Shine on a foundation learning course and we forecast a bright future for you.

That was the view of young people from Tameside, Greater Manchester as they met in the chambers of Dukinfield Town Hall to give their verdict on programmes such as Entry to Employment.

Rathbone childcare apprentices: Kiran Niaz, Frankie Hitchen, Sophie Owen, Sarah Glynn and Abigail Holland.

Some of those young people have overcome stormy times in mainstream education to succeed with organisations including Age Concern, Connexions, Rathbone, Skills Solutions and Tameside College. Sixteen-year-old Shanice Catlow didn’t enjoy high school but gets on well with her understanding tutors at Ashton based TNG and is earning the qualifications she needs to take her first steps in childcare. Rathbone’s Rebecca Rushton (18) is also learning to look after children and believes her borough is “brilliant” because she’s been able to find a work placement at a nursery school – where her own toddlers are looked after!

“The aim of the Learners Voice event was to evaluate how good foundation learning was and explore what barriers there were to young people progressing” explained Rathbone Centre Manager for Ashton, Audra Nicholls. Feedback will be examined by the Children and Young People’s Board at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

John Strong, 14-19 Entitlement Manager at the Council said: "This event will help us greatly in our understanding of what young people across Tameside want from their learning, which is clearly an essential factor for us in determining the range of our learners' needs. This, of course, is what underpins our Foundation Learning strategy- to ensure that these needs are met."

The event certainly gave young people plenty of creative channels to express their voice with - including art projects and a Big Brother diary room.