The YJB is committed to promoting engagement in education and training as a key objective for the youth justice system. The importance of full participation in school and college life for young people’s personal and social development cannot be overestimated. This along with the attainment of the vital skills and qualifications for employment are widely recognised as major protective factors in preventing children becoming offenders, and in reducing the longer term risks of reoffending.
The Youth Crime Action Plan [opens in new window] sets out new guidelines for the education of young people in custody.
In pursuit of this goal the YJB works in close partnership with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and other service delivery agencies to ensure that all young people in the justice system are re-engaged with learning and have opportunities for achievement. The YJB's objectives, set out in its corporate plan, reflect these ambitions.
For the YJB’s central statement of what is effective practice in education, training and employment, and the basis for the our quality assurance process, refer to the Key Elements of Effective Practice – Education, Training and Employment.
Within the youth justice system there are several hundred practitioners working directly on education, training and employment issues:
- YOT education practitioners
- teachers and learning support assistants in custodial establishments
- heads of learning and skills and education managers in custodial establishments
- learning mentors in the community
- Connexions personal advisers working in YOTs and custodial establishments.
Although education and training is delivered direct in custodial establishments to the small minority of young people who go to custody, the vast majority of young people who offend are dealt with in the community. So the real challenge for the education practitioner is to ensure that young people are sustained and supported in their education when they enter the system or re-engaged if they were not accessing provision beforehand.
The key to re-engagement is working with mainstream providers (such as schools, colleges and training providers) to ensure that young people can access and sustain learning. It is not the role of the youth justice system to provide alternatives.
It is essential that YOTs develop good working and strategic relationships with:
- schools and colleges
- the local authority and the LSC (DCELLS in Wales)
- the Connexions Service (or Careers Wales)
- the education welfare service
- Children's Trusts (Young People's Partnerships in Wales).
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