Education budget changes force some young offender institutions to make cuts

By Neil Puffett Tuesday, 02 February 2010

Education budgets at some young offender institutions (YOIs) have been cut as part of a drive to achieve parity across the youth secure estate, CYP Now has learned.

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The move means all YOIs will now receive £7,000 per young person, but a number are understood to be unhappy as they have been forced to cut back on education provision for offenders.

The situation arose when the contract for the education of young people in YOIs, currently held by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), was renewed in August 2009.

The new contracts will remain in place beyond April, when the responsibility for education shifts from the LSC to local authorities.

Penelope Gibbs, director of the Prison Reform Trust's campaign to reduce the number of children and young people in custody, said: "The children should be getting as many hours of education as they would in the community if they were in school.

"If any education hours are being reduced from what they were it is concerning."

Youth Justice Board chief executive John Drew said the move aimed to allow for a fairer system of funding allocation. Requirements are that at least 15 hours of education should be provided each week, although some YOIs exceed this.

In addition, a further 10 hours of "constructive activity" must be provided each week.

Read more: How 16 to 19 switch affects prisons