What are basic skills? ‘ Basic skills are the fundamental reading, writing, speaking & listening and maths skills that every adult needs to be able to function and progress at work and in society in general.’ BSA, 2003

The cost of poor basic skills If you’ve got good literacy and numeracy skills you can earn £50,000 more over your working life than someone with poorer skills. 50% of jobs are closed to those with only Entry level skills. The cost to industry of poor basic skills could be as much as £4.8 billion a year.

The levels Basic Skills Key Skills National Curriculum NVQs Entry 1Level 1 Entry 2Level 2 Entry 3Level 3Entry Level 1 Levels 4-5 GCSE D-G Level 1 Level 2 GCSE A*-CLevel 2

Top 10 basic skills in the public sector 1. Talking and giving information to the public 2. Taking messages/information from public 3. Reading and understanding work instructions 4. Reading & understanding health & safety notices 5. Reading information for training 6. Completing workplace documentation 7. Time-keeping and working within time limits 8. Making number calculations accurately 9. Writing messages 10. Writing reports, including accident reports ‘Public Sector, Public Potential’, BSA, 2000

Health and safety rules 1. All employees must comply with the Health and Safety Procedures at all times. 2. All work carried out must be to the Safe Working Practice Procedures as set down in the Workshop Procedures Manual. Any working outside the procedures will lead to instant dismissal. 3. All accidents must be recorded in the Accident Book. 4. Any incident involving customers must be reported immediately to the manager or most senior member of staff on the premises. The incident must be recorded in the Incident Book on the same working day.

Numeracy at work Not understanding formula and calibration of chemicals Not understanding sell-by-dates on medicines

Skills for Life The national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills: Public sector employees are one of the priority groups New national framework for learning

The business case Improving literacy and numeracy skills in the workplace will: Help to improve staff recruitment and retention Contribute towards the provision of Best Value services Contribute towards diversity and social inclusion policies Help to establish a learning culture Help to improve the public image of a local authority

Partnership with unions Union Learning Representatives can have an important role in: Encouraging colleagues to consider all aspects of learning, including basic skills Identifying basic skills needs Working with employers to implement basic skills provision in the workplace

Train to Gain Offer Fully funded training in basic skills, ESOL and first full NVQ Level 2 (as long as a learner does not already have a full level 2 qualification as listed below, they can also complete an NVQ Level 3 under Train to Gain. These learners are defined as ‘level 3 jumpers’) Wage compensation for those employers with less than 50 full-time equivalent employees, for training carried out during normal working hours (up to a maximum of 70 hours for L2 quals) N.B learners must be successful in achieving their qualification for employers to receive the training time compensation

Eligibility Criteria Employers: most employers are eligible, regardless of size. Learners: Must be a contracted, paid employee, working for an employer in Lincolnshire, Rutland or Nottinghamshire Must be over 19 yrs old Must meet residency and nationality criteria Must not already have any full level 2 qualification

Full Level 2 Qualifications GCSE’s Grades A-C or ‘O’ Levels or BEC General Certification /Diploma with Credit HND / HNC 5 CSE Grade 1’s or Edexcel / BTEC 1st Diploma or higher C & G Higher Operative or Craft 1 or more ‘A’ Levels or GNVQ Intermediate or higher NVQ Level 2, 3 or 4 2 AS Levels or Access Course into High Education