Basic Skills in England
Definitions
Basic Skills
The ability to read, write and speak in English/ Welsh and to use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general.
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Basic Skills Agency (2004), About Us: About the Basic Skills Agency, [Online], Available World Wide Web, URL: http://www.basic-skills.co.uk/site/page.php?cms=2) [Accessed December 22, 2004, 18:05], Concise Multimedia.
Basic Skills concern lifelong learning, meaning all age groups.
Key Skills are similar to basic skills, but actually include a wider range of skills. The Department for Education and Skills defined key skills as:
Essential skills which people need in order to function effectively as members of a flexible, adaptable and competitive workforce. They are also invaluable in helping people function within society - and for lifelong learning.
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Learndirect (2002), Are Basic Skills Like Key Skills? [Online], Available World Wide Web, URL: http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpandadvice/bassk/#key [Accessed December 22, 2004, 20:10], Ufi Limited.
Key Skills invariably include Information Communication Technology (ICT) with literacy and numeracy. Although focused on application into work, there is much overlap.
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This concerns England. Similar approaches exist for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Formation of Provision
In 1998, Sir Claus Moser wrote A Fresh Start, on literacy and numeracy in England. From this came a government comprehensive strategy to tackle Basic Skills deficiencies in the adult population called Skills for Life.
From this and around 2000 (DfEE, 2001) it was identified that:
- 7 million adults in England could not read and write at the level expected of an 11-year-old (Level 1)
- 1 million of these under 25 years old
- 4 million of these 26 to 55 years old
- Up to 3.5 million working
- More than 7 million had difficulty with working with numbers
- Some half million struggled with English because it was not their first language
25% of employers reported basic skills inadequacies in the distribution and consumer services sector (25% of all employment)
The consequences were:
- lower incomes
- Loss of business or orders to competitors (losing £4.8 billion a year)
- Lower productivity
- Literacy and numeracy inadequacy responsible for 33% of 20% productivity gap with Germany
- One in five employers reported a significant gap in workers' skills.
- Unemployment
- Ill health
- Social exclusion
So these people were targeted for action:
- School leavers
- (of 580,000 annually, around 150,000 were below Level 1 in both maths and English; 22% of these did not proceed to training or work)
- Unemployed
- (32% below or at Level 1)
- Low-skilled employed
- Benefit claimants
- (40% of 3.5 million adults in receipt of working-age benefits - excluding child benefit and pensions - with problems)
- One quarter of lone parents claiming Income Support are without qualifications
- prisoners
- (130,000 are or have been; 50% with poor reading, 66% poor numeracy, 81% writing skills below Level 1)
- Learners with disabilities
- (about 8.5 million, many literate and numerate)
- The supervised by the Probation Service
- (200,000 - similar percentages to prisoners)
- Public sector employees
- (2 million needing to improve skills)
- Those risking exclusion
- Homeless people
- Refugees
- Asylum seekers
- English as not first language
Aim to improve literacy and numeracy by 2004:
- 750,000 adults
- At least 40,000 claiming benefit
- At least 40,000 people in prison/ supervised
- Around 110,000 young people by 2004
- At least 60,000 parents
- A further 200,000 as young people replace the retiring
- Professional qualifications for all literacy and numeracy teachers from September 2001
Tasks:
- People improve literacy and numeracy skills
- Promote numeracy and literacy provision
Methods in general:
- Education and training free
- National standards
- A national core curriculum
- National Tests for literacy and numeracy
- Objective questions with a single right answer
- Tests available online
- No cheating
- Almost immediate online feedback
- Monopoly of Levels 1 and 2 in National Tests from September 2002
- Inspections (literacy, numeracy and English as an additional language).
- Realistic targets
- For new individuals
- Screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Existing learners to remain motivated
- Commissioning new learning materials
- Teacher Training
- Professional qualifications for literacy and numeracy teachers
- Literacy and numeracy in FE teacher training
- More funding
- Centre of research for literacy and numeracy skills
- No unemployed 16 hour rule for studying literacy and numeracy
- European Union context
Specifically:
- Basic Skills Agency's Quality Mark
- Reward those performing well
- (The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) from inspection data)
- Invest selectively (LSC)
- Facilitate improvement where necessary (LSC)
- Firm action where providers fail to respond (LSC)
- Ceasing funding (LSC)
- Telephone information line
- Training of a high standard
- e-Learning
- Technologies
- Professionally produced materials
- (commissioned by Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit)
- Learning packages and assessment
- Self study packages and progress charts
- Home study packages in paper-based formats
- Other high-quality materials
- Literacy and numeracy linked to work learning and National Vocational Qualifications etc.
- Information and advice about training and learning opportunities
- (Learndirect)
- Telephone
- Web
- Higher profile of online skills learning in the workplace, home and in learning centres
- Skills Action Plans
- (Regional Development Agencies)
- National core literacy and numeracy curriculum for adults
- (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)
- Innovate, develop and disseminate best practice
- (The Basic Skills Agency)
- Quality assurance
- (Adult Learning Inspectorate)
- Targeted funding, family learning
- (Learning and Skills Council)
- Guide sharing national and local best practice
- (Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit)
- Other funding sources
- (Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit with LSCs)
- Co-ordination
- (Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit, based in the Department for Education and Employment and supported by a regional field force)
- Family Literacy and Numeracy Project
- Welfare to Work budget
- Prison education
- Probation Service literacy and numeracy skills strategy
- Literacy and numeracy action plan of the Ministry of Defence with annual targets
- Library provision
- Keeping bureaucracy to a minimum
- (Learning and Skills Council)
- Planning and funding
- (Learning and Skills Council)
- Personal advisers track young people and intervene with employers
- Voluntary Organisations Partnership Programme
- Those working with children identifying parents' needs
- Health visitors looking at mothers' needs
- Address adult financial literacy needs
- (Financial Services Authority)
- Job advertisements state levels of literacy and numeracy
- Qualifications structure for teachers of literacy, numeracy and English as an additional language
- FE teaching qualification includes literacy and numeracy
- Accredited continuous professional development for adult literacy and numeracy teachers
- Research
- (evidence based development, including teacher training, establishing a national research centre working with Basic Skills Agency)
- New standards and curriculum, through a training programme
- (developed and managed by the Basic Skills Agency)
Using these organisers and providers:
- Ofsted
- Adult Learning Inspectorate
- UK Online centres and the National Grid for Learning
- Distance Learning Advisers Network
- Central Government National Training Organisation
- Learning and Skills Council
- Basic Skills Agency
- Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit
- Learning and Skills Development Agency
- Learndirect
- National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
- Adult and Community Learning Fund
- Qualifications and Curriculum AuthorityAdult Learning Inspectorate
- National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
- Regional Development Agencies
- Local authorities
- Local strategic partnerships
- Social workers
- Residents' associations
- European Social Fund
- The media
- (especially BBC with Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit)
and:
- National training organisations
- Department of Health
- National Health Service
- Prison Service
- The Department for Education and Employment
- Ministry of Defence
- Local Government Association
- Employer Learning Networks
- Employers
- Modern Apprenticeships
- Investors in People
- Trade unions
- Union Learning Fund
- Connexions
- Voluntary Organisations
- Foyer Federation
- Prince's Trust
- Salvation Army
- Nacro
- Refugee Council
- Youth Clubs UK
- National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service
- Fairbridge Housing
- Cranstoun Drug Services
- Alcohol Concern
- Groundwork UK
- The Big Issue project
- National Health Service
- Probation Service
- Courts
- Neighbourhood Nurseries
- Public libraries
- Voluntary and community organisations
- Faith-based organisations
- Information, Advice and Guidance Partnerships
Learners to be:
- Committed to their own learning
- Following an action plan
- Know what to do
- Short term goals
- Long term goals
The providers offer and use:
- Tailor-made training
- Bite sized chunks
- Clear goals
- A fixed benchmark
- Tutors giving regular positive documented feedback
- A full range of learning techniques
- Volunteers (10,000)
- Offer clear progression into other learning opportunities
- Be aware of the particular requirements of those with dyslexia
- Tutors should provide a multi-sensory approach
- Every teacher receives a free copy of:
- National standards
- National core curriculum
Locations and times:
- Classroom
- At work
- Learn at a time and place that suits individual needs and circumstances
- Closer to people's homes
- At home
- Informal settings and outside traditional classroom locations
- Shopping malls
- Community centres
- Libraries
- Pubs
- materials from:
- schools
- supermarkets
- bookshops
- football grounds
National standards for literacy:
- Entry 1 read and obtain information from common signs and symbols Level 1
- Entry 2 use punctuation correctly, including capital letters, full stops and question marks Level 2
- Entry 3 organise writing in short paragraphs Level 3
- Level 1 identify the main points and specific detail in texts Level 4
- Level 2 read and understand a range of texts of varying complexity accurately and independently GCSE A*-C
National standards for numeracy
- Entry 1 recognise and name common shapes such as rectangles, circles, cubes, etc. Level 1
- Entry 2 read and understand information in simple diagrams and charts Level 2
- Entry 3 add or subtract using three-digit numbers Level 3
- Level 1 recognise and use fractions, decimals and percentages Level 4
- Level 2 find the mean, median and mode and use them as appropriate to compare two sets of data GCSE A*-C
What is happening now?
Most agencies have settled into their roles. For example, the Basic Skills Agency has a set of programmes:
- Quality Marks
- Developing Effective Practice
- (problem solving with others in Basic Skills)
- Better Teaching Partnership
- (post 16 institutions improving from grade 4 by ALI / Ofsted)
- National Projects
- (e.g. Army, Probation Service)
Basic Skills Agency (2004), About Us: About the Basic Skills Agency, [Online], Available World Wide Web, URL: http://www.basic-skills.co.uk/site/page.php?cms=2) [Accessed December 22, 2004, 18:05], Concise Multimedia.
The Learning and Skills Council covers all non-University adult learning. It looks at the demand side and supply side, with The Young People's Learning Committee (16-21)...
- Achieving national targets
- Strategies for participation and attainment
- 14-19 curriculum
- Modern Apprenticeships
- Works with:
- Connexions
- Education providers
...and an Adult Learning Committee
- Advice on participation and attainment
- Basic skills
- Workforce development
- Works with:
- National agencies, sectoral, economic and business and regional Regional agencies
- Key partners
One big provider is Learndirect. It covers adult learning including Basic Skills or:
- Essential skills
- Skills for life
- Literacy and numeracy
- Reading, writing and arithmetic (the three R's)
Learndirect (2002), Are Basic Skills Like Key Skills? [Online], Available World Wide Web, URL: http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpandadvice/bassk/#what [Accessed December 22, 2004, 20:15], Ufi Limited.
It states that still around seven million adults in England have difficulty with basic skills.
It provides:
- Courses at colleges
- Courses at adult education centres
- Distance learning (self study)
- Home
- Workplace
- Open learning centre
- On-line courses
It proceeds using:
- An initial assessment for needs
- A diagnostic assessment on strengths and weaknesses for individual tailoring
There became by 2004 many providers of Entry Level and Levels 1 and 2 in Literacy or Numeracy
- OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA
- Includes Level 3
- 13,000 locations
- City and Guilds
- FE
- Businesses
- Private training providers
- Armed forces
- Some universities
- Edexcel
- Schools
- FE
- HE
- Employers
- Training providers
- London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board
- NCFE
- Colleges
- Private training providers
- Adult education centres
- Community groups
- Schools
- Businesses
- National Open College Network
- (NOCN)
- NOCN offers courses in literacy and numeracy at entry level, level 1 Adult and community education centres
- FE
- Sixth form colleges
- Voluntary and community organisations
- Universities
- HE
- Trade unions
- Employers
- Local education authorities
- Training organisations
- National Extension College
- Distance learning basic skills
Other related including Basic Skills:
- OCR National Skills Profile - a broad-based qualification with different skill areas (including communication and numeracy)
- City and Guilds also offer:
- Communication skills
- English for speakers of other languages
- Wordwise
- Numberwise
- Employers:
- Should provide free basic skills training in the workplace
- Visits from each Learning and Skills Council Basic Skills Advisor
- To deliver a learning programme
- College outreach staff
- English for Speakers of Other Languages or English as a Second Language
- Understand and participate
- Access services
- Familiarise with UK laws and customs
- Access the labour market
- Access FE and training
- Support their children's education.
- Adult education and community centres
- FE
- Pitman
- Linguaphone
- Family learning:
- Parents develop basic skills to help their children
- Campaign for Learning includes the Family Learning Weekend
- Talk to Your Baby
- Offenders and ex-offenders:
- Prisons
- Probation services
- Dyslexia:
- The Dyslexia Institute
- British Dyslexia Association
- Jobcentre Plus
- New Deal
- Work-Based Learning
Promotion also takes place:
- Get On for Individuals
- Get On at Work (information for employers):
- From Learndirect
- (Get On video pack - very basic)
- Skills for Life booklet
- Employers' Toolkit (CD Rom or paper)
- Skillswise
- (BBC campaign and Learndirect)
- Information to basic skills tutors
- Skillswise magazine
- The Literacy Trust
- Reading Is Fundamental
- UK
- National Reading Campaign
- Talk To Your Baby
- Reading The Game
- Reading Connects
- Vital Link
So much that was considered in 1998 and drafted in 2000 has come about. The question remains how many people take advantage of the courses and how advantageous they are.
It is not always the case that skills education improves skills. Some people tackle courses they can do easily, some vocational Key Skills and Basic Skills courses repeat a previous course or add little to what has been achieved (people with GCSE C or above doing Level 2, for example). This happens through compulsion and through providers meeting statistical requirements. Some people may even find their skills declining as a result of taking a course - Brooks et al, Progress in Adult Literacy: Do learners learn? (2001), in Skills for life: The National Strategy for Improving Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills, Department for Education and Employment, page 10, found that 20% of attenders find their skills reducing.
Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) (2001), Skills for Life: The National Strategy for Improving National Literacy and Numeracy Skills, Foreword by the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, [Online] Available World Wide Web, URL: http://www.dfee.gov.uk/readwriteplus, [Accessed December 20, 2004, 22:10], Nottingham: DfEE Publications.
Adrian Worsfold
Pluralist - Liberal and Thoughtful