§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles held in young offenders institutions in England and Wales have(a) been previously excluded from school and (b) have a level of educational attainment below level 1 basic skills. [90486]
§ Hilary BennWe do not collect information centrally on how many juvenile offenders in custody have been excluded from school. Early in 2001 the Howard League for Penal Reform found from a sample of 84 15 year olds in custody that 83 per cent. had been excluded. More recently—as part of its audit of education and training provision within the youth justice system (published in November 2001)—the Youth Justice Board interviewed 160 offenders aged between 15 and 18 and found that 45 per cent. had been permanently excluded.
Basic skills screening of juvenile offenders received into custody between April and November 2002 indicates that 42 per cent. are below level 1 in reading, 51 per cent. in spelling, 59 per cent. in writing and 43 per cent. in numeracy.
Investment so far in staff and buildings in the juvenile estate—particularly the appointment of a Special Needs Co-ordinator to each establishment and one Learning Support Assistant for every 10 juveniles—is already having a positive impact on achievement, as is the piloting of innovative teaching strategies. In the first half of 2002–03, juveniles in custody gained around 2,000 basic skills qualifications, almost three quarters of which were at entry level or level 1. And we expect achievement to improve further as a result of our enhancements.
The Youth Justice Board is investing £40 million over this year and next in education and training across the 13 juvenile facilities, including £10 million in new buildings. These resources will enable implementation of the new National Specification for Learning and Skills, introduction of the PLUS literacy programme, and enhanced staffing. They will also address the recommendation in the Social Exclusion Unit's report Bridging the Gap that 16 to19 year olds should receive 30 hours per week of education, training and personal development.