Teacher guidance and curricula

Since the demise of the Excellence Gateway (EG) on September 30 2023, there is no official Government backed website where the old Skills for Life core curricula are available. The EG has (partially) migrated to the Education & Training Foundation (ETF) at https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/ but there is no sign of these classic documents. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
Adult numeracy curriculum
ESOL
General ESOL

Since the demise of the Excellence Gateway (EG) on September 30 2023, there is no official Government backed website where the old Skills for Life core curricula are available. The EG has (partially) migrated to the Education & Training Foundation (ETF) at https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/ but there is no sign of these classic documents. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Adult literacy curriculum
ESOL
General ESOL

Since the demise of the Excellence Gateway (EG) on September 30 2023 there is no official Government backed website where the old Skills for Life core curricula are available. The EG has (partially) migrated to the Education & Training Foundation (ETF) at https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/ but there is no sign of these classic documents. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Listen and respond (Lr)
ESOL Speaking (S)
ESOL Reading (R)
ESOL Writing (W)
Adult ESOL Curriculum

There is much evidence that phonics supports second language learning with ESOL learners at all levels. This resource is the first of a set that I use. It contains basic language information with terminology that is easy to understand, explains the code and the graphemes. It is easy to use, even if you (or your learners) have never used phonics. 

Remember to use the sound of the letter for example /a/ as in cat, not /ay/ as in pay. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
Adult Lit Rw/E1.2 Decode simple, regular words
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E1.2a Use basic sound-letter correspondence to sound out words
ESOL Rw/E2.3a Use context & range of phonic / graphic knowledge to decode words

I attach an annotated version of the resource ‘Education - a sorry story’.  I’ve found all the resources around this text / story really useful for my FS L2 classes and have led into good discussions and onto some useful comparisons with other related texts. 

Editor's notes

Level
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE AO4 Evaluate texts critically & support with textual references
Context
Education and teaching
News, Politics & Government items

This resource explains how and why we use the form 'had had' in English. This usage can be difficult to explain and even harder for native and non-native speakers/learners to grasp as it is used less frequently these days but still seen in more formal texts. 

It is useful for those trying to teach the topic or as part of a class session.  Use the resource/information whichever way suits you and your learners get the best out of it. 

For Level 1-2 ESOL and possibly Functional Skills English

Editor's note

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.20 Use correct grammar e.g. subject-verb agreement, consistent use of different tenses, definite & indefinite articles
FE L2.21 Use correct grammar (subject-verb agreement, consistent use of a verb tenses, definite & indefinite articles) & modality devices
ESOL
ESOL Sc/L1.3a Express statements of fact
ESOL Sc/L1.3c Narrate events in the past
ESOL Sc/E1.4a Make simple statements of fact
ESOL Sc/L2.4a Express statements of fact
ESOL Ws/L1.2a Use sentence grammar accurately to achieve purpose
ESOL Ws/L2.2a Use sentence grammar consistently and with accuracy

This is a medium term plan (MTP) / scheme of work (SoW) of 12 lessons designed to equip students with the skills needed to complete the Functional Skills English SLC component of the Pearson assessment in the final lesson. The scheme includes 9 PPT lessons (and one PDF worksheet for lesson 6) which build the skills needed for the assessment and lead to the students creating their presentations and researching their discussion topics in lessons 10 and 11.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng L1.4 Communicate information / ideas / opinions clearly & accurately on range of topics
FS Eng L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence
FS Eng L2.5 Communicate information/ideas/opinions clearly/effectively with further detail/development if required
FS Eng L2.6 Express opinions and arguments and support them with relevant and persuasive evidence
FS Eng L2.7 Use language that is effective, accurate and appropriate to context and situation
FE L1.3 Respond effectively to detailed questions
FE L2.3 Respond effectively to detailed or extended questions & feedback
FE L1.2 Make requests & ask relevant questions to obtain specific information
FE L2.4 Make requests & ask detailed & pertinent questions to obtain specific information in a range of contexts
FE L1.1 Identify relevant information & lines of argument in explanations & presentations
FE L2.1 Identify relevant information from extended explanations or presentations
FE L2.2 Follow narratives & lines of argument
FE L1.6 Follow / understand discussions & make contributions relevant to situation & subject
FE L1.7 Use appropriate phrases / registers & adapt contributions to take account of audience / purpose / medium
FE L1.8 Respect turn-taking rights of others during discussions, using appropriate language for interjection
FE L2.8 Make relevant and constructive contributions to move discussion forward
FE L2.9 Adapt contributions to discussions to suit audience, purpose & medium
FE L2.10 Interject & redirect discussion using appropriate language & register

Five scenarios and tasks designed to practice for the discussion part of the speaking exam (NCFE task 2; new spec). 

Topics include watching sport, fitness clubs, life skills, transferable work skills and alternative school provision (learning at home and in the community).

Is desired, the sheet can be cut up into 5 different tasks to use on different occasions / with different groups. 

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 3
English
FE E3.3 Communicate information & opinions clearly on a range of topics
FE E3.5 Follow & understand the main points of discussions
FE E3.6 Make relevant contributions to group discussions about straightforward topics
FE E3.7 Listen to & respond appropriately to other points of view, respecting conventions of turn-taking