BASIC SKILLS MONITORING Probation

PURPOSE
To inform areas of changes to the requirements for basic skills monitoring for
2004-05.
Circular
REFERENCE NO:
ACTION 11/2004
From 1 April 2004 areas are to use the revised monthly return provided at
Annex A and copy their completed returns to the Learning and Skills Council ISSUE DATE:
(LSC). A separate expanded quarterly return will be introduced for use from 2 February 2004
July 2004. Areas are advised to develop systems to collect the additional
information for the quarterly return from 1 April 2004. Further guidance is IMPLEMENTATION DATE:
provided below. 1 April 2004

SUMMARY EXPIRY DATE:

The monthly monitoring format has been rationalised in order to reduce the
1 April 2009
number of data items needed on a monthly basis. NPD will still require the
key information (starts and qualifications) currently captured on monthly
TO:
returns, but other items will be collected quarterly, including screenings data,
order types, time spent in basic skills provision, age bands, gender and race Chairs of Probation Boards
categories. The segmentation by race in particular is consistent with the Chief Officers of Probation
recommendations in HMIP's recently published follow-up report on race Secretaries of Probation Boards
equality.
CC:
RELEVANT PREVIOUS PROBATION CIRCULARS Board Treasurers
PC38/2002: Basic Skills - Monitoring Return Regional Managers
National Learning and Skills
CONTACT FOR ENQUIRIES Council
Queries and/or advice on the basic skills monitoring return or requirements
can be obtained by telephone or email from: AUTHORISED BY:
Roger McGarva, Head of
Ed Stradling – 020 7217 0758 or ed.stradling@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Laura Fairweather – 020 7217 0680/1 or Regions & Performance
laura.fairweather2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Roger Stevens – 020 7217 8283 or roger.stevens@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk ATTACHED:
Annex A: Monthly return 2004-05
Annex B: Guidance on
completion of monthly return

National Probation Directorate

Horseferry House, Dean Ryle Street, London, SW1P 2AW General Enquiries: 020 7217 0659 Fax: 020 7217 0660

Enforcement, rehabilitation and public protection

Monthly Reporting

NPD will share the data obtained from areas' monthly basic skills returns with the national and local Learning & Skills
Council (LSC) on a quarterly basis. However, probation areas are advised to copy in the local or lead LSC when they
submit their monthly return to NPD. Areas should be as accurate as possible on the monthly returns, as the information
will be used to populate the NPS Delivery Plan report to Ministers and the Commissioner for Correctional Services, as
well as the NPS Performance Report. It will also be used subsequently to calculate the Performance Bonus Scheme.
The monthly returns are to be submitted to NPD within 10 working days following the end of the reporting month. The
guidance detailed at Annex B relates to the specific sections on the revised monthly return at Annex A.

Quarterly Reporting

In addition to the monthly return, areas will be requested to complete a more comprehensive quarterly return. This will
require further information on basic skills learners which will include: order types, age bands, gender, race categories and
time spent in basic skills provision. The first quarterly return will be required by NPD during mid-July 2004 to cover the
first quarter of the 2004-05 performance year. Areas are advised to develop systems to collect the additional information
on offenders in basic skills provision from 1 April 2004 in anticipation of the requirement for the quarterly return. The
offender information required can be obtained from OASys. Area-wide information on screening, numbers of PSRs
prepared during the period and numbers of new orders will be required. Areas and/or basic skills providers will be
required to provide general information on offenders’ attendance and length of course/provision. The template for the
quarterly basic skills return along with guidance notes will be issued to areas in February 2004.

PC11/2004 - Basic Skills Monitoring 2