Norfolk County Council has confirmed there are 1,080 young people aged 16 to 18 in the county who are not in education, employment or training — a cohort highlighted nationally by the Millburn Review as being effectively invisible to authorities.

Cllr David Thomas raised the issue at the full council meeting on 21 July, asking what estimate the council held and what proactive steps were being taken to reach young people before they became further detached from work and education.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and SEND said Norfolk performs better than the national average at tracking this group. Between December 2025 and February 2026, the county's rate of young people with unknown status stood at 0.8%, compared to 2.4% nationally.

The council said preventative work begins before pupils leave compulsory education, with risk indicators shared with schools for Year 10 and 11 students. Only 9% of pupils flagged as high risk subsequently become NEET, according to the council.

Each May, the council works with schools to identify young people who may need help moving into post-16 learning. By mid-September, around 3,500 young people are typically identified for follow-up, with a dedicated tracking team contacting them between September and December.

For young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan, support is extended up to age 25 through annual reviews and multi-agency transition planning.

The council acknowledged it does not hold equivalent data for those aged 18 and above, as that information is held by the Department for Work and Pensions.