Support for English, maths and ESOL Cheshire East Skills Challenge

Aim to provide a practical understanding of the scale of need for literacy and numeracy skills development across the council, and set the context within the national picture to provide a taster of the National Qualifications in literacy and numeracy and offer staff the opportunity to brush up and develop their skills and update their qualifications

The Local Authority context Your priorities Investors in People Enhancing people’s opportunities and contribution in the workplace. Giving individuals more confidence to get on with their lives at home and in the community. Skills Award Raise the demand among local authority employers to take a more proactive, sustained and strategic approach to workplace skills development (inc SfL). The Skills Pledge Employer commitment to raising the skills of the workforce. Get On At Work Positive promotion and enabling of workplace Skills for Life development PROMOTE ENGAGE TRAIN

What are Skills for Life? National Standards Entry Level 1, 2, 3 Level 1 and Level 2 ‘The ability to read, write and speak in English and to use mathematics at a level necessary to function at work and in society in general.’ National qualifications National Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy

5 Right Skills for the Right Job Level 2 benchmark

Skills for Life quiz!

Question 1 If support were to be made available to anyone aged 16−65 who does not meet Level 2 standards in either literacy or numeracy, how many people would qualify? a) 26 million b) 5 million c) 13 million d) 1.5 million

Question 1 If support were to be made available to anyone aged 16−65 who does not meet Level 2 standards in either literacy or numeracy, how many people would qualify? a) 26 million b) 5 million c) 13 million d) 1.5 million

Question 22 11% of Local Authority workers have no qualifications at all. a)True b)False

Question 2 11% of Local Authority workers have no qualifications at all. a) True b)False

Question 3 What percentage of people educated to degree level or above do not have literacy skills at Level 2 or above? a) 4% b) 18% c) 30% d) 20%

Question 3 What percentage of people educated to degree level or above do not have literacy skills at Level 2 or above? a) 4% b) 18% c) 30% d) 20%

Question 4 40% of Local Authority workforce have numeracy skills below Level 1. a) True b) False

Question 4 40% Local Authority workforce have numeracy skills below Level 1. a) True b) False

Question 5 People with Level 2 skills or above in numeracy earn an average of £24,000 per annum. How much less on average would someone earn whose numeracy skills were below Level 1? a) £8,200 b) £5,100 c) £6,200 d) £7,100

Question 5 People with Level 2 skills or above in numeracy earn an average of £24,000 per annum. How much less on average would someone earn whose numeracy skills were below Level 1? a)£8,200 b)£5,100 c)£6,200 d)£7,100

Question 6 56% of people with below Level 1 skills are in work. Of those, how many are working in managerial or professional occupations? a) 1 in 5 b) 1 in 10 c) 1 in 20 d) 1 in 3

Question 6 56% of people with below Level 1 skills are in work. Of those, how many are working in managerial or professional occupations? a) 1 in 5 b) 1 in 10 c) 1 in 20 d) 1 in 3

44% 14.1 m adults 56% 17.8 m adults 25% 8 m adults 75% 23.9 m adults 20% 6.4 m adults 80% 25.5 m adults Literacy Numeracy Literacy / Numeracy Level 2 The national context

National Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Short (1 hr literacy, 1¼ hrs numeracy) and accessible. 40 multiple-choice questions – like driving theory test. Available weekly, or on demand. On paper or on screen. Based on everyday subjects, e.g. home or work.

Promotion Have you got a problem with reading, writing and number skills? Would you like to brush up your English and maths skills and gain a nationally recognised qualification? Deficit language approach Positive language approach 100% 50%0%50%

22 Engagement

Who needs Skills for Life? E V E R Y O N E! Only the context and need is different: Brush Up – ‘use it or lose it’ or ‘never used it before but need to now’ – integrated in context and shaped to need. In-depth support – ‘now I know what I need to be able to do I am going to learn how to do it’ - self managed with support. Intensive teaching – ‘I have never learnt how to do this and I need to be taught how to learn it’ – learning with in-depth support. Corporate Management Team Senior ManagersFront Line Staff

Training

Why get involved? The bottom line On average, every post recruited/lost costs £4,000. How many leave because of skills gaps? Health and safety Are you confident that all staff can read and understand policies and procedures? Improvements identified by NW employer (Mersey Travel) 10% drop in disciplinaries and grievances. A reduction in sickness absence of 3 days (average) per person from 2002/3 figures to 2005/06. 10% increase in internal promotions with associated savings.

Now and next Where does Skills for Life currently sit amongst our organisational priorities and policies? How are we currently raising awareness of Skills for Life across Cheshire East Council? What opportunities currently exist for all staff to develop their English and maths skills? Learner Quote – Newcastle City Council ‘…and for me, realising the management are on the same wavelength. It’s got to be better relationships.’

One last thought… SfL is not about intelligence… … it is about skills. Are YOU up for the challenge?