Recommendations & Conclusions
19 items
1
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The purpose of education and training in prisons should be to get prisoners onto the ladder of opportunity. It must play a key role in improving the employability of prisoners and therefore in reducing reoffending. However, prison education must be understood in broader terms than just improving the employability of …
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The purpose of education and training in prisons should be to get prisoners onto the ladder of opportunity. It must play a key role in improving the employability of prisoners and therefore in reducing reoffending. However, prison education must be understood in broader terms than just improving the employability of a prisoner. Education allows a prisoner to gain self-confidence and provides mental health benefits in isolating conditions, while improving their behaviour in prison. Education has a value in itself, developing the person as a whole. The Ministry of Justice must develop prison education policy accordingly.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and is already strengthening performance measures for governors, including new KPIs for education. They are reviewing job descriptions, training, and assessment requirements for governors to ensure a high standard of education in prisons.
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Department for Education
2
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The Coates Review highlighted the need for prison education to be at the heart of the prison system. Six years later, this aspiration has still not been realised. It is imperative that there is a renewed focus on embedding a culture of education into prison establishments. This will not happen …
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The Coates Review highlighted the need for prison education to be at the heart of the prison system. Six years later, this aspiration has still not been realised. It is imperative that there is a renewed focus on embedding a culture of education into prison establishments. This will not happen unless it is supported by all prison departments, and by all levels of staff. The Ministry of Justice must ensure that there is an understanding across the prison estate about the importance of prison education. It is also incumbent on Governors to raise the profile of prison education and to promote and facilitate education in prisons wherever possible.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and plans to introduce a range of staff training, including relevant content on the importance of education, skills and work for prisoner rehabilitation within the new prison officer apprenticeship programme.
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Department for Education
3
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The job description and key performance measures used when assessing Governors must be amended to require Governors to ensure that providing adequate prison education and a culture of learning is part of their core responsibilities, and something on which they must be held to account for as part of their …
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The job description and key performance measures used when assessing Governors must be amended to require Governors to ensure that providing adequate prison education and a culture of learning is part of their core responsibilities, and something on which they must be held to account for as part of their performance. Prison officers should also receive training to ensure that they understand the importance of education in supporting prisoners to find employment and reducing reoffending, so they develop a positive attitude towards the role that education has to play in prisons.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts this recommendation and is in the process of recruiting for the new senior role of Head of Education, Skills and Work who will have responsibility for overseeing prison and provider delivery of education, skills, and work.
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Department for Education
6
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
A high proportion of prisoners have learning needs. It is concerning that prisons have only had to screen for additional learning needs since 2019. This means that the majority of the prison population may never have gone through a screening process. It is clear that there is a lack of …
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A high proportion of prisoners have learning needs. It is concerning that prisons have only had to screen for additional learning needs since 2019. This means that the majority of the prison population may never have gone through a screening process. It is clear that there is a lack of data around the numbers of prisoners with special needs and that the true scale of the issue is not known. Government figures currently rely heavily on prisoners self-identifying, and many may be unaware of their learning difficulties or too embarrassed to ask for support. The Ministry of Justice must re-design CURIOUS to better capture complete data on the levels of prisoners with learning difficulties across the prison estate. It must allow more than one condition to be clearly identified and recorded in the system, and its use must be extended to private prisons. This will enable the Government to properly identify and target funding and support to those that need it most across the prison estate. Assessment and resources for people with ESOL needs should also be considered.
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Government response AI summary
The government will expand the use of CURIOUS to capture data on learning difficulties and disabilities, including in private prisons, and will capture assessment of prisoners identified as ESOL learners or bilingual.
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Department for Education
7
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The current screening process is not adequate to identify prisoners with additional learning needs. The Ministry of Justice must introduce a consistent assessment process for every prisoner when they enter the prison system. We believe there is a strong case for every prisoner to receive an assessment for learning needs …
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The current screening process is not adequate to identify prisoners with additional learning needs. The Ministry of Justice must introduce a consistent assessment process for every prisoner when they enter the prison system. We believe there is a strong case for every prisoner to receive an assessment for learning needs from an educational psychologist, or at the very least a more intensive form of screening, and we recommend that the Ministry of Justice prepares a cost appraisal for implementing such an approach.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation; systems to screen for learning needs are in place, but they are reviewing and exploring improvements via a review of LDD assessment and screening tools.
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Department for Education
8
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
There needs to be a whole prison approach to prisoners with learning difficulties. This is currently hampered by the lack of information sharing between the community and the prison estate regarding prisoners’ educational attainment in the community, and any learning difficulties that were identified. This also continues during the prison …
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There needs to be a whole prison approach to prisoners with learning difficulties. This is currently hampered by the lack of information sharing between the community and the prison estate regarding prisoners’ educational attainment in the community, and any learning difficulties that were identified. This also continues during the prison sentence, with different departments holding their own information on prisoners. There must be greater integrated working between different providers in custody—between education, health and offender management. The Government must amend legislation to enable data on prisoners to be shared so that prisons can access prisoners’ previous records of educational attainment from the National Pupil Database, and also to enable previous diagnosis on learning needs to be shared.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that new or amended legislation is not necessary and that data sharing is already permitted; they will invest in the digital and data platform needed to develop personal learning plans and existing data sharing powers are available.
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Department for Education
11
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
We recommend that all prisoners have a personalised Individual Learning Plan linked to their sentence plan, created at the start of their time in prison. This should include the SEND assessment undertaken at their entry into the prison system. The Individual Learning Plan should be updated with their progression and …
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We recommend that all prisoners have a personalised Individual Learning Plan linked to their sentence plan, created at the start of their time in prison. This should include the SEND assessment undertaken at their entry into the prison system. The Individual Learning Plan should be updated with their progression and development during their prison sentence.
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Government response AI summary
The government is developing Personal Learning Plans in line with the recommendations. The new digital system being designed will record initial assessments and record a learning plan to be followed throughout the sentence and will also introduce resettlement passports.
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Department for Education
12
Conclusion
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
Prisoners are often transferred with short notice across the prison estate. The loss or delay in the transfer of their educational records can have serious repercussions on their ability to continue their studies, and can in some cases cause prisoners to become disheartened and to give up on their learning. …
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Prisoners are often transferred with short notice across the prison estate. The loss or delay in the transfer of their educational records can have serious repercussions on their ability to continue their studies, and can in some cases cause prisoners to become disheartened and to give up on their learning. It is unacceptable that the effort made by prisoners in improving themselves can be so easily discarded.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts both recommendations and states that they are developing Personal Learning Plans and will also introduce resettlement passports, which will be set up prior to release and will bring together the key information and services that an individual needs to resettle into society.
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Department for Education
13
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The Ministry of Justice must introduce a digital education passport, which contains a record of a prisoner’s learning, and any identified educational needs, that follows prisoners through their sentence and across the prison estate, and which can be shown to potential employers. (Paragraph 59) Education delivery
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The Ministry of Justice must introduce a digital education passport, which contains a record of a prisoner’s learning, and any identified educational needs, that follows prisoners through their sentence and across the prison estate, and which can be shown to potential employers. (Paragraph 59) Education delivery
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts this recommendation. They state that governors are now responsible for setting the curriculum, and, through the introduction of the Dynamic Purchasing System, they can purchase bespoke local provision and have local plans in place with providers. They are also introducing Heads of …
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Department for Education
20
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
We recommend that prisons have clear and meaningful KPIs related to education, training and employment which are monitored by Ofsted. The Ministry of Justice must also reform the inspection regime so that Ofsted is able to give a grade for the education provider within the prison. We recommend that Ofsted …
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We recommend that prisons have clear and meaningful KPIs related to education, training and employment which are monitored by Ofsted. The Ministry of Justice must also reform the inspection regime so that Ofsted is able to give a grade for the education provider within the prison. We recommend that Ofsted is given the legal tools to allow it to take regulatory action against individual prisons, including, where necessary, changes to the prison leadership. (Paragraph 83) Education facilities and infrastructure
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and states that the introduction of KPIs for governors will ensure they are incentivised to ensure more prisoners make progress and achieve qualifications, and that new contract service levels aim to incentivise providers and prisons to collaborate on learner allocation …
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Department for Education
22
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The lack of controlled and secure access to proper online education is a significant barrier to learning. It is stifling opportunity for improvement through education and leaving prisoners unprepared for the real world, lacking the digital skills they need for employment and life skills, and reducing their likelihood of reoffending. …
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The lack of controlled and secure access to proper online education is a significant barrier to learning. It is stifling opportunity for improvement through education and leaving prisoners unprepared for the real world, lacking the digital skills they need for employment and life skills, and reducing their likelihood of reoffending. The digital divide between prisoners and the community is ever increasing. We cannot let this continue. The pandemic has brought into stark focus the need for prisoners to be able to work individually and in their cells. The Government must set out, by the end of the year, a date for when all prisons will be able to support broadband.
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Government response AI summary
The government teaches basic digital skills in all prisons, has introduced laptops in accelerator prisons, and is working to provide prisoners with a managed in-cell laptop service in 15 prisons by the end of September 2022, subject to continued resourcing.
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Department for Education
25
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The Ministry of Justice must, by the end of this year, set out a clear budget for prisons for the next 10 years, which sets out a long-term strategy for prison education, and a minimum expected spend on prison education. (Paragraph 108) Academic study
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The Ministry of Justice must, by the end of this year, set out a clear budget for prisons for the next 10 years, which sets out a long-term strategy for prison education, and a minimum expected spend on prison education. (Paragraph 108) Academic study
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Government response AI summary
The government is developing annual curriculum guidance to support governors in identifying the best curriculum for their prison population, and will focus on guiding prison course choices to get the most out of education provision.
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Department for Education
26
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The current provision of prison education is too narrow, and is not allowing prisoners to achieve their full potential. Prisoners must be able to access a varied and diverse curriculum. Whilst aiming to meet the basic needs of prisoners with numeracy, literacy and IT, the Ministry of Justice must introduce …
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The current provision of prison education is too narrow, and is not allowing prisoners to achieve their full potential. Prisoners must be able to access a varied and diverse curriculum. Whilst aiming to meet the basic needs of prisoners with numeracy, literacy and IT, the Ministry of Justice must introduce a broader prison education curriculum which supports prisoners’ sentence and learning plans. The provision should also enable prisoners to embed these basic skills in more practical learning experiences. Where practical, prisoners should also be offered the chance to study wider subjects, including arts, and gain employability skills which will be crucial for them as they progress into society and the world of work.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts this recommendation and states that most courses on offer are already unit or module-based to allow ease of transfer.
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Department for Education
29
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
Our Report makes it clear that education should be at the heart of the prison regime. The Government must look at innovative ways to make this a reality. We recommend that the Government establish a pilot scheme establishing specialised prisons with a focus on education, run in partnership with a …
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Our Report makes it clear that education should be at the heart of the prison regime. The Government must look at innovative ways to make this a reality. We recommend that the Government establish a pilot scheme establishing specialised prisons with a focus on education, run in partnership with a local university, a further education college, or other recognised quality educational providers. (Paragraph 125) 46 Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to climb the ladder of opportunity Route to employment
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts this recommendation. They are changing the legislation to enable apprenticeships for prisoners and will establish an Employability Innovation Fund for sector-specific skills training and work experience. They are also engaging with providers to broaden the curriculum and vocational qualifications.
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Department for Education
30
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
Employment has been shown to reduce reoffending. Getting prisoners into employment therefore makes economic sense for society, easing the current burden on prisons, and allowing former prisoners to re-enter society. The low number of prisoners finding long-term employment following their release from prison is stark. The Ministry of Justice must …
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Employment has been shown to reduce reoffending. Getting prisoners into employment therefore makes economic sense for society, easing the current burden on prisons, and allowing former prisoners to re-enter society. The low number of prisoners finding long-term employment following their release from prison is stark. The Ministry of Justice must improve its vocational skills offer to prisoners, ensuring that it is preparing prisoners for the current job market with qualifications that meet industry standards.
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Government response AI summary
By April 2023, all resettlement prisons will have an employment hub in place, providing prisoners with information about job opportunities and support with applications.
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Department for Education
31
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The prison estate has a role in supporting prisoners in finding employment. We welcome the employment hubs that are currently operational, such as that in HMP Thorn Cross, but believe that the scheme must be extended. The Government must, by the end of the year, set out a clear timetable …
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The prison estate has a role in supporting prisoners in finding employment. We welcome the employment hubs that are currently operational, such as that in HMP Thorn Cross, but believe that the scheme must be extended. The Government must, by the end of the year, set out a clear timetable for the roll-out of employment hubs across the prison estate, where appropriate.
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Government response AI summary
By April 2023, all resettlement prisons will have a Prison Employment Lead and Employment Advisory Board in place to link prisons and employers.
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Department for Education
33
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
The New Futures Network was established by the Ministry of Justice to build partnerships with employers and prisons. However, there is no published data as to what success it is having. The Ministry of Justice must publish annual data showing the number of employment opportunities it has found for former …
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The New Futures Network was established by the Ministry of Justice to build partnerships with employers and prisons. However, there is no published data as to what success it is having. The Ministry of Justice must publish annual data showing the number of employment opportunities it has found for former prisoners. The data must show the size of the companies the Network is engaging with to ensure that it is engaging with employers of all sizes, including small and medium sized employers.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and will work to maximise workplace ROTL in the open and female estate, requiring development of a strategy for reshaping the regime, primarily in open prisons.
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Department for Education
34
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
Release on Temporary Licence allows relationships to develop between prisoners and employers and allows prisoners to require vital employment skills. The Government must ensure that greater use is made of Release on Temporary Licence for work placements, thus enabling prisoners to receive employment experience towards the end of their sentence.
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Release on Temporary Licence allows relationships to develop between prisoners and employers and allows prisoners to require vital employment skills. The Government must ensure that greater use is made of Release on Temporary Licence for work placements, thus enabling prisoners to receive employment experience towards the end of their sentence.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts this recommendation. They will change the legislation to enable apprenticeships for prisoners to start in the autumn.
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Department for Education
36
Recommendation
First report - Not just another brick …
Accepted
In any future review of the Apprenticeship Levy, the Government must change the rules to allow businesses to direct it towards prisoner rehabilitation schemes. (Paragraph 151) Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to climb the ladder of opportunity 47
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In any future review of the Apprenticeship Levy, the Government must change the rules to allow businesses to direct it towards prisoner rehabilitation schemes. (Paragraph 151) Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to climb the ladder of opportunity 47
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Government response AI summary
MoJ is setting up Employment Boards and an Employability Innovation Fund that will explore incentives for businesses to recruit prisoners, including tailoring training or setting up workshops within prisons, and will keep this area under review.
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Department for Education