Functional Skills English

This is a scheme of work I have used in EBD schools to get the pupils engaged with English. It is a 7 week scheme of work aimed at between E3-L2, as it can be differentiated. I have also included the lesson plans that go with the scheme.

Editor’s note
Although written for a Key Stage 3/4 school setting this would work well as a way of embedding Functional English into a vocational childcare course or a family learning situation.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
Context
Health, Social care, Early years

Worksheets and tasks around the theme of emergencies. Written for ESOL but also suitable for adult literacy and Functionakl English.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ESOL
General ESOL
Context
Health and safety

Learners must choose the next manager of the England football team. Using the task sheet to guide them, they must research, collate and present information for five candidates and then make the final choice.

There is scope for plenty of lively discussion around the choices made and also about what the manager’s job entails.

A Power Point presentation is included as an example, but can also be printed out to use in some of the additional activities described.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Sport and fitness

Text about the 99p shop chain with comprehension questions, cloze exercise, writing numbers as words and more.

The text and picture are adapted from the wonderful First News site and the 99p Store site.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service

A practice paper written for Entry 3 Adult Literacy C&G exams at E3 but suitable for, and fully mapped to, Functional English.

All activities are based on a New Year’s Eve theme. The main text and related comprehension questions are about New Year’s Eve superstitions. Other activities include form filling, alphabetical order, dictionary work, planning and writing, and group discussion.

Level
Entry Level 3
English
Form filling
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

An excellent set of L2 literacy/Functional English tasks based on a topical text about New Year’s resolutions.
Used as a mock exam, the first 12 questions are in the style of the Adult Literacy multiple choice exam and cover spelling, comprehension, punctuation, tone, vocabulary, etc. They are followed by several challenging writing, summarising and purpose/structure questions that are also be suitable for Functional Skills English.

Level
Level 2
English
Adult Literacy: Writing
Adult Literacy: Reading
Functional Skills English

Set of Remembrance Day tasks covering reading, writing and discussion.
Ideal for, and fully mapped to, Entry Level 1 and 2 Functional English. With teaching tips and extension ideas.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community
History, culture, museums, libraries

Topical set of resources covering reading, writing and discussion.Two simplified texts – one writer likes fireworks; the other does not! What do you think?
Ideal for, and fully mapped to, Entry Level 1 and 2 Functional English. With teaching tips and extension ideas.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English

Excellent set of reading comprehension, vocabulary (definitions, synonyms, antonyms), grammar (parts of speech) and writing tasks (write an article) on this emotive topic. Based on a BBC “On this day” article.
Also ideal for prompting a Level 1 or 2 Functional English discussion.

Level
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
News, Politics & Government items
History, culture, museums, libraries

[img_assist|nid=4821|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=68|height=100]Two resources that can be used together or independently.

  • An ICC / Literacy / Functional English / ESOL research project task sheet on “My favourite British animal”. E3-L2 reading, writing and ICT
  • A basic animal anatomy vocabulary sheet for E2-E3 ESOL (paw, claw, antler, etc.)

For more of Kathy’s animal resources go to ‘see also’ below. (Birds of Prey resources)

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Rw/E3.1a Recognise and understand relevant specialist key words
ESOL Rw/E2.1a Recognise words on forms related to personal information
ICT
Functional ICT
Context
Animals, animal care, farming & equine