Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 41
41
Accepted
Prioritise education in youth custody action plan and address operational delivery barriers
Recommendation
The current conditions in youth custody settings are deplorable, and it is shameful that access to education for children has deteriorated as part of this wider decline. As part of an action plan for youth custody, as recommended in paragraph 120, education must be placed at the forefront. The Ministry of Justice must set out how it will address the operational barriers to education delivery—including staffing, behaviour management, and ‘keep apart’ arrangements—and ensure that education is prioritised as a core component of the youth custody regime. (Recommendation, Paragraph 177)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and is addressing failings in youth custody education through "Roadmaps to Effective Practice in Education." They plan to ensure individualised, trauma-informed learning supported by comprehensive multi-disciplinary plans to overcome operational barriers.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Accept. The YCS recognises these failings and is addressing them through the Roadmaps to Effective Practice in Education outlined in paragraph 76-77. Many children and young people in custody have a disrupted education before coming into the YCS and may have spent years out of school prior to their admission. A significant percentage of children spend a very short time in custody, limiting what we can help them achieve. Creating a varied and broad curriculum with a tailored education service is also a challenge due to the variation in learning needs, high levels of violence, gang affiliation and management of this through ‘keep-apart’. In 2022, sites began seven-year contracts, and it is evident after three years of operation that these contracts need some variation to drive improvements. The contracts in place provide a minimum 15 hours of education delivery, but these assume a class size of 8, which in practice is not achievable due to the levels of violence and ‘keep-aparts’. Evidence from alternative education recommends a 1 to 4 ratio which requires higher staffing levels. We know that to ensure success, each child’s learning journey should be supported by a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary plan that addresses their holistic needs – academic, social, emotional, and personal. Learning should be seen as part of a broader cultural shift within YOIs, focusing on how each site can enable high-quality, individualised delivery that is trauma informed. Each site’s local roadmap will serve as a strategic framework to guide the delivery of learning, safety, and overall outcomes. By fostering this collaborative and trauma-sensitive environment, we can help children achieve better educational outcomes and equip them with the skills they need for the future.