Prisons Week takes place next week starting with Prisoners’ Sunday on 9 October. For the children of incarcerated parents, the pain can be acute. Schools are in a unique position to give support

across england and Wales, it is estimated that 200,000 children are affected by a parent’s imprisonment each year. In fact, twice as many children are affected by a parent’s imprisonment than by their parents’ divorce. This figure is shocking, not only due to the sheer number of children involved, but also because these children are so hidden. Within our schools, most staff and students are aware of a multitude of families going through a divorce, but how many of us are aware of families who are experiencing the imprisonment of a loved one?

The experience of having a family member go to prison has been described as “bereavement without a body” and the impact upon children and their families can be complex and far reaching. For example, children with a parent in prison are up to three times more likely to experience mental health problems, and these emotional, psychological and behavioural issues are all obstacles to learning.