What is information, advice and guidance?
IAG is a key element of local authority integrated youth support services. It covers a range of activities that equip young people to manage their personal and career development, including learning, and to become more self-reliant.
IAG includes:
• information – accurate, up-to-date and objective information about personal and lifestyle issues, learning and career opportunities, progression routes, choices, where to find help and advice and how to access it
• advice – activities that help young people to gather, understand and interpret information and apply it to their own situation
• guidance – impartial guidance and specialist support to help young people understand themselves and their needs, confront barriers,
resolve conflicts, develop new perspectives and make progress
• support for curriculum development.
Why is good quality IAG important?
Good quality IAG supports young people’s personal development, achievement and career progression. It helps them make successful
transitions through learning and into work. There is strong evidence that young people who receive good quality IAG achieve more and are less likely to drop out or change courses than those who do not. Young people say they want and need more help when making lifestyle decisions and choices about their next and future steps.
Good quality IAG:
• contributes directly to the achievement of the five Every Child Matters outcomes
• facilitates the implementation of the 14-19 curriculum
• features in Ofsted inspections, which look at how well IAG contributes to achieving good outcomes for young people
• supports individual progression and achievement by tackling misunderstandings, challenging stereotypical and traditional thinking, and helping to ensure that young people see all options as real
• helps in the achievement of local post-16 progression targets.
Quality Standards for Young People’s IAG
These have been produced to support the development of consistently high quality and impartial information, advice and guidance services.
User guide – includes an audit form to review existing provision
STEM Choices – science, technology, engineering and maths resource pack
CEGNET – careers education and information, advice and guidance support programme
A new UK Government took office on 11 May. As a result the content on this site may not reflect current Government policy.
All statutory guidance and legislation published on this site continues to reflect the current legal position unless indicated otherwise.