The OLASS curriculum

The main focus of the OLASS curriculum is on Basic Skills, which encompasses reading, writing and numeracy. Nationally, half of all prisoners have serious problems with reading; two thirds of all prisoners have problems with numeracy and four fifths experience problems with writing. This represents a significant barrier to gaining employment and has been cited as a primary reason for re-offending.

Basic Skills training is delivered through a range of innovative techniques and A4e focuses on delivering training through 'embedded learning'. A range of classes are available to prisoners including, 'arts and enrichment' and 'personal and social development', for example. Classes focus on addressing Basic Skills issues while covering topics that are of interest to the learners and that will also enable them to develop further beneficial skills that can be used in their journey into employment.

A4e delivers a bespoke curriculum in each prison. Our approach is to work in partnership with the Head of Learning and Skills within each prison to ensure that the training that is delivered is tailored to the specific requirements of the prison and the individual learners.