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Prisoner Apprenticeship Pathway is a major step forward
No more evident that ministers have ‘got it’ as far as joined-up support is concerned are the white paper’s proposals for a new Prisoner Apprenticeship Pathway. This will offer prisoners opportunities that will count towards the completion of a formal apprenticeship on release. Prisoners will have access to the same high quality training and education that an apprentice could expect in the community, and will not need to repeat training that they have successfully completed in custody on release, if they can demonstrate competence in the activity they are being trained in during the apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship training providers will be able to support governors in turning this aspiration into a ‘quick win’. Governors would be advised though to be fully transparent in their commissioning processes to secure the best local support from commercial, charitable or college providers.
Commenting on the proposals and the announcement that the Ministry of Justice will publish a detailed education strategy for prisoners next year, AELP CEO Mark Dawe said:
“The White Paper has the potential to be the most important game-changer in decades for transforming the successful rehabilitation of ex-offenders, saving the taxpayer millions of pounds in the process.
“Employment and training providers are ready to play a key role working closely with prison governors, probation services and other support agencies. But we mustn’t let ‘outside the gate’ bureaucracy get in the way of securing an ex-offender either a good apprenticeship or sustainable employment. The join-up of education and work services inside and outside prison is critical to the success of these proposed reforms and AELP looks forward to discussing with the government how we can take them forward.”
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