Definition of NEET and risk factors
What does NEET actually mean?
NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment or Training.
Young people should be in education, meaningful employment or training up until the age of 18. If a young person is not in education, employment or training, they are sometimes referred to as NEET.
In November 2008, the Education and Skills Act 2008, introduced a duty for young people to continue in education or training beyond the age of 16.
In 2015 the participation age was raised to 18. In order to meet the requirements of this policy, a young person does not need to stay in school. They can meet the requirements by:
- attending full-time education (school, college, or training provider)
- doing an apprenticeship
- working or volunteering for 20 or more hours per week, while undertaking a part time education or training course
What does the law say?
Participation in education or training until age 18 is a legal requirement under the Education and Skills Act 2008, but there are currently no active penalties or prosecution powers applied to young people who do not participate.
Under the Education and Skills Act 2008, local authorities have duties to:
- promote participation in education and training
- identify young people who are not participating
- support young people to engage in suitable provision
- track participation and maintain information about young people's destinations
Risk of NEET indicators
Young people with certain characteristics are more at risk of being NEET. The risk increases for those with multiple risk factors. Risk factors include:
- low educational attainment (not achieving 4 to 9 at GCSE)
- poor school attendance
- disrupted education, such as multiple school moves
- unsatisfactory behaviour and attitudes towards school
- low self-confidence
- care experienced or looked after children, and those with social care support
- special educational needs, learning difficulties or disabilities
- teenage mothers and pregnant teens
- young carers
- health problems, especially mental health problems
- coming from a low-income family
- some ethnic minority groups, particularly black and mixed ethnicity
- being in a pupil referral unit or alternative provision
- those who experience temporary or permanent exclusion
- refugees and asylum seekers
- those with English as an additional language (EAL)
- substance and/or alcohol misuse
- electively home educated (EHE)
- contact with the criminal justice system, for example, supervision by a youth offending team
- identified as at risk of exploitation
- homelessness
Experiencing multiple types of marginalisation increases NEET risk. 5 key risk factors that strongly associated with NEET status:
- not having an academic qualification above level 1
- having a limiting disability
- having a child
- having a mental health condition.
- having been identified as having special educational needs