July 4, 2022, Politics: New guide outlines steps to tackle woefully inadequate educational provision for children in custody https://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-former/press-release/2022/07/04/new-guide-outlines-steps-to-tackle-woefully-inadequate-educational-provision-for-children-in-custody/
Educational provision in prisons and secure training centres is woefully inadequate for children in both quantity and quality, according to a new guide which outlines key steps that practitioners can take to address the problemEducation inside penal detention for children in England: An overview, published today (Friday 1 July) by the Howard League for Penal Reform and Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA), reveals that more than two-thirds of children in custody have special educational needs (SEN).
These needs – which can include learning difficulties, speech, language and communication difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health problems – are often mislabelled, unrecognised and unmet.
Many children in custody who require the additional support of an Education, Health and Care plan do not have one. When plans are made, often they are of poor quality and specify support that is not provided.
The guide highlights the work that must be done to ensure that children have the same educational entitlements and provision in custody as they do in the community.
Claire Salama, Managing Solicitor at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “Children in prisons and secure training centres have a statutory right to a minimum amount of education each week.
“But the Howard League is aware from its legal work that resourcing issues in prisons have prevented children from receiving the education to which they are entitled – and this was happening even before the Covid-19 pandemic, during which provision stopped completely for a period.....
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