History sometimes provides answers that reduce the need for further investigations. I was managing a local authority secure children's home in 1993 when Home Secretary Michael Howard announced that there would be five new establishments built to replace the use of young offender institutions for under-18s. This was motivated by the public outcry at deaths within YOIs. These new establishments - secure training centres (STCs) - were to be akin to secure children's homes, but more cost-efficient (i.e. cheaper).
Delays meant the first one, Medway, was not opened until 1998, when the incarceration of children had increased to a level where the five new STCs would not have sufficient capacity. The incoming Labour administration made some effort to solve the problem by nominating specific YOIs to cater for younger prisoners.
STCs have notoriously failed to eradicate deaths of children in custody, and there is little evidence that the redesignated YOIs had any understanding of what they needed to do to protect or help children.
If we continue to lock children up, then the emphasis needs to be on their care, education and rehabilitation. Resolving the problems they have experienced is more likely to benefit society than avenging the problems they have created. We knew this well before 1993, so what is needed is political courage rather than further investigation.
Roy Grimwood, trustee, Children's Rights Alliance for England
Retreat for disruptive pupils
Your article on the deterioration of children's behaviour in schools struck a chord (cynow.co.uk, 18 April).
The government is expected to provide new guidelines for schools from July 2011 on dealing with pupil behaviour and discipline. The guidelines should not simply make it easier for difficult pupils to be punished, but support schools to reignite their interest in learning.
Schools are increasingly providing inclusion facilities to help students focus on learning without disrupting their peers. One example of this is at Mount Grace School in Potters Bar. It provides an on-site pupil "retreat" area where children at risk of permanent exclusion are given access to live online teaching. The children log on to scheduled online lessons via a PC and communicate with their online teachers through a headset. Learning in this way allows teachers to control pupils' interactions with their classmates. It encourages progress and ensures disruptive pupils continue to access the curriculum. Non-attendance has been halved at the school and GCSE pass rates have doubled.
Nick Parry, head teacher, Accipio Learning
Email cypnow@haymarket.com or write to The editor, CYP Now, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP.
