1. Embedding English and Maths: in practice Karen Cullen, Nick Little, Deborah Johnston and Carol Sims

2. The purpose of embedding English and maths is to enable people to function confidently, effectively and independently in life and at work. Learning is more meaningful and engaging when carried out using an appropriate context. If you teach a vocational subject, then you will need to embed the learning of English and maths in the context of the vocational subject. In this way, students develop their English and maths skills alongside their main subject.

3. By choosing a context relevant to the group of students, you can more easily meet the diversity of their needs. For example, with shopping as the context, you can include a wide range of learning objectives such as: - add sums of money - estimate the weight of items - extract and interpret information from tables

4. Often, the opportunities to embed English and maths skills will occur naturally. However, even when they occur naturally, it is not enough to ‘take it as it comes’– you need to expand on the English or maths skill that has arisen, ensuring that the students’ learning is consolidated and its wider application clarified.

5. You need to identify subject topics that relate to the skill levels, interests and motivations of your students. You then need to work out which English and Maths skills are involved in each topic. For example, if you are teaching students hairdressing, a possible subject topic is the process of colouring hair. This can involve reading, speaking & listening, measure, ratio and time. Real life contexts involve both English and maths skills.

6. As a tutor, you do not need to be highly qualified in English and maths, but you need to know enough to make it relevant to the subject you are delivering. Every tutor already teaches English and maths skills. It is just a matter of being aware of, identifying, highlighting and promoting them during your lessons.

7. Embedding English Make sure students are using the correct language and vocabulary when planning, recording and reflecting on an activity. Set tasks that allow them to refer to handouts or other sources as well as interact with each other. This will help improve their reading, speaking and writing skills.

8. Embedding Maths Maths does not have to be about using complex equations, it can be about using basic numerical skills. For example, planning a budget, keeping floristry accounts, calculating the amount of paint needed to decorate a room, translating numbers into graphs and tables or converting currencies. This will help them improve their mathematical, reasoning and logic skills.

9. Cookery English – reading recipes, researching and reading healthy eating magazines and books, planning a menu and writing a list of ingredients, discussing recipes, ing other students, talking, creating and giving presentations , listening and asking questions. Maths – calculating weights and costs of ingredients, measuring amounts, estimating calorific values, cooking times and temperatures.

10. Plumbing English - talking to customers and suppliers, reading manuals and writing lists of materials, researching, ing suppliers, maintaining an electronic diary and word-processing invoices. Maths - measuring pipes, calculating the amount of materials to use and working out invoices. Using a spreadsheet for products and prices.

11. A good grasp of English and maths will equip students for life after college whatever subject they are learning. Students will then be able to function more efficiently in their everyday lives due to increased problem-solving skills and the ability to perform tasks more effectively. This increases their prospects for employment   and promotes better health and wellbeing.

12. Further information and resources Books: Embedding English & maths, Practical strategies for FE & post 16 Tutors, Terry Sharrock Supporting maths & English in post -14 Education & Training, Delaney & Cope CGP – Functional Skills in context, Holder & Thomas Functional Skills English in context, Meed & Rossetti English Grammar in Use – Raymond Murphy Maths - The Basic Skills – Haighton, Holder, Phillips & Thomas Functional Skills Maths in context, Holder & Thomas Edexcel Functional Skills Maths, Cushen

13. Websites: www. bbc. co. uk/skillswise www. skillsworkshop. org www
Websites: Apps: Dictionary.com Dragon Dictation Maths in Fun My Maths Mathsworkout