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.
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
Level
Entry Level 1
Maths
General numeracy / maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM E1.1 Read, write, order, compare numbers to 20
FM E1.2 Use whole numbers to count up to 20 items including zero
FM E1.3 Add numbers which total up to 20, & subtract numbers from numbers up to 20
FM E1.4 Recognise & interpret the symbols +, – and = appropriately
FM E1.5 Recognise coins & notes, write them in numbers with the correct symbols (£, p) where these involve numbers up to 20
FM E1.6 Read 12 hour digital & analogue clocks in hours
FM E1.7 Know the number of days in a week, months, & seasons in a year. Name & sequence them.
FM E1.8 Describe & make comparisons between measures of items inc. size, length, width, height, weight, capacity
FM E1.9 Identify & recognise common 2-D & 3-D shapes inc. circle, cube, rectangle (inc. square) & triangle
FM E1.10 Use everyday positional vocabulary to describe position & direction including left, right, in front, behind, under & above
FM E1.11 Read numerical information from lists
ESOL
General ESOL
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
This is a MS Excel resource that is designed to be a useful resource for producing sheets for starter activities or homework. This also provides a tutor marking sheet. The sheet can be used to differentiate by choosing larger or smaller numbers, and can be addition or subtraction.
Editor’s note
Creates printable sheets of 20 problems (plus answer sheets). Clever and useful!
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM E1.3 Add numbers which total up to 20, & subtract numbers from numbers up to 20
Entry level Functional Skills Maths on the theme of vehicles queuing up ready to board a ferry.
Covers many aspects of Functional Maths including: number, position & size, simple lists and charts, and time.
Editor’s note
Two versions available: E1-E2 and E2-E3.
With detailed Functional Maths mapping and teaching tips
A game of bingo to practise classroom objects and numbers 1-16. There are 8 different bingo cards and a teacher’s board.
This could be used at the start of term for Pre-entry or Entry 1 learners.
A counting game along similar lines to Snakes and Ladders. Learners will learn turn-taking, following instruction & basic counting skills. In addition, they will pick up social and communication skills along the way.
(Print onto A3 – a dice and counters needed)
Editor’s note
A PPT version is also included to enable the game to be played on a smartboard.
Level
M8
Entry Level 1
English
SLlr/E1.3
Maths
AN N1/E1.1 Count reliably up to 10 items
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
Pre-entry
pre-Entry SLlr/M8.3 Listen to and answer simple single step instructions / requests
20 literacy and numeracy questions to warm up the new term! All based on the words HAPPYNEWYEAR (can easily be adapted for other festivals such a Diwali, New Year’s Eve or Ramadan). Covers vowels, consonants, number, ratios, simple substitution, range, mode and more!
Ideal for mixed ability groups (E1-L2). Also provides very good practice in reading instructions carefully.
For higher level groups it could be completed in teams as a speed test.
