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The Taylor Review of the Youth Justice System, published in December 2016,<br />
suggested that ‘the role of the court should be enhanced so that youth magistrates can<br />
play a much more active role in designing tailored plans for children, co-ordinating<br />
the contributions of partner agencies and holding the child, their parents and these<br />
agencies to account’ (p. 5). This would include education, involving schools, FE<br />
colleges or other providers as a key element in developing a tailored Plan for any<br />
individual. The Taylor Review goes further in suggesting a new system of Children’s<br />
Panels made up of three lay magistrates which would monitor progress in delivering<br />
the Plan as appropriate (p. 32). The same Panel members would oversee the Plan<br />
until its completion.<br />
The government have welcomed both the Coates and Taylor Reviews, and while many<br />
details still need to be worked out, there will be openings in provision, monitoring of<br />
outcomes that will engage more players in society, including magistrates themselves.<br />
In addition the government’s justice reform agenda should open up discussion about<br />
quality and good governance in the education of offenders.<br />
I feel that we can all play an important part in those discussions, and help to ensure<br />
new ways in which people of any age can develop their full potential, and at the same<br />
time lowering skills shortages in the country.<br />
A modified version appeared in The Magistrate for June <strong>2017</strong><br />
122
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