Free Functional Skills and Skills for Life resources
Site Search
Functional English reading
Reading’ within Functional Skills English qualifications is defined as the independent understanding of written language in specific contexts. Can be demonstrated through the use of texts on screen or on paper.
Great set of tasks covering maths (counting, addition, subtraction, sorting, extracting info from lists/tables, problem solving) and English (reading and spelling).
Fully mapped to E1-E3 Functional Skills criteria (most suitable for E1-E2 but some of the maths is E3) with extensive teaching tips and notes.
Adapted from Jennifer Whitehead’s “Workign in a Garage” (see below).
Lovely, practical reading task base don a map of the London Underground.
Fully mapped to E3 and L1 Functional English – with lots of extra teaching tips and ideas.
An interesting worksheet that covers both literacy and numeracy. Best used with an interactive food label on the UK Government Eatwell site but the questions can also be answered using the provided printout.
Covers reading comprehension (scanning), extracting information from tables, using decimals and place value.
Level
Entry Level 3
English
Rt/E3.7
Functional English reading
Maths
HD1/E3.1
AN N1/E3.1 place value <1000, odd / even, count in 10s /100s
A good mix of reading and writing resources all focusing on E1-E2 form-filling skills.
Includes: 3 forms to be filled in after reading three short descriptions; a personal form to complete, sentence work, and a matching exercise.
Fully mapped. Written for E1-E2 ESOL but also suitable for (and mapped to) Entry literacy and Functional English.
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - writing
Rw/E3.2
Functional English reading
Form filling
ESOL
ESOL Wt/E2.1b Record information on forms
ESOL Wt/E1.1a Compose very simple text to communicate ideas or basic information
ESOL Rw/E2.1a Recognise words on forms related to personal information
A fabulous City and Guilds style E3 literacy assignment that covers all aspects of E3 speaking and listening, reading and writing (see editor’s note below). Based on a trip to a seaside music festival, it makes a very appealing summer-time revision activity for music fans of any age.
Level
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
A fabulous City and Guilds style E3 literacy assignment that covers all aspects of E3 speaking and listening, reading and writing (see Editor’s note below). Based on a real trip to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford it is written in a generic style and could be any local museum / art gallery.
Level
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
A simplified story from Australia explains how Linda and her daughters are saving for a holiday. Accompanied by comprehension questions, writing- personal-opinions type questions, a spelling-punctuation task and a short writing task. Fully mapped to E2 Functional English and adult literacy (with additional teaching tips). Australian glossary provided for UK readers.
A simplified story explains how Dan is making a cake for his son’s birthday. Accompanied by comprehension questions. Fully mapped to E2 Functional English and adult literacy (with additional teaching tips).
Excellent practice for Edexcel style Functional Skills English reading test. 20 questions based on two simplified texts: a job advert and a formal letter inviting the reader to a job interview. Fully mapped to all the E2 reading coverage and range statements.
This Blue Cross resource was written for strong E3 or L1 (or even L2) ESOL learners. I first used it as a homework exercise. The English on the site is a little quirky but it is an exercise using authentic material which always has its upsides and downsides.
However, it is good on human interests and most people like animals. It involves ICT, Reading and Writing. It’s best to pre-teach the vocabulary.
Also ideal for, and fully mapped to, Functional Skills English Level 1 reading and writng.