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Offender learning

The offender learning workforce is a life-changing part of the wider further education (FE) and training sector. Our CPD offer is available to everyone who works in this important sector.

Offender learner resources, previously hosted on the offender learning website, can be found in the below searchable document library. You can filter resources by theme using the document category box.

TitleSummaryCategoriesTagsLinkhf:doc_categorieshf:doc_tags
3 out of 5 Challenge cardsA new approach that encourages people to develop their maths skills outside the maths classroom – such as in the gym, garden, library or in non-maths education., , , , english maths offender-learningactivity-cards pdf word-doc
Augmented reality resourcesShrewsbury Colleges Group together with HM Prison and Probation Service have produced teaching and learning resources for use in offender learning., , edtech-digital-skills offender-learningresources zip-folder
Communication Starters and Enders cards51¸£ÀûÉç has produced a set of cards containing short activities that can be used at the start or end of prison workshops, training or education sessions to help learners develop their confidence and abilities …, , , , english maths offender-learningactivity-cards pdf toolkit
Construction & the built environment: vocational maths guideThis guide is aimed at practitioners from a wide range of providers, including FE colleges, independent learning providers and those working in the Secure Estate, who support post-16 vocational learners to develop their maths skills., , , english maths offender-learningguide pdf
Developing speaking and listening skills 2013This pack provides an extensive resource to develop teaching and listening skills and will support staff working with offenders for whom English is a first language., , , english maths offender-learningresources zip-folder
Digital skills Starters and EndersThis pack of simple activities encourages your learners to engage with digital technologies and develop digital literacies., , edtech-digital-skills offender-learningactivity-cards pdf
Doing Action Research in the Secure Estate A Guide for EducatorsThe aim of this guide is not to replicate what is already written in Doing Action Research, but to complement it., , offender-learning research-and-evaluationguide pdf
Exams E1 – ESOL – offender learning – Health and Safety at workThis lesson gives practice in elements of the Skills for Life ESOL exam papers. In each reading paper candidates are required to identify signs, recognise basic text types and purpose and identify capital letters., , esol offender-learninge1 zip-folder
Exams E2 – ESOL – offender learning – Travel and transportThis lesson is about travel and transport within the UK and beyond.  It provides learners with the vocabulary required to understand exam instruction and for the subject of travel., , esol offender-learninge2 zip-folder
Exams E3 – ESOL – offender learning – Me and my homeThis lesson is about houses and running a home. It provides some language required to understand exam instructions and for the subject of ‘homes’ in all modes., , esol offender-learninge3 zip-folder
Guide for Learning, Skills and Employment Managers June 2019This new guide is designed for managers who have responsibility for managing prison education under the new prison education reforms introduced in April 2019., , leadership offender-learningguide pdf
Hairdressing and beauty therapy: vocational maths guideThis guide is aimed at practitioners from a wide range of providers, including FE colleges, independent learning providers and those working in the Secure Estate, who support post-16 vocational learners to develop their maths skills., , , english maths offender-learningguide pdf
Health and social care: vocational maths guideThis guide is aimed at practitioners from a wide range of providers, including FE colleges, independent learning providers and those working in the Secure Estate, who support post-16 vocational learners to develop their maths skills., , , english maths offender-learningguide pdf
Hospitality and catering vocational maths guideThis guide is aimed at practitioners from a wide range of providers, including FE colleges, independent learning providers and those working in the Secure Estate, who support post-16 vocational learners to develop their maths skills., , , english maths offender-learningguide pdf
Improving Access to Offender Learning in the CommunityThis guidance note has a focus on offenders (aged 18 and over) serving sentences in the community under the supervision of the Probation Service., offender-learningguide pdf
International perspectives on prison education: reducing reoffendingThis report brings together the findings of a review of relevant literature, contact with the national administration of statistics of the country and interviews with a range of stakeholders associated with prison education., , , offender-learning research-and-evaluationreport research zip-folder
Learning at the Heart of the Regime POELTThe aim of these training materials to place a stronger emphasis within prison officer entry level training, on supporting the vision of prisons as learning environments with education at their heart.offender-learningzip-folder
Managing challenging behaviour – classroom or workshop management strategiesMaterials for a 3 hour CPD session looking at managing behaviour in a classroom or workshop., offender-learningflow-chart zip-folder
Maths and English in Prison Work and TrainingThis resource has been inspired by the innovative work carried out by HMP Kirklevington Grange and HMP Haverigg in their exploration of developing prisoners’ English and maths alongside learning vocational skills/ working practices in prison workshops and industries., , , , english maths offender-learningpdf toolkit workbook
Maths and English Levels chartThis chart provides examples of the maths and English skills needed at each level from Entry 1 to level 2., , , english maths offender-learningchart pdf
Maths Starters and Enders cards51¸£ÀûÉç has produced some cards with maths activities that you can use at the start or end of prison workshops, training or education sessions., , , english maths offender-learningactivity-cards pdf
Offender Learning: a career of choiceA short guide to illustrate some of the jobs that are available together with the qualifications you would need and possible career pathways within offender learning., offender-learningguide pdf
Pictorial approach to engaging learners with workshop activity at HMP GarthSeries of process flowcharts from HMP Garth to help instructors breakdown work that takes place in the workshops/ work areas, so that they could articulate to prisoners and education staff what skills were required., , , , english maths offender-learningflow-chart toolkit zip-folder
Reading skills How To sheetsA set of How To sheets to develop a range of reading skills linked to a variety of vocational contexts., , , english maths offender-learninghow-to-guides zip-folder
Returning to Albania, Poland and Romania guidesThree guides to support people resettling in Albania, Romania or Poland at the end of serving a sentence for a criminal offence., , , english maths offender-learningguide zip-folder
Session Planners – Embedding Digital Skills51¸£ÀûÉç have produced a series of session planners to support practitioners teaching in offender learning., , edtech-digital-skills offender-learningsession-plans zip-folder
SIR Interim Dashboard – Offender Learning – 2015This report analyses offender learning workforce data from the academic year 2014-15., , , , offender-learning research-and-evaluationdata-set pdf report research
Speaking and listening skills How To sheetsA set of How To sheets to develop a range of speaking and listening skills linked to a variety of vocational contexts., , , english maths offender-learninghow-to-guides zip-folder
Successfully using ICT to support learning in the secure estate (link is external)The recommendations from the report build on where digital literacy is being successfully taught and how this should be rolled out across the whole prison/secure estate., , , , edtech-digital-skills offender-learning research-and-evaluationpdf report research
Teach Too Phase 3: Milton Keynes College -Offender LearningThe project shared occupational expertise to improve the line of sight to work in the construction sector for offenders and ex-offenders., , offender-learning technical-educationcase-study pdf
Teaching in prisons – Questions and answers from the SET webinarTeaching in Prisons Questions and answers from SET webinar on 6th July 2017., , offender-learningguide pdf questions-and-answers
Unlocking EnglishThis guide is for everyone working in the prison estate, as it is everyone’s responsibility to provide space and opportunity for prisoners to improve their lives through effective communication., , , english maths offender-learningguide pdf
Using film to teach English – ESOL – offender learning – Lesson planFilm is invaluable in the prison environment as a way of focusing on communication skills., , , , , esol offender-learninge1 e2 e3 lesson-plan zip-folder
Using the gym – ESOL – offender learning – Lesson planThis lesson is about using the gym. It provides students with the vocabulary and speaking practice to feel more confident in understanding and talking to gym staff and users about gym equipment and exercise., , , , , esol offender-learninge1 e2 e3 lesson-plan zip-folder
Using the library – ESOL – offender learning – Lesson planThis lesson is about using the library in prison. , , , , , esol offender-learninge1 e2 e3 lesson-plan zip-folder
Vocational flyers51¸£ÀûÉç, the Adult Learning Improvement Network and vocational instructors in Hull and Humber prisons have created a series of flyers to highlight opportunities that workshops bring to gain skills for employment., , , english maths offender-learningflyers zip-folder
Whole Organisation Development Process (WODP) in Offender LearningThe Whole Organisation Development Process has been designed, by the sector for the sector, to establish a prison led approach to quality improvement of learning, skills and work., , leadership offender-learningguide word-doc
Writing skills How To sheetsA set of How To sheets to develop a range of writing skills linked to a variety of vocational contexts., , , english maths offender-learninghow-to-guides zip-folder

Teaching in the criminal justice system

For those looking to discuss career options, do check out the Department for Education’s website which can tell you more about teaching opportunities in the criminal justice system. You might like to check out this helpful information from the Prisoner Learning Alliance on the difference you can make by  And you can hear directly from teachers working in prisons in our series of videos ‘Raising the bar behind bars’.

Raising The Bar Episode 1 Functional Skills
Raising The Bar Episode 2 Personal and Social Development
Raising The Bar Episode 3 ICT
Raising The Bar Episode 4 Vocational Skills

Prisoner Learning Alliance

The 51¸£ÀûÉç is a member of the  which brings together organisations and individuals who are interested in promoting the role of education and training in the rehabilitative journey for those with experience of the criminal justice system. The  facilitates the for practitioners of maths, English, SEND and IT working in prisons.  The network meets once per academic term. You may also wish to join   which hosts a  including research on prison education and learning.

Society for Education and Training (SET)

We encourage all FE practitioners to join the , the membership body dedicated to professionals working across further education, vocational teaching and training. SET helps its members progress their career and connects them to thousands of like-minded professionals and experts.

SET also administers both badges of advanced professionalism, status and , on behalf of the 51¸£ÀûÉç.

Finally, if you have any questions about 51¸£ÀûÉç’s support for the offender learner workforce, please contact enquiries@etfoundation.co.uk.