Education of Young People Leaving Custody

Around 1,000 children between 10 and 17 years are in youth custody at any one time in England and Wales. The previous Government announced a review of sentencing and consulted on plans to put education at the heart of youth custody. For a detailed overview of the provision and quality of education in youth custody in England and Wales and the challenges of engaging children in custody with education, see POSTnote 524 on Education in Youth Custody.

On release from custody, successful resettlement into the community has a positive effect on the lives of young offenders and generates wider social benefits by reducing reoffending. Continuing education and training on release from custody is a key part of transitioning back into the community for children and young people. This brief provides an overview of educational provision in resettlement and examines key factors affecting children’s engagement with education and training on release from custody.

Acknowledgements

POSTbriefs are based on mini literature reviews and interviews with stakeholders and are externally peer reviewed. POST would like to thank peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including: 

• Dr Caroline Lanskey, Lecturer in Applied Criminology, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge.
• Dr Tim Bateman, Reader in Youth Justice, Department of Applied Social Studies, University of Bedfordshire. On secondment until 2017 to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.

Image copyright iStock.com/BrianAJackson.