Immediate action
31
The priorities of the partnership in its first year
will be to
- draw up a strategic programme of action for
delivery of the objectives set out in this statement:
what needs to be done by whom, and when it will
be achieved;
- draw up proposals for the development of relevant
core data requirements, research and evaluation –
including accurate benchmark data for all prisons
– to support its work;
- conduct a review of the delivery, funding and
procurement arrangements for education and
training in prisons with a view to recommending
early changes including how best to build
capacity;
- in the light of our new strategy, advise on future
targets for education and training in prisons and,
where appropriate, through resettlement agencies,
building on those currently in place from April
2001.
- respond to new developments, including the
Home Office Sentencing Review and the Social
Exclusion Unit’s recommendations on reducing
reoffending.
32 The new Prisoners Learning and Skills Unit is
now being put in place. It will assume its
functions from 1 April 2001 and consult widely
before producing a strategic programme of
action covering the immediate period and
sustained action over the next four years.
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Case Study
Prison Service and National Literacy Trust
- Reading Champions
Building on the success of the National Year of
Reading, the campaign aims to maintain a high
profile for reading. Reading Champions promotes
reading to men and boys. Projects are being
developed in Chelmsford, Guys Marsh, Full Sutton
and Grendon prisons which will build on the
success of peer partnerships and focus on
reluctant male readers. Prisoners with good basic
skills will be recruited to train as peer tutors and
gain accreditation as basic skills support tutors.
They will support other prisoners in classrooms, in
the library, in residential areas and in workshops to
improve their basic skills and on release will be
qualified to support people in their own
communities.
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