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Functional Skills Support Programme Preparing practitioners

Programme e-bulletin

FSSP e-Bulletin

March 2010

Welcome to the March edition of the Functional Skills Support Programme (FSSP) news bulletin for post-16 education and training providers. This month's bulletin includes programme updates and news from across the sector, as well as a case study from MidKent College on functional skills delivery.

FSSP news

Forthcoming FSSP publications

A number of new FSSP publications will be available soon. These include general publications useful to all functional skills practitioners, such as guidance on assessment, and a specific publication on English speaking, listening and communication. Diploma consortium-specific publications will also be available including 'Leading on Functional Skills in a Diploma Consortium' and publications on functional skills in the four newest Diploma lines.

National Strategies update on functional skills for schools

Updates from NS include the release of a 'Functional skills in subjects' series of 11 booklets, and the refresh of e-learning modules 1 to 4.

14-19 Workforce Support update

Updates from 14-19 Workforce Support include news on modules in Foundation Learning, coaching skills and techniques support, and a new mentoring resource.

Find out more about 14-19 Workforce Support

Functional skills qualifications welcomed by food and drink industry

An article appeared in HR magazine last week featuring Angela Coleshill, HR director of the Food and Drink Federation, expressing her support for functional skills.

Find out more about food and drink industry support for functional skills

Sector news

Functional Skills policy statement published

A Functional Skills policy statement, which provides a comprehensive overview of functional skills policy and key messages, is now available.

Find out more about the policy statement

QCDA hosts minister and CBI and at functional skills national conference

On 9 March, QCDA hosted a national conference on functional skills. The event featured senior speakers from across the worlds of industry and education.

More about the conference

Case study

Functional skills case study: MidKent College

Alison Gardiner is head of learner support at MidKent College, one of Kent's largest education and training providers. She outlines their experience on the functional skills pilot and lessons learned to date.

Access the case study (PDF 75KB)

On the website:

Access training and support
Contact the FSSP team
Learn about the 'readiness tool'

Accreditation for awarding organisations
Information about functional skills accreditation for awarding organisations has today been released by Ofqual.
More about accreditation

FSSP Regional Network events
Hundreds of delegates attended 12 network events across the country this month. People found the events an excellent opportunity to meet with other practitioners, share ideas, and hear about different experiences of delivering functional skills.
Find out more about network events

FSSP new training modules
Three new training modules for post-16 providers have been released and are available for delivery in your centre now. The new modules cover Supporting the Development of Functionality in English, ICT and mathematics.
Get an overview of training modules for post-16 practitioners

Launch of new work-based learning (WBL) publication
A new WBL publication is now available. The publication outlines the importance of functional skills for those involved with work-based learning, covering the three main areas of preparing for, delivering and assessing functional skills.
Access the publication

Functional Skills Support Programme