Addressed problem: “One-size-fits-all”
A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach cannot be used for young people at risk of leaving education early, or for those who have already done so. They need individualised educational responses. This refers to the content of the learning and the way it is delivered, as well as any additional learning support. This can help to ensure that learners are following a pathway that suits their interests and learning styles, as well as helping to tackle any barriers they face.
Target group
Young people who have already dropped out and are returning to education, as well as young people who are at risk of dropping out.
How can a tailored approach be achieved?
An individualised approach can be achieved through:
- Establishing individual learning or career plans
- Ensuring needs-based learning support is provided
- Establishing individual health or well-being plans
- Implementing a case management approach to support students’ non-educational needs
- Mentoring / Coaching
An individualised approach also relies on flexible learning pathways, in order to tailor learning provision.
The following tips are given as advice to policy-makers and practitioners involved in the design and delivery of such measures. The information is based on Cedefop research into successful measures as well as other relevant evidence.
Tip 1: Develop an individual learning or career plan
Establishing an individual learning plan which outlines personalised learning objectives, means that young people can be given a tailored learning experience. The learning objectives should be clear, realistic and measurable, so that the learner understands what is required to achieve them and can measure his/her achievements against them.
A learning plan should meet the needs of the individual in terms of both content and learning styles. It could cover for example: subjects to study as part of a learning programme; academic support to be provided; long-term goals for the student; post-secondary plans and how the young person can prepare for these. Similarly, a career plan is a way of identifying learning and development that needs to be undertaken in the transition towards or through working life. It may set out a career objective as well as short-term career goals, and identify potential barriers to progression.
An individual learning plan or career plan is formulated together with the teacher/trainer or other support staff (e.g. counsellor, mentor). It is important that the staff involved in preparing these plans have been given training in how to develop them. Sometimes the young person’s parents may be involved.
Tip 2: Assess the individual’s existing skills and knowledge base
An individual learning or career plan should be formulated based on an initial assessment of the young person’s profile and existing skills, and should build on these. This assessment might look at, for example, the level of basic skills of the learner, prior learning and work experience, as well as motivation. It should also identify an individual’s needs, for example in terms of learning support. A self-assessment by the learner might form part of this process.
Taking this kind of holistic approach to the development of the plan and basing it on an in-depth individual assessment, rather than providing ‘directional’ guidance (offering a number of options and asking the young person to choose one) is more likely to have success with this target group.
Undertaking this kind of initial assessment can help to ensure that the learning programme offered (in terms of level and content) is suited to the young person. It also means that the learner’s pathway within that programme can be tailored to their needs.
Tip 3: Tailor the plan to the young person
A learning / career plan should take account of the young person’s individual circumstances as well as his/her existing talents, competences and skills, strengths and weaknesses. It is important for example to take account of any basic skills that are lacking and ensure that these are tackled in the early stages of the learning pathway. It should set out realistic learning objectives and clear goals and should also cover how the individual’s support needs will be addressed. For instance, for young people with a high record of absence, the individual plan could address how the lost learning time will be made up.
Tip 4: Utilise the process to empower the young person
It is important that any individual plan is developed in conjunction with the student. There should be some freedom for the young person to decide what and how they will learn, for example opportunities to choose work-based options.
The initial assessment can be an empowering process for the young person. Helping them to identify existing skills and competences, and possibly how these pertain to the curriculum, can help to boost their self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem. This is particularly important for young people who have never achieved a formal qualification, or who have been led to see themselves as a ‘failure’ in a formal educational context.
Tip 5: Conduct regular reviews of progress against the plan
Once the plan has been agreed, ongoing support should then be provided by a teacher/trainer, mentor, careers adviser, counsellor or other support person. This ongoing support means that the learning objectives can be regularly reviewed to assess progress. There should be periodic opportunities to provide one-to-one feedback on progress in relation to the plan, and if necessary to revise the plan in line with this progress.
Tip 6: Ensure the young person is committed to the plan
For any individual plan to succeed, it is important that the young person is committed to achieving the targets and goals set out. This commitment can be achieved in a number of ways, including through a positive relationship with the staff member responsible for reviewing the plan, as well as regular opportunities to hear feedback on their progress.
Contracts can also be used as a way of setting out an individualised learning pathway and support plan which formalises the commitment from the young person. A contract might include, for example, objectives for the young person, together with details of the help and support he/she is entitled to receive. It may also refer to financial support the young person will receive whilst participating in the contract. Signing the contract can be a commitment from the young person to meeting his/her obligations as set out in the contract, e.g. regular attendance, timely completion of assignments, etc.). Having the contract in place sets out a two-way agreement, outlining the expectations of the young person and the organisation supporting him/her and can help to secure the young person’s buy-in to fulfilling these expectations.
Tip 7: Address other learning support needs
It is important to ensure that any learning support needs are addressed in order to enable a young person to achieve the objectives set out in his/her learning plan. These support needs could relate to any learning difficulties such as dyslexia, or to language needs in the case of migrant children for example. Learners who are often absent need support to develop a plan to make up the lost learning time. It is also important to foresee alternatives to suspension or expulsion, including onsite supports with multidisciplinary teams.
For young people facing complex barriers to learning, an individual health or well-being plan, or an integrated education and health plan may be required. Similarly to learning and career plans, a health plan should be based on an initial assessment and should take account of the physiological needs (e.g. sleep, hunger) of the student, as well as his/her social and psychological needs. It should aim to achieve the best possible health for the young person, whilst at the same time maximising engagement in learning provision. A health plan should be regularly monitored. Ideally, parents should be engaged in the process, together with the young person, a staff member from the learning provider, and if appropriate a health professional.
Expected outcomes
Giving young people the opportunity to steer their own educational pathway through the development of individual learning and career plans and clearly setting-out learning objectives, is a way of increasing their engagement and motivation. It also helps them to feel a sense of ownership over their future plans and to feel in control of their own situation. Furthermore, if they are actively involved in developing the individual plan, this will give them skills to continue to plan and manage their careers in the future.
Ensuring provision is needs-based and addresses the additional support needs of the young person can break down barriers to learning. This is likely to contribute to increased motivation, attendance and ultimately success rates.
