Skills for Life

What is it?
The ability to read, write, speak English and use Mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general.

Gaps in literacy and numeracy skills can mean:

• Inaccurate paperwork
• Time wasted through errors
• Mistakes caused through inaccurate calculations on the shop floor and in the office
• Poor communication with suppliers, customers and colleagues
• Lower production rates (can’t follow new procedures)
• Increased absence through injury or inability to train.
• Late attendance through inability to tell the time accurately.

What does our Skills for Life programme involve?
Initially a skills check is completed to check the level of the candidate and to assess their strengths and/or weaknesses in each area. If the candidate already has a Level 1 or Level 2 capability, they can go straight on to do their national prepare for test and test to gain their City and Guilds National Certificate in Literacy and/or Numeracy.

If a skills for life need is recognized or an individual would like to refresh or improve their skills, our specialist team will work with them to boost the individuals capability up to the desired level. Once the desired level is reached, the individual can prepare for test and test to gain their National Literacy and/or Numeracy Qualification.

Benefits of having the Skills for Life abilities

• Creates a better understanding of the working environment
• Improves quality of work and output
• Promotes greater creativity
• Improves flexibility / ability to cope with change
• Increases confidence and competence
• Reduces turn over and absenteeism
• Improves succession planning capability
• Improves Health and Safety compliance

Literacy Progression

It will take a minimum of 3 sessions to complete each certificate in the Skills for Life Programme. There are 2 routes an individual can take to achieve their National Literacy Certificate and National Numeracy Certificate.
1 Complete an Assessment with satisfactory results, pass the Prepare for Test and continue on to show competence in the final Test.
OR
2 Complete the assessment and follow it with a short course to improve or refresh your skills.This will raise the Certificate level you can achieve (Level 2 is the highest). Once this is completed, show competence in your Prepare for Test and then finally your Test, and you will have gained the qualification.

Numeracy Progression