Inmates to be placed on ‘tailored’ learning plan under reforms

By The Press Association18th May 2016News EnglandCourts / Justice, News England, Offenders, Prisons / Offenders

Every prisoner will be placed on a bespoke learning plan as part of a sweeping overhaul of education behind bars.

Inmates will be given a “tailored” programme upon arrival in jail under plans unveiled by the Government.

An independent review also called for the possibility of releasing low-risk offenders early if they show “exceptional progress” in their studies to be explored.

A new fast-track training scheme is set to be launched to attract “high calibre” graduates to work in prisons as part of efforts to improve the quality of teaching.

The measures are central to efforts to drive down re-offending rates by improving criminals’ prospects once they are released.

Figures show that 46% of prisoners commit another crime within 12 months of being released, while only one in four offenders enters employment after being freed.

The new proposals are based on the findings of a major review of prison education, published by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday.

Its author, former head teacher Dame Sally Coates, said education should be “at the heart of the prison system”.

She added: “Prisoners are in prison because they have done wrong. But once they have served their time, it is just to them and in the interests of their communities that they have the same decent chance to re-enter society successfully, to reject crime, to find work, to live fulfilling lives.”

The MoJ said it has accepted all of her recommendations in principle.

The review said: “The early release of certain categories of offenders when they have demonstrated exceptional progress in education should be explored.”

Last year Justice Secretary Michael Gove floated the idea of linking release dates to academic performance.

The report added: “The Justice Secretary’s interest in exploring early release options was noted by many stakeholders.

“It would be something I would support where offenders have shown outstanding commitment to learning and are judged to be at low risk of reoffending.”

Governors should be free to design a framework of incentives that encourage attendance and progression in education – such as increased pay, more time out of cell, or release on temporary licence, the 80-page study said.

It also called for:

:: Work on the testing and use of “in-cell” or tablet learning technology to be accelerated;

:: A trial of video conferencing programmes such as Skype for keeping in touch with friends and family;

:: The introduction of stand-alone Ofsted assessments on the standard of education across the estate.

Mr Gove said: “The current standard of education in prisons is not good enough. Quality is patchy, prisoners are not being given the skills and knowledge they need to find jobs and governors are hampered by an overly bureaucratic system.

“Prison governors will be given control over their education budgets and will have the freedom to change providers. At the same time, we will hold prisons to account for educational outcomes.

“Through better prison education and rehabilitation, we will reduce re-offending, cut crime and improve public safety.”