Setting

Establishment Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Kirkham Type of establishment Male adult Category D Inspection type Full announced Dates of inspection 30 November – 4 December 2009 Establishment contact Head of Learning and Skills HMP Kirkham Freckleton Road Kirkham Preston Lancs. PR4 2RN

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and skills provision at HMP Kirkham

Grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory, 4 is inadequate

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and skills provision at HMP Kirkham

Common Inspection Framework (CIF) aspects Grade

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Overall effectiveness Grade 2

The overall effectiveness of HMP Kirkham’s learning and skills provision is good. Senior managers provide good strategic leadership and management and have implemented good improvements since the previous inspection. Outcomes for learners are high and prisoners develop good employability skills to aid them on release. The quality of teaching, learning and coaching is good. The range of provision is good and a wide range of personal and social development programmes meets learners’ needs particularly well. Good account is taken of learners’ views when planning provision. Partnership working with a range of external agencies focuses on improving employment opportunities for prisoners on release. Arrangements to safeguard learners are satisfactory as is the promotion of equality of opportunity.

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Capacity to improve Grade 2

The overall capacity to improve of learning and skills is good. Actions taken to improve provision since the previous inspection have been successful. The prison’s employment, learning and skills strategic plan provides a clear focus on developing the learning and skills provision to meet prisoners’ employability needs. Many objectives from the plan have already been achieved. The recent restructuring of roles, particularly that of the Head of Learning and Skills to include, education, work and resettlement provides a cohesive focus on improvement in education and employability for learners. Collaborative working between different functional groups in the prison is good. Managers work well together, share key objectives and provide well- managed provision for prisoners. Participation rates have improved, and outcomes for learners are good. Performance targets are clear. The self- assessment process is inclusive and the report broadly accurate. Quality

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Capacity to improve Grade 2

improvement initiatives continue to be developed and extend across the prison.

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Strengths

 high achievements on Skills for Life and personal and social development programmes  good progression between Skills for Life courses  high achievements on physical education (PE) and vocational training programmes  good vocational and preparation for work skills development  very good development of social awareness and interpersonal skills in conservation and farm shop work areas

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Strengths

 good teaching, training and learning  extensive range of personal and social development programmes to meet the needs and interest of prisoners  good and effective arrangements to plan individual learning  good PE and vocational training facilities  good range of employment related opportunities  good promotion of work ethics to prisoners throughout the prison

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Areas for improvement

 insufficient individualised short-term target setting to guide learners’ progress in education programmes  insufficient key skills provision to accredit prisoners’ employability skills  insufficient progression opportunities in brickwork, painting and decorating and catering programmes  limited employment opportunities to gain accreditation some work areas

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Key Strengths

 good strategy to improve learning and skills and resettlement  extensive range of provision  flexible and responsive approach to developing learners’ skills and employment opportunities  good engagement of prisoners to promote improvement  good partnership working

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Key Areas for Improvement

 underdeveloped implementation of information, advice and guidance service for prisoners

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What HMP Kirkham needs to do to improve further?

 Introduce higher-level qualifications in brickwork, painting and decorating, catering, woodworking and farms and gardens.

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What HMP Kirkham needs to do to improve further?

 Extend the delivery and accreditation of key skills to all work-related areas.

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What HMP Kirkham needs to do to improve further?

 Improve target setting on individual learning plans to provide learners with clear, measurable and individualised short-term targets.

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What HMP Kirkham needs to do to improve further?

 Improve the coordination of information, advice and guidance services for prisoners.

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