Skills for Life

Skills for Life is the national strategy in England for improving adult literacy, language (ESOL) and numeracy skills. The strategy was launched by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in March 2001.

The Skills for Life strategy sets out how the Government will reach its Public Service Agreement (PSA) target to improve "the basic skill levels of 2.25 million adults between the launch of Skills for Life in 2001 and 2010, with a milestone of 1.5 million in 2007". This PSA target is part of the wider objective to "tackle the adult skills gaps", by increasing the number of adults with the skills required for employability and progression to higher levels of training.

The Leitch Review, (Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills, Dec 2006) commissioned by the Government, has indicated the next likely Skills for Life target. The Review recommends that the UK commit to becoming a world leader in skills by 2020 with a basic skills objective "for 95% of adults to achieve the basic skills of functional literacy and numeracy" by 2020 (a total of 7.4 million adult attainments over the period).

Background

In 1998 the Government asked Sir Claus Moser, Chairman of the Basic Skills Agency, to produce a report on how to "tackle the vast basic skills problem in this country". The Moser Report (A Fresh Start – improving literacy and numeracy) was published in 1999, and found that 20% of adults lacked functional basic skills.

The Government responded by launching the Skills for Life strategy. When the strategy was launched in 2001, free literacy, language and numeracy training was made available to all adults without a Level 2 qualification (equivalent to a GCSE at A* - C).

Scale of the problem

As part of the Skills for Life strategy, a nationwide survey of basic skills (Skills for Life Needs and Impact Survey) was published in 2003. The survey showed that of the adult population aged 16–65 in England:

Estimates place the cost to the country of poor basic skills at £10 billion a year. This takes account of the effect of lower incomes, reduced productivity, poorer health and the cost of benefits and welfare services. The cost of poor numeracy and literacy skills for a company employing 1,000 people has been estimated at £626,000 per year. For organisations employing 51-100 employees the cost is estimated to be nearer £108,000.

Higher earnings are correlated to good basic skills (Skills for Life Needs and Impact Survey) On average:

Further analysis of non-graduates published in 2006, showed that three years after finishing a numeracy course, people were earning on average 13% more than those who had not been on such a course. Attending a literacy course generally has less impact on earnings.

Qualifications

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families published the first national standards for adult literacy and numeracy in 2000. These standards formed the basis of the core curricula and national qualifications in literacy and numeracy at Entry Level, Level 1, and Level 2.

The following qualifications, achieved by adult learners, aged 16 years and older, count towards the Skills for Life target:

Objectives

The Skills for Life strategy has one over-riding target (A) and four key delivery objectives (B-E):

A. PSA target: to improve the basic skills levels of 2.25 million adults between the launch of Skills for Life in 2001 and 2010, with an interim target of 1.5 million adults by 2007

B. Learner and employer engagement: to engage and increase participation of young people and adults from priority groups in literacy, language and numeracy learning

C. Ensuring capacity: to improve the planning and funding of literacy, language and numeracy provision so that learning provision is effective and well co-ordinated

D. Improving quality: to improve standards and quality in teaching and learning in literacy, language and numeracy and to remodel and professionalise the Skills for Life workforce.

E. Improving achievement and progression: to improve outcomes in literacy, language and numeracy provision and progression onto further learning and to assess the impact on social inclusion and economic outcomes.

Target groups

Gremlins

A national "Get On" media campaign encourages adults to overcome their fears of learning and "get rid of their gremlins". There is a national helpline on 0800 100 900.

Progress

Since the launch of the strategy in 2001, 5.7 million adults have taken up 12 million Skills for Life learning opportunities with 2,276,000 learners achieving their first Skills for Life qualification in literacy, language or numeracy. (Figures are for June 2008.) This means the 2010 target for 2.25m achievements has been met two years early.

Key organisations involved in the Skills for Life strategy

The Skills for Life Strategy Unit, based in the Department for Children, Schools and Families, is responsible overall for driving forward the Skills for Life strategy and ensuring efforts to improve basic skills are well co-ordinated. The Unit's priorities include:

skills agenda being considered as part of the Leitch Review.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is the chief delivery partner, which through its network of 9 regional and 47 local councils is responsible for the planning and funding of post-16 vocational education and training. The LSC has led responsibility for delivering the adult skills PSA target. The LSC have responsibility for offender learning, and Jobcentre Plus clients.

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) was created by the Government as a component of the Learning and Skills Success for All programme, and following a merger between the Quality Improvement Agency and the Centre for Excellence in Leadership. The service aims to guide improvements in the Further Education (FE) sector.

Skills for Life is inspected against the common inspection framework by the Inspectorates: the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) and OfSTED.

The Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) leads on developing new qualifications and the associated standards and assessment models. Works with Awarding Bodies to ensure new qualifications are embedded.

CfBT Education Trust is a major contributor to the Government's Skills for Life strategy to raise the quality of teaching and learning in adult literacy, numeracy and language (ESOL) provision since 2001. CfBT has developed Skills for Life materials for Embedded Learning, supported Key Skills Support, and Subject Learning Coaches programmes, managed the Supporting Dyslexic Learners in Different Contexts programme, and managed the Skills for Life Quality Initiative programme on behalf of LSC. It now leads on the Skills for Life Improvement Programme on behalf of LSIS, runs the Sussex Skills for Life Development Centre, and conducts regular research on aspects of Skills for Life.

National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy (NRDC) is dedicated to conducting research into adult literacy, numeracy, ESOL and ICT. Established and funded by the DfES.

Key initiatives and resources

The Excellence Gateway includes a new Skills for Life area which has rationalised and brought together legacy Skills for Life websites and existing LSIS Skills for Life programme websites. These websites include the Tools Library, Embedded Learning Portal and Supporting Dyslexic Learners. The area enables the resources across all the previous websites to be organised and presented in ways which meet the needs of sector staff.

The new revised Skills for Life core curriculum developed by LSIS is now online. The revised curriculum on the Excellence Gateway in the form of an interactive online tool that:

Train to Gain: the service offers skills advice and business needs with training providers. The service, led by the LSC, is designed to enable adults to achieve a first full Level 2 qualification and to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Skills for Life Improvement Programme now in its third year, builds on previous initiatives making best use of people, systems and resources to deliver the Skills for Life Strategy in the future. The Improvement Programme, delivered on behalf of LSIS by CfBT Education Trust and partners, is designed to support creative change in a wide range of self-improving organisations operating in a variety of different settings.

Move On Up: Move On Up is a national project funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and delivered by Skills for Life company, Tribal. The project aims to help adults to brush up their skills and gain the National Certificate in Adult Literacy or Numeracy.

BBC Skillswise: is an interactive adult literacy and numeracy resource from the BBC for tutors and learners, with a range of factsheets, worksheets and quizzes.

BBC raw: is an interactive resource for adult learners wanting to improve skills for everyday life covering literacy, numeracy, financial capabilities and ICT. The site includes a range of familiar faces such as Dominic Little, Phil Tufnell and Lenny Henry and resources including videos, comedy clips, activities, worksheets and true life stories.

Whole Organisation Approach: The Whole Organisation Approaches for Delivering Skills for Life Project is designed to embed Skills for Life across post compulsory education. Delivered by KPMG, Tribal, LSN and The Experience Corps on behalf of LSIS. The Whole Organisation Approaches for delivering Skills for Life project has come to an end.

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