Introduction
Providers within the ALPHI network are able to offer a range of skills training and qualifications aimed at employed staff, from a full Adult Apprenticeship to part-time and day-release courses or workplace qualifications.
Providers will be able to support the employer and the learner to select the right learning route and qualification for their needs, and to advise if any funding is available to help cover the costs.
Who is it for?
Skills for Life
Skills for Life (SfL) is designed to help people develop the skills they use in everyday life, such as reading, writing and maths. (Also known as Basic Skills)
SfL are available for people over 16, who have left full time education and do not have an up-to-date Maths or English qualification at Level 2.
It’s available for the following subjects:
- Adult Numeracy
- Adult Literacy
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
There are 3 levels of certificate:
- Entry Level (1, 2 or 3)
- Level 1
- Level 2
Where they can lead?
Skills for Life qualifications are based on national standards, so everyone, including potential employers, can see what you're capable of. They can:
- give learners more confidence in their own abilities
- show what they have achieved in their learning programme
- boost their CV
- help them get onto other courses such as NVQs
Skills for Life
Within the Functional Skills Transition Arrangements update (February 2010) it was stated that a decision has not yet been taken on whether FS will replace Skills for Life. Functional Skills Transition Arrangements Update – February 2010
Functional Skills
Functional Skills are the practical skills in English, Maths and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that allow people to work confidently, effectively and independently in life.
These qualifications are central to the government’s 14–19 reforms, and are:
- a key element of new Foundation, Higher and Advanced Diplomas
- a replacement for key skills qualifications
- part of all apprenticeships
- part of all Foundation Learning programmes
- part of GCSE English, mathematics and ICT.
Functional skills are also a part of the key stage 3 curriculum and revised programmes of study for key stage 4.
All consortia offering the Diploma, plus further centres participating in the functional skills pilot, now offer functional skills qualifications. From September 2010 these qualifications will be available to all learners. For more information about Functional Skills and help available go to http://www.qcda.gov.uk/qualifications/functional-skills/32.aspx
Functional skills & Apprenticeships
From September 2010, functional skills in English and mathematics will replace the equivalent Key Skills qualifications as a mandatory component of all Apprenticeship frameworks.
This requirement is stated in the Specification for Apprenticeship Standards in England (SASE) 1 which sets out the minimum requirements to be included in a recognised English Apprenticeship framework. Compliance with the SASE will be a statutory requirement of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Act 2. For those apprentices who registered for Key Skills before September 2010, they will still be able to complete the Key Skills component up to the end of August 2012.
Apprentices will be required to gain functional skills in English and mathematics (and ICT if required by the framework) at a minimum of Level 1 for Apprenticeships and Level 2 for Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships.
There are no proxy qualifications for Functional Skills. But to ensure a smooth transition from Key Skills to Functional Skills, government is extending the relaxation rule that currently applies for Key Skills so that learners starting an Apprenticeship before September 2016 will satisfy the Apprenticeship requirement for the relevant Functional Skills qualification if they have achieved:
- Key Skills Communication at the equivalent level or GCSE English (Grades A* - C) or A level or AS Level English Language, English Literature, or English Language and Literature (Grades A – E)
- Key Skills Application of Number at the equivalent level or GCSE Mathematics (Grades A* - C) or A level or AS level Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, or Further Mathematics (Grades A - E),
- Key Skills ICT at the equivalent level or GCSE ICT (Grades A* - C) or A level or AS level ICT
within the previous five years and before September 2012.
In most cases, Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) will be the Issuing Authority for Apprenticeship frameworks and will ensure that frameworks comply with the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE). The SASE allows an Apprenticeship framework to specify exemptions from Functional Skills qualifications in line with the relaxation rule set out above. The SASE also allows a framework not to allow exemptions from Functional Skills qualifications. In either case the framework would comply with the SASE.
This transitional arrangement allowing the existing relaxation rule to continue for a limited period is to provide those who might not have had chance to take functional skills at Key Stage 4 (i.e. by age 16) a window of opportunity to count their Key Skills qualifications, GCSEs or A/S and A levels towards their apprenticeship for a period until 2016.
Skills for Life
A decision has not yet been taken on whether Functional Skills will replace Skills for Life.
Functional Skills & UCAS Points
UCAS have agreed that, with immediate effect, each certified level 2 functional skills qualification will attract 10 UCAS Tariff points.
Resources
Skills for Life
Functional Skills Transition Arrangements Update – February 2010
QCDA Functional Skills Toolkit
Adult Literacy and Numeracy, Skills for Life & Functional Skills
The Adult Literacy & Numeracy (ALAN) qualifications are sometimes referred to as Adult Basic Skills and can be taken by learners at any age. They are nationally recognised stand alone qualifications that enable learners to gain the basic key skills they require in English and maths.
Skills for Life (SfL) are designed to help people develop the skills they use in everyday life, such as reading, writing and maths. SfL are available for people over 16, who have left full time education and do not have an up-to-date Maths or English qualification at Level 2.
It’s available for the following subjects:
- Adult Numeracy
- Adult Literacy
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
There are 3 levels of certificate:
- Entry Level (1, 2 or 3)
- Level 1
- Level 2
Functional Skills, which focus on the same 3 key areas as Skills for Life, are also available to post 16 learners. At present there is no decision as to whether Functional Skills will replace Skills for Life.
Who to talk to?
Apprenticeship Training Ltd: www.apprenticeshiptraining.co.uk
Basingstoke College of Technology: www.bcot.ac.uk
Brockenhurst College: www.brock.ac.uk
Eastleigh College: www.eastleigh.ac.uk
Fareham College: www.fareham.ac.uk/k
Fareport Training Organisation Ltd: www.fareport.co.uk
Farnborough College of Technology: www.farn-ct.ac.uk
FNTC Training & Consultancy Ltd: www.fntctraining.co.uk
Highbury College: www.highbury.ac.uk
HTP Training: www.htp.uk.com
Paragon Skills For Industry: www.paragonskills.co.uk
Peta Ltd: www.peta.co.uk
SETA: Southampton Engineering Training Association: www.setatraining.co.uk
Southampton City College: www.southampton-city.ac.uk
Sparsholt College: www.sparsholt.ac.uk
The Isle of Wight College: www.iwightc.ac.uk/
Provision Map
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