new report from the Children’s Commissioner has revealed children in prison have been failed by multiple services long before they arrive in custody, and their time in the justice system worsens their disadvantages and limits future opportunities.
Dame Rachel de Souza’s report examines children’s experiences before and during their time in youth custody, identifying where children last attended school before their time in prison.
More than one third were most recently enrolled at registered education settings in the West Midlands, and 18% at settings in Birmingham alone. 20% of children attended just six educational settings in England.
The Commissioner’s report captures for the first time data that tells the stories of the multiple challenges children in secure settings often experience in their lives, from education, poverty, and unmet additional needs.
Like most children, those living in the secure estate recognise education can transform their future, but many struggle to access consistent high-quality education while in custody.
The Children’s Commissioner is calling for urgent reforms to the youth justice system, prioritising rehabilitation over punishment, and ensuring education plays a central role in helping children rebuild their lives.
At any given time, around 400 children are held in just 14 youth settings of differing structures and quality in England and Wales. Their experiences reveal systemic failures with many having been let down by services at every stage of their lives.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:
“I firmly believe that every child, regardless of their background, has a fundamental right to a good education. Hundreds of thousands of children have told me – through surveys, research, and in person – how much they value education. Children in custody are no different. They deserve access to an excellent education, they are just as ambitions as their peers, yet for too many, a good education feels out of reach.
“Many of these children faced challenges long before custody – gaps in education, unmet additional needs, behavioural issues, and high levels of school exclusion, often compounded by poverty. Too often, they were labeled as ‘naughty’ rather than being given the help they needed.
“Education is one of the most powerful tools we have for changing lives, offering stability and opportunity. For children in these settings, it must be at the heart of rehabilitation, giving them a real chance to rebuild their lives and promote a future away from reoffending.”
