The over-stretched prison system is unable to provide adequate educational opportunities. Prison-provided education tends to focus on basic literacy and numeracy, and though some prisons offer workshops for further training, access is limited. There is very little advice available regarding distance learning opportunities. Currently the challenges are even greater with prisons in different levels of lockdown as a response to the Covid-19 crisis.

PET will provide advice and support to learners in prison. They will access our support through our free telephone advice line, use of a prisoner email scheme, letters, and prison visits either virtually or face to face. For those prisoners who decide they would like to study, we will fund distance learning courses in subjects and levels which would not otherwise be available. We will support learners as they study and help them consider their next steps once they have completed their course.