Ofsted publishes new toolkit for inspecting prison and YOI education

Ofsted has published a new inspection toolkit for education, skills training and work in prisons and young offender institutions, with a stronger focus on literacy, inclusion and preparing prisoners for employment after release.

The renewed framework will be used for inspections in England from 21 September 2026 and introduces higher expectations for prison education and skills training, designed to more closely reflect the standards expected of further education and skills provision in the wider community.

One of the most significant changes is a new inclusion evaluation area examining how effectively prisons and young offender institutions identify and overcome barriers that prevent people from participating and succeeding in education, training and work. Inspectors will pay particular attention to prisoners with special educational needs and disabilities, including needs related to neurodiversity, as well as those who require other forms of support.

Reading and literacy will also receive greater scrutiny. Ofsted said inspectors will look more closely at how establishments identify prisoners who need to learn to read or improve their reading and whether they receive effective teaching and support. The watchdog said improving literacy is important both in allowing prisoners to access a wider curriculum while in custody and in improving their prospects of employment following release.

The framework also places greater emphasis on whether education and training provide prisoners with skills that employers actually need. Inspectors will consider how well establishments develop employability skills, whether vocational training responds to labour market needs and the progress prisoners make into further education, training or employment.

Under the new system, prisons and YOIs will no longer receive a single overall effectiveness grade for their education, skills and work provision. Instead, inspectors will award separate grades across five evaluation areas: inclusion; leadership and governance; curriculum, teaching and training; achievement; and participation and development.

Each area will be assessed using Ofsted’s new five-point grading scale of Exceptional, Strong standard, Met standard, Needs attention or Urgent improvement. The change is intended to provide a more detailed picture of where education provision is performing well and where improvements are required, rather than reducing the findings to one headline judgement.

Inspectors will consider not only prisoners who are already taking part in education and work but also those who are not participating. Ofsted’s operating guidance specifically requires inspectors to examine the experiences of people facing barriers to engagement, including prisoners with SEND, those with low reading ability and people with other support needs. In YOIs, case sampling should also include children known to social care and disadvantaged children where appropriate.

For young offender institutions, inspectors will consider whether children under school-leaving age receive their statutory entitlement to education and skills training and have access to a comprehensive and purposeful day of educational activity. They will also assess whether children can access a broad and challenging curriculum that supports their personal and social development and introduces them to the world of work.

Ofsted inspections of education, skills and work in prisons and YOIs will normally continue to form part of joint inspections led by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons. Ofsted’s findings will contribute to the purposeful activity section of HMIP inspection reports, although Ofsted can also carry out standalone inspections where necessary.

Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, said high-quality education had an important role in helping prisoners become productive and engaged members of society after release. He said improving literacy could give prisoners access to a much wider curriculum and better prepare them for life beyond custody, while the renewed framework would increase the focus on ensuring people can benefit from education regardless of the barriers they face.

The new toolkit, operating guide and inspection information were published on 28 August and will replace Ofsted’s existing handbook for inspecting education, skills and work activities in prisons and young offender institutions when the renewed framework comes into force on 21 September.

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