Latest Resources & Links

Added on 20 November 2018

GCSE Revision 2019: Tips & Techniques

This resource is intended for pupils sitting their GCSE exams in 2019 and offers a range of useful revision tips and techniques to aid in preparation for such a key period.

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Added on 19 November 2018

Support Children in Need E1-2 maths

Entry Level 1-2 Maths questions based on a shopping poster from the BBC 2018 Children in Need appeal but can be used at any time. Main focus is positional vocabulary, money and basic number (+, -. x, /) skills

Editor's note

Fully mapped to the new 2018 Functional Maths content which takes effect from September 2019 (note that times tables to 12 x 12 and basic division skills are now expected at E2). Image below shows , as an example, the detailed E2 mapping.

Level
E1
E2
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM E1.3 Add numbers which total up to 20, and subtract numbers from numbers up to 20
FM E2.6 Multiply whole numbers in the range 0x0 to 12x12 (times tables)
FM E2.8 Divide two-digit whole numbers by single-digit whole numbers and express remainders
E2.12 Calculate money with pence up to one pound and in whole pounds of multiple items and write with the correct symbols (£ or p)
E1.8 Describe and make comparisons in words between measures of items including size, length, width, height, weight and capacity
E1.9 Identify & recognise common 2-D and 3-D shapes including circle, cube, rectangle (incl. square) and triangle
E1.10 Use everyday positional vocabulary to describe position and direction including left, right, in front, behind, under and above
E2.21 Use appropriate positional vocabulary to describe position and direction including between, inside, outside, middle, below, on top, forwards and backwards
E2.22 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams and bar charts
Context
Voluntary & Charity

Added on 8 November 2018

Tutorfair

A tutoring platform helping to connect local tutors to students. Tutorfair also promises that for every student who pays, they make a donation to help a student who can't. So far they have helped thousands of learners from challenging schools, giving free tuition to 7778 students in 21 different schools.

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Added on 5 November 2018

Additional L1-2 Armistice Centenary tasks

Two sets of Functional English resources based on various texts from the set of seven How We Remember texts (follow link right, under See also to download the texts). 

L1 tasks - reading questions based on Texts B ( Poppies web site) and E (A Nation's Thank you - the People's Procession) and a related writing task.

L1-2 tasks - reading questions based on Texts E (as above) and G (Nurse Mary Borden - forgotten female poet of WWI) and a related writing task that focuses on presentation devices and persuasive techniques.

Level
L1
L2
English
FE L1.9 Identify and understand the main points, ideas and details in texts
FE READING analyse texts
FE L1.10 Compare information, ideas and opinions in different texts
FE L1.24 Use format, structure and language appropriate for audience and purpose
FE L2.27 Use different language and register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words), suited to audience and purpose
Context
History
Voluntary & Charity

Added on 30 October 2018

City and Guilds Functional Skills 2019 reform

City and Guilds have a very informative page about the upcoming Functional Skills reform. 

This includes a useful downloadable mapping document for FS Mathematics (see image) from Entry Level 1 through to Level 2.  The revised content is clearly mapped against the existing content and the adult numeracy curriculum. I believe documents about English are to follow shortly.

 If you register you can join and attend live webinars about the reform (or you can catch up on these via YouTube - without registering).

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Added on 21 October 2018

How We Remember - Armistice Centenary tasks

A set of Functional English tasks that underpin the revised Functional Skills English content, 2018 [1].  Resources will be released gradually (as they are written!) from Oct 21st until Nov 11th 2018. All tasks are based on one or more texts from a graduated set of seven, all focusing on the 2018 Armistice Centenary commemorations. Five sets of tasks, based on Texts A, B, C, D and E are now available.

Level
E1
E2
E3
L1
L2
English
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
FE E3.9 Identify, understand and extract the main points and ideas in and from texts
FE E3.11 Use effective strategies to find the meaning of words (e.g. a dictionary, working out meaning from context; using knowledge of different word types)
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features and use them to locate relevant information (e.g. contents, index, menus, tabs and links)
FE L1.9 Identify and understand the main points, ideas and details in texts
FE L1.12 Recognise that language and other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences and purposes
FE L1.17 Read and understand a range of specialist words in context
FE E2.14 Form regular plurals
FE E3.14 Form irregular plurals
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
FE E2.19 Write in compound sentences, using common conjunctions (e.g. or, and, but) to connect clauses
FE E3.20 Use appropriate format and structure when writing straightforward texts, including the appropriate use of headings and bullet points
Context
History
Voluntary & Charity

Added on 9 October 2018

Winter Storms underpinning for phonics, spelling, alphabetical order

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]. 

Level
E1
E2
English
E1.1 Say the names of the letters of the alphabet
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
E2.9 Understand organisational markers in short, straightforward texts
E1.14 Write the letters of the alphabet in sequence and in both upper and lower case
E2.15 Use the first and second letters to sequence words in alphabetical order
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
General
Staff development
Context
Science, Nature & Weather

Added on 24 September 2018

Introduction to ratio lesson

Devised for L1 as a first lesson for ratio utilising practical applications for ratio understanding. Please print the last slide as a worksheet to accompany the PPT.

Editor's notes

Introductory example using a KitKat bar, followed by other everyday applications including screen wash, hair tint and paints.  Also (very nicely) covers equality & diversity with discussion about the proportion of White British players in the 2018 England squad.

Level
L1
Maths
FM Contextualised underpinning
FM L1.17 Work with simple ratio and direct proportions
AN N1/L1.7

Added on 24 September 2018

ESOL E1 pre-Entry introductory lessons

An introduction lesson for ESOL/Pre Entry to help build learner confidence and introduce them to college rules/expectations.

Editor's note

Two complete and very welcoming lessons. Also covers asking and responding to questions about personal information, recognising letters of the alphabet, and classroom equipment.  Lovely :)

Level
M8
E1
English
AL SLlr/E1.4
AL SLc/E1.3
AL Rw/E1.1
AL Rw/E1.3
AL Ww/E1.2
Pre-entry
SLlr/M8.1
SLlr/M8.2
SLc/M8.1
Rw/M8.1
Rw/M8.3
Ww/M8.1
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E1.4a
ESOL Lr/E1.4b
ESOL Sc/E1.3a
ESOL Rw/E1.1a
ESOL Rw/E1.3a
ESOL Ww/E1.2a

Added on 23 September 2018

Perimeter, Area & Volume L2 revision handout

This revision aid for L1/L2 (mainly L2) Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills maths gives a side-by-side comparison of perimeter, area and volume, the sort of units that would be involved with each and a worked Functional Skills example of each with a PAV mnemonic for remembering which is which. I have also looked through the last few years of Pearson Edexcel FS for the sorts of questions that require each one. 
Note: All images from Pixabay, so do not need crediting.

Editor's note

Level
L2
GCSE L1-5
Maths
FM Complex multi-step problem(s)
FM L2.3 Evaluate expressions and make substitutions in given formulae in words and symbols
FM L2.16 Calculate perimeters and areas of 2-D shapes including triangles and circles and composite shapes including non-rectangular shapes (formulae given except for triangles and circles)
FM L2.17 Use formulae to find volumes and surface areas of 3-D shapes including cylinders (formulae to be given for 3-D shapes other than cylinders)
GCSE G14 (use units of measure)
GCSE G16 (area, volume)
GCSE G17 (circles, perimeter)
Context
Catering Food Nutrition