Supporting the digital needs of learners and colleagues at HMP Birmingham

With more and more people relying on digital technology, it is crucial that learners are able to obtain digital skills whilst in prison, to ensure that they are equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge to be successfully rehabilitated and find employment upon release. At Novus, we place a particular importance on our digital provision and support both learners and colleagues in developing their digital knowledge and skills.

Throughout last year, our Digital Learning Team held digital strategy meetings with education managers across Novus establishments, to help support the digital provision in each prison.

After this initial meeting with education managers across Novus establishments in the West Midlands, Kate Luntley, a local education manager at HMP Birmingham decided to replicate the presentation to her whole team, so that all colleagues were involved and informed about digital responsibilities. 

This has been a huge success, with HMP Birmingham implementing new initiatives to support the digital needs of both learners and colleagues. 

Digital skills assessment

The first initiative that was implemented at HMP Birmingham was a new digital skills assessment which learners complete during their first session in education. Sally Crump, hub manager at HMP Birmingham, highlighted that better understanding of learner's digital starting points would help colleagues understand how to support each learner's individual needs in regard to digital education.

The digital skills assessment was put together using the government's guidance on essential digital skills, including topics such as understanding your digital footprint, online safety and using social media. The final version of the assessment was finalised by the whole team and is now used across all curriculum areas. 

The implementation of the digital skills assessment has been a huge success, with colleagues sharing that it has had a positive impact. All colleagues agree that having a clear digital starting point for each learner has really helped to prioritise developing digital skills and making sure it is always at the forefront of planning.

In particular, the mentoring course has completely changed how digital skills are supported and developed. The tutor, Marcia Reid, has designed an activity where learners plan and develop a newsletter about supporting learners. This is created using desk top publishing software which is a new skill for many learners. Another example of how this has been done, involves a task in business, where learners are encouraged by the tutor Iftekhar Ahmed, to use the Kiosks on the houseblocks to request information from the library that will help them with course related content.

The impact has also been felt by learners, who are enjoying using the computers more and have a better understanding of their own digital skills and knowledge. From this, all learners now complete their personal learning plans digitally, which is a huge positive development for learners. 

Colleagues at HMP Birmingham are also regular users of the Open Borders system. They agree that having wider access to the internet has had a huge impact, especially being able to use YouTube videos to support teaching. Many have said this increased access has made them feel reinvigorated and excited about teaching their courses.

Colleague CPD to support digital learning

Supporting colleagues with their professional development is crucial in ensuring that all colleagues are equipped, with the relevant and up-to-date skills and knowledge to educate learners. 

At HMP Birmingham, the hub managers have spent time over the last few months ensuring all colleagues are being supported with their learning and development in digital skills. One key area of learning has been how artificial intelligence can support with teaching and learning, specifically the use of TeacherMatic. Most colleagues are signed up for premium access and use it regularly.

TeacherMatic has also been used to plan a whole new course following the arrival of a new tutor, meaning they didn’t have to get started with a blank page. The tool provided the outline of the scheme of learning and the first couple of weeks’ worth of lesson plans. It has also been used to generate different classroom activities and colleagues have expressed how much they enjoy having access to it.
 

Sharing good digital practice across site

Colleagues have also made sure to celebrate each success in their digital provision by sharing across site. Regular share and tell sessions take place where colleagues are encouraged to share digital initiatives or focuses, they’ve been working on in their classes. Learning Walks have also allowed managers to see how much progress has been made with developing digital skills, and this success has also been praised by the lot Quality Manager. 

Sharing good digital practice across site has been a success and has had a huge positive impact on colleague collaboration. By sharing their initiatives and focuses, colleagues are able to learn what has been working in different curriculum areas, and also gives them new ideas and inspires them to implement different digital strategies in their education offer, helping to widen and develop learner’s digital skills. 

Following the incredible work from the team at HMP Birmingham, many of their initiatives will be implemented across other sites. The digital skills assessment document developed is due to be shared across sites in the West Midlands for further feedback and will then be ready for wider circulation by the Novus Quality Team.

Developing digital skills remains a priority for Novus colleagues at HMP Birmingham. They are now focused on ensuring that usage of different digital tools remains consistent across the department. 
To learn more about our digital provision, take a look at the 2024/25 digital strategy.