This section sets out our approach to inspecting education, skills and work provision in men’s prisons from 2025. It explains how we inspect. The guidance is essential reading for reporting inspectors and all other members of the inspection team. It may also be useful for providers to support their understanding of the inspection mind-set and methodologies. The term ‘provider’ is used throughout this document to refer to the prison’s education, skills and work activities.
The guidance should be read alongside ‘What we inspect’ guidance for education, skills and work provision in men’s prisons, which outlines the inspection framework. Providers and partners can use this guidance to see how inspections work and to help them in strengthening their own self-evaluation and improvement processes.