Education & Training

Below you will find information about the courses offered at HM&YOI Reading.

Support Programmes 1 & 2:
This course is for prisoners who would like support with reading, writing and working with numbers. This course aims to help them improve their skills and work towards nationally recognised qualifications.

Key Skills:
This course helps prisoners to develop their computer skills from beginners to advanced. Participants also study Maths and English at level 1 or above.

Business Studies:
This course offers the opportunity to gain accreditation in several areas: Marketing, Customer Services, Business Planning etc.

Art and Design:
This course helps students develop their artistic and creative side and develop their confidence. Course participants can also work towards a qualification in art or gain a key skill in Communication Skills.

Life Skills:
This course covers Healthy Living, Citizenship and Preparation for Work.

DIY Basic Building Construction: Plan a Kitchen

The Basic Building Construction course will consist of a three week study and pratical course in building technology. There will be an insight into all aspects of building work.

The students will design and plan their own kitchen. They will have to work to scale and check that all their measurements are correct.

The practical session will involve working in teams to build the kitchen on their own.

Qualifications:
The qualifications the students will be working towards will be:

Key Skills Level 1 Numeracy

Key Skills Level 1 Communication

City & Guilds Basic Practical Skills – CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) CS1 (Construction Skills Certification Scheme). This will provide students with a plastic card which they can use to gain employment in the construction industry.

HMP&YOI Reading is in partnership with Reading College of Technology and School of Art and Design who have offered places to students who demonstrate potential on the course. The college can offer a good variety of courses in the building industry.

Programmes available to prisoners in the Kennet Resettlement Unit:

Gaswork Operative Training Programme
Training is provided by Advantica Training Services, who are based at Trasco in Slough. Transco's major contractors are signed onto the training scheme to assist with work placements during training and offer available jobs in graduates' home areas on completion. Once qualified Transco has assured placements for employment directly with them or one of their contractors – Murphy Pipelines, Alhco, McNicholas, Kennedy and Morrison.

The content of the course is divided between theory and practical work, with participants also studying in the evenings. The aims and objectives of the course are focused around safe working practices and associated knowledge of policy legislation, gas service laying and related New Roads and Streetwork Act unit qualifications.

Candidates will complete a 5 week ‘off the job' training programme at Slough. During a 7 week period ‘on-site' delegates will gain relevant work experience and collect evidence to support the training and ongoing portfolio building.

Successful Candidates:
All successful candidates will be interviewed by the company that is operational in their local area and a starting date arranged close to their release date. If there is a gap between the end of training and their release date, work experience is available which can be arranged between the prison and the contractors.

Mechanics: Readibus External Project
Prisoners attending this course will be given an introduction to the motor trade. The course is run by Reading College of Technology and School of Art and Design.

Weekly attendance at Readibus will be required where students will carry out maintenance checks on buses, alongside the drivers, to provide industrial experience.

Students will be taught basic motor maintenance, essential routine checks, tyre and exhaust fitting. They will also be taught how to identifiy and order parts and to maintain and repair vehicle bodywork.

Mechanics: Kwik Fit External Project
The external work placement at Kwik Fit offers students an introduction to the motor trade.

The participants are taught Tyre Fitting, balancing and tracking of wheels, Testing of batteries and their replacement and replacing exhaust systems.

Once the student has shown an aptitude for the above skills, he will then be included in the workforce.

On release from the Kennet Resettlement Unit, the placement is given the opportunity for a job interview and recommendation at the nearest Kwik Fit Centre to his release address.


Other Courses:

There are also various other available courses including:

Millennium Volunterers – Buddies / Charity Shop Workers
This course can provide prisoners with a chance to work in local charity shops on external work placements

Parenting Course:
4 week course to raise awareness of positive parenting issues, challenge ineffective parenting styles and empower the individual with increased knowledge and be better equipped to be an effective parent.


Gymnasium Courses:

Focus 1 Gym Instructors Course
The aim of this course is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to become competent gym instructors in a fitness facility.

Heartstart
Accredited to the British Heart Foundation, this course equips the candidate with the skills needed to deal with heart attack victims.

Sports Leaders Award
Accredited to the Central Council for Physical Recreation and the British Sports Trust, this course can give the students knowledge and skills to plan, organise and deliver safe and effective classes.

British Weightlifting Association Basic Award
This beginners' course gives students an introduction into weight lifting.

British Weightlifting Association Leaders Award
This course is designed as a progression for students who have completed the basic course and gives them in depth knowledge of all aspects of training with weights and on completion of the course will be competent in teaching weight training techniques.

Manual Handling Instructor
This course is accredited to ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). Candidates are taught a wide range of safe lifting techniques, Health & Safety Regulations and functions of the spine.

Personal Achievement Awards
These are designed for prisoners who wish to have a target to aim for during their recreational PE sessions.