An Independent Review of Progress of HM Young Offenders Institution Werrington has raised concerns about reintegration of young offenders with ‘no meaningful progress’ on accommodation on release, education placements or work opportunities.

The inspection found that due to insufficient progress, the education, skills and work provision remains ineffective, and does not help children to develop essential skills.

Contributing to the report, Ofsted found that staff were not ‘sufficiently well-trained or skilled’ at managing a classroom or behavioral issues and a third of classes were cancelled. This resulted in less than half of children starting a qualification going on to complete it.

Finding suitable accommodation for children upon release has ‘remained challenging and uncertain’. 58% of children had not had accommodation secured 28 days before their release date in the last 12 months.

Insufficient progress had also been made in reducing the amount of time in which young people stayed in their cells, with those who often ‘were most vulnerable or fearful’ not leaving their cells for days.  The previous inspection in 2025 showed that some children’s cells were locked for seven days at a time. Werrington was highlighted by the Howard League prisons charity last year as having not had a single month when children there got out of their cells for more than five hours per day on weekdays.

Although there was some improvement, the 2026 report identified that children continue to ‘spend excessive periods’ locked up.

Violence levels in the prison have fallen since 2025, with 6% of children reported as feeling unsafe, down from 20%.

Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, stated that ‘leaders need to use the opportunity created by greater stability’ to improve education provision.