Latest Resources & Links

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Adult Numeracy core curriculum (DfES, 2001)

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

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Adult Literacy core curriculum (DfES, 2001)

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

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Adult ESOL core curriculum (DfES, 2001)

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

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When I Was Ten AQA GCSE English Paper 1-style practice

An extract from When I Was Ten (Fiona Cummins 2021) with questions 1, 2, 3 and 4. AQA Paper One-style exam practice. 

Editor's Note

Another wonderful text extract from Matthew Ruddle. If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. 
Ideal for exam practice and revision. 

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE AO4 Evaluate texts critically & support with textual references

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Unscramblerer dictionary - Word of the Day and other resources

I like this - it's very well executed - even though I'm not sure exactly how it could be used within a Functional Skills English classroom. I receive many suggested links and mostly ignore them (due to them not being free or not being useful for Functional Skills). However, I always have a soft spot for "Words of the Day" as they can make great warm up activties at almost any level.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E3.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

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Volunteering in your community - ESOL role play prompts

Role play prompts for higher beginners (could be amended for E1). 

Volunteering for a green space community charity.

Editor's note

Another great set of role play prompts from Jenny. Visit her page to find further sets.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E1.4a Listen and respond to requests for personal information
ESOL Sc/E1.3dc  Ask for clarification
ESOL Sc/E2.2a Make requests: ask for things or action
ESOL Lr/E2.5b Respond to requests for information
ESOL Sd/E2.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Sd/E2.1b Take part in more formal interaction
ESOL Sd/E2.1c Express likes and dislikes, feelings, wishes and hopes
ESOL Sd/E2.1e Relate to other speakers
ESOL Lr/E3.4a Clarify and confirm understanding through verbal and non-verbal means
ESOL Sd/E3.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Sd/E3.1b Take part in more formal interaction
ESOL Sd/E3.1f Make arrangements or plans with other people
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community
Independent living
Employment skills & Public services

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Word Classes graphic organiser

Colourful graphic organiser that will allow learners to explore Word Class, challenge themselves, and think about how they can use examples in sentences. 

Includes dual coding images as prompts.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Functional Skills English

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Capital Letters - Rules

When to use (or not use) capital letters
1. with pictures
2. black font text
3. blue font text

Editor's not 
Concise and exceedingly useful. The one page text-only versions would also make handy reminder sheets for higher levels. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FE E1.11 Punctuate simple sentences with capital letter & full stop
FE E1.12 Use capital letter for pronoun ‘I’ and proper nouns
FE E1.13 Use lower-case letters when there is no reason to use capital letters
FE E2.13 Use basic punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question, exclamation marks)
FE E3.13 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas)

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Ice Cream AQA Paper-2-style GCSE English Language exam practice

GCSE English Language Paper Two AQA exam-style texts and questions 1-4. 
Based on a contemporary source from Jay Rayner (2023) and a Victorian article (Henry Mayhew 1865).

Editor's notes
Another excellent GCSE Practice resource from Matthew with, as usual, a super choice of texts.

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE Reading AO3 Compare writers’ ideas & perspectives across 2 or more texts
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Business & Money management

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E3 C&G Floristry Functional Maths walk through from Simon HTT

Simon from Here to Teach (HTT)  has many wonderful work-throughs of Edexcel and C&G Functional Maths papers (E3 , L1, L2). Well paced with very excellent audio and video, showing clear methods and working out c. Marvellous for learners to watch over and over as many times as needed. Both non-calculator and non-calculator papers are  covered. This paper has a floristry theme but provides practice and revision for any vocational area (or indeed no vocational area!).

I recommend subscribing to Simon's channel to keep up-to-date with all his maths videos.

Level
Entry Level 3
Maths
Functional Maths - underpinning
FM Simple one step problem(s)
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Functional Maths - handling information and data
Context
Gardening & Horticulture