Functional Skills English

The original Functional Skills English (FSE) criteria, now known as Legacy FSE (LFSE), were published in 2011 and replaced the Adult Literacy Core Curriculum (ALCC) that was published in 2001. In 2018 Functional Skills English was completely refreshed and new subject content descriptors were published (known as the reformed Functional Skills Content).

English resources published on Skillsworkshop before 2011 are mapped to the ALCC. Those published later are mapped to Functional Skills English (those after 2018 have more detailed mapping as the Reformed Content includes numbered descriptors rather than broad categories). There is much overlap between these curricula and, despite its age, the ALCC remains a useful reference and taxonomy tool.

For a list of resources that cover this curriculum area SCROLL DOWN

Scrolling down will lead to a list of very general multi-level resources that cover many aspects of reading, writing, and SL&C. To drill down to more specific areas and content descriptors follow the bulleted links below. 
Within skillsworkshop.org Functional Skills English is split into areas as follows (click on each link for more information and to find relevant resources):

Speaking, Listening and Communication (SL&C)

Reading

Writing

SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar)

COMPOSITION

 

A collection of resources based around the BBC programme CrimeWatch.
Designed with L1 Functional English students in mind, the lesson can lead in to further discussion about crime, security, safety etc.

Editor’s note
The PPT also acts as a lesson outline which covers the following learning objectives.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
Employment skills & Public services
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

Students design a board game to demonstrate their learning. This can incorporate IT skills (Word template provided below) or can be done with paper, card and pens.

I originally did this with an E2E group and it proved popular. It’s an alternative to the “design a poster” task to review learning. The instructions are set out as a board game. it can be used for literacy, numeracy, ICT or ESOL.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Maths
General numeracy / maths
Functional Maths
ESOL
General ESOL
ICT
Functional ICT
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond

An original resource to generate discussion, practise reading comprehension and writing skills (formal letter). Ideal for Functional Skills Motor Vehicle students. Aimed at L1-2 although the discussion is also suitable for Entry Level.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
Motor vehicles & Transport

This carousel of Jubilee tasks was hurriedly put together for a group of 10 E1-E3 Functional Maths and English 16-19 year old learners who had just (very successfully!) finished all their Edexcel Functional Skills assessments.

After a year of hard work from my students, the emphasis was on celebration and fun. However, learning objectives included: measuring, counting, writing an email, spelling, 2D shapes, estimating, rounding and working with money. Rough lesson outline also included.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Maths
General numeracy / maths
Functional Maths
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

A whole session activity based on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. I used it to build on some dictionary work we hade been doing in previous sessions as well as paragraph writing and report writing. We had also been talking about open and closed questions so I have used examples of each in this resource to see if learners spotted them (they did!)

We are based in the same building as the library so there is lots of information handily available about local events but I also had internet enabled laptops in the classroom.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
History, culture, museums, libraries

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