edi pocket guide to functional skills

Functional Skills

for study.

for work.

for life.

3 The essentials 5 Functional Skills Assessments 9 Delivering Functional Skills with EDI

The Qualifications:

11 English15 Mathematics18 ICT

Functional Skills Embedded in Other Learning

20 Apprenticeships

21 Foundation Learning 22 EDI Supporting Learning and Performance

CONTENTS

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Employers and educators have identified Functional Skills as vital in equipping young people and adults with the practical skills they need to succeed in further learning and employment.

Functional Skills – The essentials

Functional Skills comprise practical skills in English, Mathematics and ICT.

Functional Skills are suitable for learners aged 14 plus and provide an individual with the essential knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and work.

Individuals who possess the skills assessed by Functional Skills will be able to participate and progress in education, training and employment. They will also be able to develop and secure the broader range of aptitudes, attitudes and behaviours that will enable them to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work.

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Functional Skills Assessments The Functional Skills assessments are designed to measure the competent application of skills within real-life scenarios. The assessments are constructed as wholly task-based and there are no portfolio-based assessments as with Key Skills.

Functional Skills assessments can be delivered independently of other qualifications.

Key Skills

Functional Skills at Level 1 and Level 2 will replace Key Skills at Level 1 and Level 2 within Apprenticeships from October 2012.

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Functional Skills and Key Skills differ significantly in the assessment methods used.

Key Skills use a combination of multiple choice tests and the development of a portfolio for assessment.

Functional Skills are tested through an assessment only; there is no portfolio. The assessments are open ended questions structured to show the processes a learner goes through to find a resolution to a task. These process skills are integrated into every assessment.

Providers should therefore be aware that some adaptation of teaching methods will be required to encourage learners to demonstrate these skills.

The difference between Functional Skills and Key Skills

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To ensure that Functional Skills are readily accessible to the full range of learners, from young people to adults alike, Functional Skills qualifications are available as free-standing qualifications and via other routes including;

As a component of Apprenticeships

Part of all Foundation Learning programmes

As a component of Diplomas

Functional skills have been developed to support and raise standards across the wider landscape of existing qualifications.

Functional Skills - accessibility

9

Delivering Functional Skills with EDI EDI's Functional Skills assessments are available on demand, 24 hours a day, no timeslots or timetables and can be taken on-screen*, offline or paper-based**.

This approach to delivery benefits both learners and learning providers;

For most learners, on-screen* assessment delivery provides a medium they are familiar with.

Different coloured background screens, and enlarged text is available across all on-screen* Functional Skills assessments delivered by EDI for learners with special educational needs.

The off-line facility provides a secure environment to download an on-screen test that can be taken by the learner at a convienient time and place, which can be at their place of work. The assessment can be carried out on-screen* and no internet connection is required during the assessment.

* 24 hours notice is required

** 10 working days notice is required for paper-based assessments

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Learning providers are not tied to a limited number of assessment windows which allows for greater flexibility in scheduling and planning teaching programmes.

With on demand assessments and the rapid turnaround of results, the Functional Skills assessment delivery model from EDI supports learners with flexible progression through their own learning plan.

Rapid turnaround of results supports learning providers in making quick decisions about their learners’ progression.

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Functional Skills in English

THE QUALIFICATIONS

Functional Skills in English aim to encourage learners to demonstrate their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in a range of contexts and for various purposes. They are essentially concerned with developing and recognising the ability of learners to apply and transfer skills in ways that are appropriate to their situation.

Functional Skills in English are assessed in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

All assessments are available at the following levels:

Entry Level 1 Entry Level 2 Entry Level 3 Level 1 Level 2

Tuition Guidance: each Functional Skill at each level is expected to require 45 guided learning hours

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The following tables detail the assessment and marking arrangements at each level.

Entry Level 1 and Entry Level 2

Duration Delivery Marking

Reading 40 minutes

On-screen Marked by EDI

Paper-based Marked by centre, moderated by EDI

Contextualised paper-based

Marked by centre, moderated by EDI

Writing 40 minutes





Speaking, Listening and Communication

5-10 minutes

Oral conversation, can be contextualised


Entry Level 3 Duration Delivery Marking

Reading 50 minutes





Writing 50 minutes






5-15 minutes

Oral discussions, can be contextualised


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Learners will receive a certificate for each individual component of Reading, Writing and Speaking, Listening and Communication, as well as a certificate for the overall Functional Skills qualification. Each component may be taken at a different level; the overall certificate will reflect the lowest component level.

Level 1 Duration Delivery Marking

Reading 60 minutes


Paper-based Marked by EDI

Writing 60 minutes




30 minutes

Oral discussions, can be contextualised


Level 2 Duration Delivery Marking

Reading 75 minutes



Writing 75 minutes




30 minutes

Oral discussions and presentation, can be contextualised


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Functional Skills in Mathematics “Fundamental to individuals being able to use Mathematics effectively in life and work is their ability to understand and make sense of Mathematical information, to use and process that information, to interpret and analyse the results of their activity and to present this to others. These process skills form the basis of the Functional Skills standards to Mathematics and apply at all levels”.

Functional Skills Standards




THE QUALIFICATIONS

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Entry Level 1

Mathematics

60 minutes






Level 1

Mathematics

90 minutes




Level 2

Mathematics

90 minutes




Entry Level 2

Mathematics

60 minutes






Entry Level 3

Mathematics

60 minutes





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Functional Skills in ICT “For ICT to be useful, learners must have the skills and confidence to apply, combine and adapt their ICT knowledge to new situations in their life and work. They need the capacity to identify and understand the role that ICT plays in the world and use ICT in ways that enable them to function as effective citizens and benefit them in life and work”.

Functional Skills Standards




THE QUALIFICATIONS

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Entry Level 1

ICT

60 minutes





Entry Level 2

ICT

60 minutes






Entry Level 3

ICT

60 minutes






Level 1

ICT

120 minutes




Level 2

ICT

120 minutes



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FUNCTIONAL SKILLS EMBEDDED IN OTHER LEARNING

Functional Skills and ApprenticeshipsFrom October 2012 all Apprenticeship learners will be required to take Functional Skills or GCSE's as part of their Apprenticeship.

Learners with applicable proxies and exemptions can request these to be applied to their achievement.

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Functional Skills and Foundation LearningFunctional Skills is one of the key components of Foundation Learning, a personalised learning programme for young people and adults that aims to engage and motivate individual learners.

Targeted at learners working at Entry Level and Level 1, the programme provides credit based qualifications in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).

Foundation Learning is currently being implemented, providing a suite of pathways that enable learners to progress in their learning and development.

Together with Functional Skills there are two further components of Foundation Learning offered by EDI: Personal and Social Development and Vocational Qualifications.

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EDI Supporting Learning and PerformanceEDI is committed to providing all our learning providers with the latest up to date information and resources to support the delivery of these qualifications together with advice and guidance on the most effective approaches to help your learners gain the skills required to achieve these qualifications. We will ensure that we provide you with the assistance needed to smooth the way with the transition from Key Skills to Functional Skills.

Support MaterialsSupport materials are available to EDI customers on our website, www.ediplc.com/functionalskills, and direct from your dedicated business support team.

These include:

Teacher toolkits

Skills Assessors

Sample assessments

Podcasts to assist learners in their preparation for Functional Skills assessments and to support EDI centres in the delivery of Functional Skills assessments

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Support you can rely onDirect access to dedicated customer support and customer enquiries teams able to deal with specific and general enquiries Call 08707 202909 or email [email protected]

Access to our business network providing best practice support

Regular free workshops and regional briefings to provide you with information and advice on any changes and qualification developments

Regular monthly updates containing the latest news and information on sector changes and developments with EDI products and services

A team of Quality Advisors offering advice, guidance and support to assist with queries about portfolios and interpretation of criteria

Online assessments which can be taken at any convenient time or location

ePortfolio easy to use online learner management system (24 hour access)

for study.

for work.

for life.

FSPG/0612

For more advice, guidance and support contact us on 08707 202909 or email enquiries@ediplc

www.ediplc.com

edi pocket guide to functional skills

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