Innovative teaching methods in prisons: Overcoming barriers to education

With many learners switching off from education at a young age and having a negative view of education, it can be difficult to engage learners in our provision. Which is why, at Novus we place a particular importance on finding new and innovative ways to engage learners in education. 

Education in prison helps to reduce reoffending and help learners find employment upon release however, it also goes beyond that. Prison education has many benefits including improved mental health and well-being, finding the self-belief and confidence to change and creating a sense of belonging. 

Through our teaching strategies, courses and innovative projects and initiatives, we offer a well-rounded education provision, that not only benefits learner's education, but also their mental health and well-being and their growth into positive members of society. 

Teaching strategies in UK prisons

Research by the Ministry of Justice concluded that learners who had participated in education whilst in prison, were significantly less likely to reoffend. Encouraging as many prisoners into education as possible is what we aim to do however, a traditional 'one size fits all' approach to education simply does not work. 

All prisoners come from differing backgrounds and have their own individual, complex needs that need to be considered when it comes to engaging them in education. 

Which is why we provide a number of teaching strategies to ensure all learners are able to engage in education in their own way, at their own pace. 

We deliver a range of education and training services to help learners gain the skills they need to find employment upon release and thrive as positive members of society including:

• English, Maths and Digital Skills 
• Vocational and Technical education 
• Higher level and Distance learning 
• Creative Arts and Enrichment

We aim to deliver a wide range of professional, education, training, employment and support services so that all prisoners have the opportunity to engage in education. 

Through our vocational, digital, and creative enrichment provision, learners are able to engage in education in a 'non-traditional' way, whilst also gaining their functional skills and qualifications needed to find employment upon release.

Vocational Training

Our vocational training includes high-quality vocational training programmes, short courses, taster courses, training workshops and experience-building opportunities, delivered by skilled and experienced tutors and trainers who are experts in their field.

Our vocational provision enables learners to gain industry-specific skills in a work environment. Learners work towards nationally recognised qualifications with embedded English, maths, and employability skills, developing a holistic skillset required by employers. Taking part in vocational training enables learners to get involved in practical, hands-on training whilst also gaining functional skills in English and maths. 

Examples of our vocational courses include:

• Hairdressing
• Barbering 
• Bricklaying 
• Industrial Cleaning 
• Catering
• Hair & Beauty

We work with national and local employers to make sure that our courses meet the needs of the local employment markets. We even have industry standard facilities as part of these partnerships to give learners a real insight into specific careers on release. 

New Novus Cambria contract starts at HMP Berwyn

The new Novus Cambria contract for the provision of education at HMP Berwyn begun in October 2023, following the success of the previous contract at the prison.

As part of the new contract, we launched the Novus Cambria Wellbeing Hub. Working in partnership with The Right Course, Fred Sirieix's charity which aims to transform prison staff restaurants into inspirational training facilities that match the highstreet, helping graduates to secure jobs in the Hospitality industry on release. 

Digital 

Our approach to digital over the last few years has been really innovative, with our digital team and tutors having to come up with new and innovative ways to engage learners in digital.

With the technological world constantly changing, learners in prison are at risk of being at a digital disadvantage once released. In order for learners to integrate back into society, it is vital that they are given the opportunity to gain and expand their skills in digital literacy.

However, with groundbreaking technologies such as AI entering the market, which is changing the way we use and view technology, our teams are having to find new ways to teach digital to learners as well as adhering to the rules and restrictions put in place at each prison site. 

TeacherMatic in action

We have been testing the use of AI across a number of our sites. One of our teaching colleagues, Alison Brown has shared how she uses TeacherMatic in a multitude of ways to refresh lessons, create multiple choice questions, helping to make her lessons fun and engaging and also helping to embed digital skills in her education delivery. 

Online exams at HMP Low Newton

HMP Low Newton have been running online exams at their establishment for over two years, this has allowed them to be more flexible with exam timetables, get results quicker and it has really developed the digital literacy of their learners. 

Prison learners now able to access digital badges with City and Guilds

Thanks to the collaborative effort of colleagues from Novus, Novus Works, HMP Humber and City and Guilds, a Novus learner was able to receive a City and Guilds Digital Credential for qualifications achieved whilst in custody.

The learner received a digital badge, detailing the qualification and the criteria gained. He has added to his LinkedIn profile to help with seeking employment and can also send link of the digital badge to potential employers with his application via email. 

It took alot to make this first digital qualification happen, but we are looking forward to making this more commonplace in the future and making it easier for even more learners to find successful careers on release.

Our recent innovative work in our digital provision has enabled more learners and colleagues to benefit from the digital education that we provide.

Creative Enrichment

For learners in prison, enrichment programmes can be a valuable tool in helping them to develop and can also help to reduce reoffending, by helping learners gain skills and qualifications that they can use upon release and become positive members of society. 

Creative enrichment programmes enable learners to explore our education provision in new ways and can be a way of encouraging learners into education who otherwise would not participate.

By embedding English, maths, and digital functional skills into our creative enrichment provision, it can be a successful way to re-engage learners in education and turn their negative experiences with education into a positive.

Through outlets such as singing groups, book clubs, painting and drama, learners are able to develop new skills as well as find new and positive outlets for their behaviour, thus improving their mental health and well-being.

Cultural Capital is key for potential in prison education

Throughout our creative enrichment provision, we push to expand learner's cultural capital. For learners to aspire and be successful academically and in the wider areas of their lives, they need to be given rich and sustained opportunities to develop experiences and knowledge that they can draw upon. 

Raising their aspirations and exposing them to a range of experiences through the development of cultural capital supports them to achieve rehabilitation goals and become successful upon release. 

Owl experience day at HMYOI Cookham Wood 

In collaboration with the Owl Academy Kent, learners were given the exciting opportunity to take part in an Owl experience day at HMYOI Cookham Wood. 

The intention behind the experience day was not only to offer an educational experience but also to create a therapeutic environment through positive engagement with animals.

The activity ran over the course of two days, where Owl Academy members brought an engaging array of animals, including snakes, tarantulas, skunks, owls and praying mantises into the establishment. The learners got to hold and interact with the animals, learn about them and their habitats, ask questions and express their feelings about the animals. 

The enrichment activity was a huge success, leaving a lasting impression on the learners, staff and the overall custodial environment.

Little Angels theatre production at HMP Risley and HMP Styal

Recently, learners at HMP Risley and HMP Styal had the exciting opportunity to take part in the 'Welcome' project from the Little Angels theatre production.

Each site arranged a family learning day where learners could interact with their children and spend time with them during the day. On each of the family days, the sites:

• Ran and hosted the show
• Did craft activities
• Gifted books for families to enjoy
• Provided refreshments

The show, which learners and their families had the opportunity to watch, was written and performed by the Little Angel theatre. The story, 'The magic sketchbook' followed a little girl who arrives in a new country and makes friends through the magic of drawing. The show explored themes of friendship, communication, and the word 'welcome'.

Both family days were a huge success among learners and enjoyed by everyone who attended.

Having the opportunity to take part in projects such as the ones above, not only improves the learner's education journey, but also helps to strengthen family ties, improve mental health and well-being and provide outlets for learners to express themselves in a positive way.

Learner engagement and learner outcomes

Through innovative projects and initiatives, we are able to engage more learners in education than ever before. Teaching strategies such as our creative enrichment provision and vocational training, opens up learners to a new way of learning in which they gain all the benefits from traditional education in a more practical way.

Learner success story at HMP Low Newton

A learner at HMP Low Newton who previously struggled with education to her ADHD has now completed her level 2 in the vocational hairdressing qualification. 

Since working her way through the level 2 hairdressing course, the learner has set a long-term goal to work with her son upon release, who is already a barber. The learner feels the hairdressing course is supporting her to develop both her personal and practical skills that will enable her to positively integrate back into society upon release.

The learner is keen to complete her level 3 hairdressing qualification whilst at HMP Low Newton and looks to further develop her digital skills as she understands how this can support business opportunities. The learner is serving a 9-year sentence so when released, she feels she will not be up to date with digital advances, motivating her to want to complete digital skills courses.

From working on the hairdressing course, the learner now has a job prospect waiting for her upon release, is wanting to work towards her level 3 hairdressing qualification and has also been inspired to pursue digital qualifications that will benefit her employment prospects.

Being able to take part in practical courses allows learners to gain the confidence needed to want to re-build their lives and pursue further education.

To keep up to date with our latest projects and initiatives, head over to the news section on our website.