Skills for Life
What Do We Mean by Skills for Life? In response to the Moser Report ‘A Fresh Start’, the Government launched its national strategy entitled 'Skills for Life – the National Strategy for Improving Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills' in March 2001. Copies of the Strategy can be obtained through DfES Publications, quoting reference SFLLN, or telephone 0845 60 222 60. Skills for Life is often referred to as Basic Skills.
Moser identified that around 1 in 5 adults have below level 2 literacy skills and 1 in 4 have low level numeracy skills. The Skills for Life strategy document highlights that:
"Seven million people have poor literacy and numeracy skills, including around half a million or more who struggle with English because it is not their first language." The aim of the National Strategy is to reduce the number of adults in England with literacy, language and numeracy needs as a means of:
- Increasing self-confidence.
- Improving people’s lives by reducing social exclusion.
- Breaking cycles of deprivation in families.
- Improving skills gaps in the labour market.
- Enhancing business performance.
- Facilitating the development of a qualified workforce able to compete in a global market.
- Enabling the adult workforce to become flexible and adapt to changing technological and work environments.
The Skills for Life strategy sets out challenging national targets for literacy, language and numeracy improvements.
It is also providing diagnostic assessment for adults, addressing quality, raising standards in the provision of teaching and learning opportunities working to provide appropriate guidance for adults on progression routes and ongoing career development once they have begun to look at their skills needs and ensuring a seamless transition to and from Skills for Life provision and other courses.
SfL Moser Report Skills for Life References and Resources Skills for Life or Basic Skills: The National Definition “The ability to read, write, speak and listen, use everyday maths at a level necessary to participate and progress in work and in society in general.” Basic Skills Agency
Improving the skills for life of the local government workforce is an important part of our regional work. The Pay and Workforce Strategy clearly identifies improving skills for life as a key priority and the figures included in the strategy are stark indicator of the amount of work that needs to be done.
“The challenge in broadening the basic skills of the wider workforce is considerable. Over 27% of local government employees either hold no qualification or hold a National Vocational Qualification below Level 2; 11% of the workforce has literacy problems and 40% are not fully numerate.” Local Government Pay and Workforce Strategy 2005
Recognising Good Practice in Skills for Life (SfL) – Update July 2009
The
North West Local Government Skills Award is now the framework to support authorities in delivering all skills development commitments (including SfL) and
Skills Pledge objectives. For the first time, this brings SfL activity alongside the full range of an authority’s skills development work in one review process.
If you would like more information about how to sign up to the new Award, access to Skills Net, or advice on anything related to the Skills agenda, please contact
Skills.