John Barnard OCNW ALSC Assignment 1 15/01/05 Dear Phil, Heres some information on the Skills for Life

Strategy.

Skills for Life Strategy

The Skills for Life Strategy has been formulated by the government to create a unified national approach to basic skills tuition. It has been formulated in response to the report by Sir Claus Moser chairman of the basic skills agency which looked at the national skills shortage and ways of improving literacy and numeracy throughout the population. The aims of the strategy are summed up very well by the then secretary of state for education the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP to give all adults in England the opportunity to acquire the skills for active participation in twentyfirst-century society. (Skills for Life DfES 2001)

The Scale of the Problem

England Percentage of poor literacy Percentage of poor numeracy 24 North West 25.6 Gtr M/cr 26.2 Bolton 26.3 Bury 24.1 M/cr 28.2 Oldham 27.7 Rochdale 28.1 Salfor d 28 Stockport 21.7 Tamesid e 27.6 Trafford 22.2 Wigan 25.8

24

26.5

27.3

27.4

24.6

31.8

28.9

29.4

29.5

21.4

29

22.3

26.6

Source: TGWU handout 2005

As you can see our region is below average in both literacy and numeracy, considering that someone with poor basic skills could earn up to 50,000 less over their working life and spend 3 years less in employment by age 37, (Binner & Parsons 1997) this shows what an impact poor basic skills have on people in this region. In the north-west we have quite a high percentage of people of different ethnic backgrounds so the fact that around half a million people in the UK whose first language isnt English have serious difficulties with literacy does nothing to improve our situation.

John Barnard OCNW ALSC Assignment 1 On a national level we need to improve our skills to increase productivity and better compete with other nations for business in an increasingly global marketplace. The strategy document lists a number of ways in which basic skills provision is to be coordinated to ensure all sections of the community have access to free basic skills tuition as a right not a privilege.

Raising Standards
Establishing the national core curriculum and the new National Tests for literacy and numeracy and the introduction of professional qualifications for teachers of literacy, numeracy and ESOL.

Engaging Potential Learners

Giving all adults the right to free literacy and numeracy tuition to level 2 available where and when its needed, mapping a clear route to qualifications so people know whats required of them to progress and marketing initiatives targeting potential learners to increase course take up.

Co-ordinating Planning and Delivery

The setting of reasonable targets for improvement and the provision of funding to make them achievable, the targeting of those in greatest need for initial projects and the establishing of regional pathfinder areas to test the initiatives.

Putting it into Practice

Many initiatives have been introduced as a result of the strategy. Union Learner Reps are being trained to advise their workmates on skills issues and signpost them to learning providers. The idea behind this being to create a learning culture in the workplace. Community education schemes where people can learn in local schools, village halls and libraries to remove the need to travel outside the local area to learn. Learn Direct provides online courses which can be accessed from any internet enabled computer meaning people can learn from home at a time suitable to them without the restrictions of having to attend a course.

John Barnard OCNW ALSC Assignment 1 Advertising campaigns run nationally and locally by colleges and providers to encourage people to return to learning. Jobcentres offering the unemployed learning to improve their skills and ultimately their employability. The prison and probation service offering education to the prison population of whom between 50 and 80% have poor literacy and numeracy skills. (Skills for Life DfES 2001)

All the above have been given the responsibility of ensuring that learning is offered to all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, disability or ethnic background. This should mean that anyone in this country who wants to improve their literacy, numeracy or spoken English can do so free of charge at a time and place that is convenient to them.

Who
There are many organisations working to improve basic skills including; the DfES (Department for Education and Skills), the Basic Skills Agency, the Learning and Skills Council, The Trades Unions, Learn Direct and the many local IAG (information advice & guidance) partnerships along with local colleges and education providers.

Regards John.