PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(12 November 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that teachers in young offenders institutes receive adequate (a) training and (b) support to help them address potentially challenging behaviour by offenders in those institutes.

Asked by:
Ben Goldsborough (Labour)

All teachers in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) have access to training and continuing professional development led by education providers, based on individual need. Teachers in YOI education departments utilise the behaviour management strategies set by establishments, and those set specifically by the education providers. Establishments have worked together to train staff in behaviour management strategies, to enable all functions to work holistically.

We recognise that rates of turnover and attrition have an impact on levels of experience among staff working with young people in YOIs, and we are seeking to address this. The Youth Custody Service (YCS) has recruited a dedicated national Head of Learning and Enrichment and Heads of Education, Skills and Work locally. These are all directly employed people with education leadership experience, whose role involves driving up quality standards. The YCS has worked with Ofsted to provide workshops to Governors, Deputy Governors, YCS central senior leaders and Heads of Education Skills and Work, to support them in leading improvements in the delivery of a rich curriculum.

Answered by:
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1 January 1970