Closing, and celebrating the Prisoner Learning Alliance
A letter from Tom Schuller, Chair of the PLA Steering Committee, regarding the closure of the network.
Explore work by the Prisoner Learning Alliance.
Discover our publications, tune in to previous PLA webinars and more.
New guide supports educators to develop the prison curriculum
The PLA has published a new resource – created by prison educators and prison learners – to support those working in prisons to offer a good range of high-quality formal and informal learning.
Hidden Heroes Day 2023 – celebrating prison teachers
On Hidden Heroes Day 2023, Charlotte Baker-Macdonald celebrates colleagues in Learning and Skills at HMP Dovegate; one of the most difficult – and important – areas of the prison.
Routes into prison teaching: “It helps that I can tell my learners that I left school with no qualifications”
Ade is a functional skills English teacher at HMP Pentonville. She writes how having ADHD helps her to support her neurodiverse learners.
‘Plants, Prisons and Potential’ with Faye Claridge
In this webinar, we are joined by Faye Claridge for a conversation about gardening for wellbeing in prisons.
Routes into prison teaching: “It has become the passion of my life”
Former police officer Sharon Davidson tells us what it’s like to work as an Open University tutor in prisons – her most ‘inspiring’ role yet.
Routes into prison teaching: “Together we learn how to tolerate, accept and respect each other”
Viktoria always wanted to be a teacher. She tells us how – after 25 years’ teaching English in Greece – she found her niche as an ESOL tutor in UK prisons.
Routes into prison teaching: “I was preparing for retirement”
Diana writes how volunteering in a prison led to a new role supporting people in prison to access distance learning opportunities.
Future of the Prisoner Learning Alliance
A letter from Tom Schuller, Chair of the PLA Steering Committee, regarding the future of the network.
Routes into prison teaching: “I wanted to teach people who found learning difficult”
While a lorry driver, Nigel decided to enroll on a course in car repairs, to make sure he could handle mechanical problems on the road. He writes how this was the catalyst for his love of learning, and the beginning of a journey to support those who find learning difficult.