§ Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they intend to extend literacy and numeracy classes to children and young people in secure training centre and young offenders institutions. [HL4555]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonFollowing admission to a secure training centre, each child or young person is currently assessed and set an individual training plan which includes a minimum of 25 hours a week of education based on the national curriculum, one hour a day on tackling offending behaviour and avoiding further involvement in crime and regular practical tuition in social skills and domestic training.
Basic and key skills training is already a priority for those in young offender institutions. The Prison Service has a target to reduce by 15 per cent the proportion of prisoners discharged at the end of their sentences with basic skills in literacy and numeracy at or below level 1. All Prison Service establishments, including young offender institutions, have been given individual key performance targets showing how many level 2 accreditations they must achieve. In addition to programmes of class teaching and private study, the Prison Service is developing innovative projects to support basic skills needs through catering, physical education and prison workshops.
We are currently looking at ways of improving the quality of education and providing more focused literacy and numeracy programmes for young people in custody.