Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS)
Development of a new Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) began in January 2004 following the creation of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) to commission services for offenders on a regional basis. NOMS brings an integrated approach to the custodial and non-custodial aspects of a sentence.
The new delivery arrangements put in place co-commissioning arrangements between the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and NOMS' Regional Offender Managers. This brings offender learning funding and delivery arrangements in line with the LSC's broader responsibilities for Post-16 learning across England.
Following live-running trial in three regions, the new Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) was rolled out across all nine English regions on 31 July 2006. Action research in the development regions showed OLASS made a positive impact on offender learning and skills in those regions. For more detailed information, please visit the LSC website
OLASS is underpinned by an early, intense focus on assessment of an offender's learning needs, and development of an individual learning plan that sets out how those needs will be met. There is an explicit intention to 'join up' delivery arrangements so that learning started in one setting can continue in another as the offender moves through the criminal justice system and out into mainstream learning in the community.
The Offender's Learning Journey sets out a broader, richer curriculum offer aimed at meeting the learning needs identified through the assessment process, and arrangements are developing to ensure the availability of accurate and up-to-date data. Other actions supports these changes including progressive development of the offender learning and correctional services workforces; and strengthened and refocused external inspection arrangements.
Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS): A Brief Guide (PDF, 318 Kb)
Offender's Learning Journey for adult offenders (DOC, 504 Kb)
Offender's Learning Journey for juvenile offenders (DOC, 577 Kb)
