Author Description

Changes in colleges of further education over recent years, including the involvement of a much wider range of students, mean that provision of basic skills has become an important issue for most colleges in England and Wales. Some colleges provide no basic skills support for students; others have some support for students; and still others also make provision for adults living in the local area. Those students who need some basic skills support include older students and unemployed young people and adults. Companies who need workplace basic skills training will also seek to contract experienced providers, such as colleges. The steps in developing programs in colleges are as follows: (1) establishing a policy; (2) assessing the need; (3) providing learning support; (4) making community-based provision; (5) acquiring or developing learning material; (6) providing accreditation; (7) providing staff development and training; (8) funding; and (9) evaluating effectiveness. The Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit can help colleges develop basic skills work through consultancy, local development projects, staff development and training, and learning material. (YLB)