Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Workshop 1
Developing policy and practice to support ‘children of
prisoners’ in school
Tim Gisborne
Gloucestershire County Council
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Context to the Gloucestershire Policy Review
 Initial policy was produced in 2002
 Joint DCSF/Ministry of Justice ‘Children of Offenders’ Joint Review
2007
 South West Summit, Bristol 2009
 Local research to investigate if a link existed between students’
experience of loss, bereavement and traumatic events and exclusion
- Cohort of 44 pupils
- 8 pupils (18%) experienced significant bereavement
- 16 pupils (36%) experienced a family member in prison
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Aims of the policy review
 Raise awareness of the needs of children and young
people with a parent in prison or at risk of sentence
 Secure educational achievement and attendance
 Ensure positive outcomes in line with Every Child Matters
 Promote social inclusion and equal opportunities
 Promote and share good practice in support of these
children
Desire to produce a practical, accessible policy with a local
emphasis and not an academic paper
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Process
• Contributions from statutory and voluntary agencies
( Education Welfare Service, Probation Service, Youth Offending, Connexions,
Educational Psychology Service, Castle Gate Family Trust, HMP Gloucester, primary
and secondary schools, NOMS, Barnardo’s, Governor Services, Commissioning
Officer GCC ‘Children’s Plan’.
• Consultations with parents in prison
- Group of five mothers and one grandmother in
HMP Eastwood park
- Group of five fathers in HMP Gloucester
• Child consultations undertaken by Castle Gate
Family Trust
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Policy Format
• It was decided to publish the final document in
three sections to make it more accessible to the
intended audience
1.The policy
2.Information for parents, carers and families
3.Information and guidance for schools
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Key Challenge
The identification of children with a parent in prison as
there is no formal procedure for schools or children
services to be informed of a parent sentenced
‘an invisible group’
Informally, schools may become aware of a child’s parent
being sent to prison by –
Local media
Local knowledge
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Some practical suggestions to meet the challenge
• Policy and literature encourages parents to inform
schools in order to meet any specific needs of the child
• Display posters, leaflets, resources and policy to show
families that the school is sensitive to and supportive of
the needs of children with a parent in prison
• Identification of a designated member of staff within the
school to act as an advocate and a reference point for
families of children with a parent in prison
(In Gloucestershire each secondary school has identified a key member of staff
for this role)
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference: Impact,
Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Practical suggestions to support children in school
• Raise the awareness of staff to the various needs of these
children and the potential risks they face
• Work in partnership with families and agree the level of
support that could be offered
• Promote and develop links with the parent in prison
- Involve the child in ideas to communicate with parent
- School reports
- Pupil diary
- Storybook Dads
- Digital photography to capture events, celebrations,
achievements, art work, models to forward to parent
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Practical suggestions to support children in school
• Monitor pupil achievement and attendance
• Be aware of potential bullying and/or behaviour issues
• Consider offering family a Common Assessment (CAF) to identify need
• A multi-agency meeting could engage outside agencies in providing support
if appropriate
• Purchase literature to have available in school
 If a child confides
- Be non-judgmental – the child has not committed a crime
- Don’t ask about the crime
- Acknowledge the child’s preferences
- Follow safeguarding principles if appropriate
Children with a Parent in Prison Conference:
Impact, Issues, Practice and Policy
Plymouth University 2nd April 2012
Future development in Gloucestershire
• Continue to move from policy to practice
• Continue to raise awareness and develop services
through the locality teams
• Continue to raise awareness with voluntary/statutory
agencies
• Provide a source of information for schools
• Build relationships with local solicitors, Police and
ask them to provide information for parents