Skills for Life
Working with literacy, numeracy and ESOL...
More and more jobs are requiring higher and technical skills with fewer job opportunities for those with low skills. However, there are many adults who left school without good GCSE passes in Maths and English. It remains a priority to support those with low skills to gain the qualifications and skills they need to increase their life and job chances.
To support these individuals the Skills Funding Agency funds basic skills provision in literacy, numeracy and English Language for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) from Entry Level to Level 2. Provision that forms part of this ‘Skills for Life’ offer is: GCSE’s in English and Maths; Adults Basic Skills in literacy and numeracy and Skills of Life ESOL; and Functional Skills in English and Maths.
These qualifications at all levels are a priority for Skills Funding Agency funding in 2010/11.
If you have any questions on Skills for Life provison and can't find the answers on this site then email the Helpdesk.
Our logos and design guidelines area will help you find everything you need to work with the Skills Funding Agency and our programmes.
News and success stories...
To read the latest press releases, news and our success stories, visit our online newsroom.
Guidance, information and announcements...
Functional skills
Functional Skills qualifications are a new set of qualifications in English, mathematics and ICT and are assessed at Entry Levels, Level 1 and Level 2.
Good Functional skills underpin all educational and training choices. They have been designed in response to employers’ perceptions that many young people and adults are not achieving a firm enough grounding in the basics.
To find out more please see our Functional Skills Update, Functional Skills question and answer paper and Functional Skills funding table.
New requirements for naturalisation/citizenship and demonstrating knowledge of language and life in the UK
Fact sheet 1 sets out the new language requirements for naturalisation/citizenship and the necessary documentation required by the Home Office since April 2010.
Ensuring learners with literacy and language learning needs are placed on the most appropriate provision
Fact sheet 2 supports providers offering Skills for Life literacy and language (ESOL - English of Speakers of Other Languages) provision to place learners on to the most appropriate learning aims so that ESOL learners are not placed on literacy qualifications based purely on their financial situation.
Delivering Embedded literacy, language (English for Speakers of Other Languages - ESOL) and numeracy in post-16 vocational programmes
Fact sheet 3 defines embedded literacy, language (ESOL) and numeracy; highlights the research which outlines the positive benefits of delivering embedded literacy, language or numeracy learning in vocational programmes; and clarifies how the Skills Funding Agency funds this type of delivery and it is recorded it on the Individualised Learner Record (ILR).
Fact sheet 4 - Recording Skills for Life explains how eligible Skills for Life learning aims are recorded on the ILR and highlights the importance of ensuring this information is accurately recorded.
