft of new measures designed to help facilitate the country’s long term economic and social needs.
The Act introduces a landmark ‘time to train’ initiative which will bestow employees with a legal right to request time off to train throughout their working lives. The right will create an obligation for employers to consider the request carefully; however, employers will be permitted to decline the request for a good business reason. Moreover, there will be no obligation for employers to meet the costs of the training, or pay employees’ salaries during the training period.
The Act also introduces reforms to post-16 education and training, to improve delivery to young people and adults. From 2010, local authorities will have responsibility for commissioning and funding all education and training for young people. This will make them the strategic lead for all children’s services from 0-19.
In order to facilitate this change, a new slimline non-departmental public body, the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA), will support local authorities to carry out their new duties.
Furthermore, changes to the provision of education training for 16-19 year olds are also included. Local authorities will take on the responsibility for securing education and training for all 16-19 year olds (in order to create a single, joined up offer for all children and young people from 0-19). The new Skills Funding Agency will oversee a demand-led approach to education and training provision for adults, which is better tailored to the needs of businesses and learners. The Act will also ensure that young people in schools are given proper information, advice and guidance about vocational training opportunities.
Click here for a more detailed summary of the Act’s key measures.
For more information, please contact Tom Goodwin.