General Resources

A short workbook I created to 'test the maths water' before teaching maths to a group of adult and young ESOL learners. It covers almost everything in the Entry Level 1 curriculum with exam style tasks/ questions  linked to C&G Functional Skills Maths assessments.

I usually use it with groups as a gentle introduction to the idea of maths and it forms a good diagnostic for the things they need to learn. It also lets me see how motivated they are to study maths!

Editor's notes

Update 24/2/22: written by Sharon Roberts and Alexandra Bates, both of Essex ACL. 
This is a fun activity which encourages ESOL learners to engage with digital technology and transacting online. It provides opportunity to explore vocabulary related to shopping while also discussing the advantages of shopping for food online. It can be adapted to all levels and can be extended for a longer activity if required.

Editor's note

An ESOL lesson embedding numeracy, diversity and British values, centred on the Spring Equinox and three festivals which happen around / on this day - Purim, Holi and Shunbun No Hi. Learners collect unfamiliar words on a vocabulary sheet and ask and answer questions to elicit meaning / explanation. There is a powerpoint to introduce the topic, using acronyms eg 7DIAW  - Seven Days In A Week to elicit key words, and lead to an explanation of what the Vernal Equinox is and when it is.

A set of Entry 1 and Entry 2 English tasks that focus on two short texts about the alphabetical list of winter storm names released by the Met Office. The first Functional English resource I have written based on the revised Functional Skills English content (2018) which will be used by awarding organisations from September 2019 [1]. 

An analysis of an Entry Level 3 (E3) Functional Skills reading text about Walter Tull, contributed by  Laura Bell (2018) - see right for the link to Laura's resource.

A simplified version of a newspaper article. The reading is followed by comprehension questions, a meaning match, a word find, and a scanning for correct spelling exercise. Developed for an adult student with Asperger’s, as well as dyslexia, who needs lots of motivation and exercises easy enough for him to be able to be successful without too much help.

Adapted from a Level 1 resource What happens to Ice Falling from planes
from Dave Norgate (2010).

A 26 page booklet that thoroughly covers reading and writing numbers as words. The repetition and variety of practice methods (handwriting; matching; look, say, cover, write, check; word searches, etc.) provide ideal practice for preEntry and higher level dyslexic learners in both literacy and numeracy classes.

Note: Sept 2011 – picture added and curriculum mapping improved.

Originally created as extra help for students using the MSL (Multisensory Learning Ltd) or Beat Dyslexia (Celia Stone) course books but provide useful practice for any E1-E2 student needing extra help with CVC words and (mostly) s-blends. 26 sheets cover spelling, handwriting, reading, tracking, tracing and much more.

Entry level lottery activity that involves deciding how you are going to spend the money. Structured, with fill-in boxes for expenditure etc.
Written for learners on the autistic spectrum (who often find it particularly difficult to infer meaning that is not explicitly stated) but suitable for many literacy and/or numeracy students.

Margaret Adams wrote this story to help a dyslexic student distinguish between ‘want’ and ‘what’. Numbered ‘cartoon’ blanks for student to illustrate, plus introduction, story and background notes.