What is the work like?
Skills for Life teachers (also known as basic skills teachers)
teach and support adults who want to improve their skills in
reading, writing and spelling (literacy), maths (numeracy) and ESOL
(English for Speakers of Other Languages).
As a Skills for Life teacher, your work would typically
involve:
- carrying out skills assessments
- discussing individual goals with students
- designing learning programmes to suit the needs and abilities
of students
- preparing teaching materials
- using a range of resources such as worksheets and computer
packages
- delivering individual and group teaching sessions
- keeping records
- guiding and supporting learning support assistants and
volunteers.
You would usually specialise in literacy, numeracy or ESOL,
although you could teach more than one of these areas.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To qualify as a Skills for Life teacher you will need both of
the following:
- a full teaching qualification
- a qualification in teaching literacy, numeracy or ESOL.
Both of these must be recognised by
Standards Verification
UK.
Some courses combine both qualifications. This is known as the
'initial' route. On this route you can choose either of the
following:
- PGCE (if you have a degree) or Certificate in Education (if
you do not have a degree) in literacy, numeracy or ESOL
- Level 5 Diploma in Teaching English (Literacy), English ESOL
or Mathematics (Numeracy) in the Lifelong Learning Sector.
If you cannot find one of these combined qualifications in your
area you may be able to take both qualifications on what is known
as a 'concurrent' route. This involves taking a separate
full teaching qualification and a literacy, numeracy or ESOL
qualification, but completing both at the same time.
You would complete one of the following full teaching
qualifications:
- PGCE or Certificate in Education
- Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning
Sector.
At the same time you would also complete a Level 5 Additional
Diploma in Teaching English (Literacy) English (ESOL) or
Mathematics (Numeracy) in the Lifelong Learning Sector.
Both teaching qualification routes are available full-time (one
year) and part-time (two years). If you want to do a part-time
course and are not already working as an unqualified teacher, you
may need to arrange some teaching hours, probably on a voluntary
basis, so that you can be assessed. On a full-time course the
course provider will arrange teaching placements.
To be accepted on any of the courses you will be expected to
show your own competence in language, literacy and numeracy, and
ICT – this could be assessed by previous qualifications,
on-course assessments or national tests. You should contact course
providers for details. You can find full lists of endorsed courses
at
Standards Verification
UK.
To find out if you are suited to this type of teaching, you
could do some voluntary work, and perhaps complete the Level 2
Certificate in Adult Learner Support before applying for a teaching
course, although this is not essential.
The Skills for Life teaching qualifications are part of the
qualifications for further education teaching which were introduced
in September 2007. You should contact the
LLUK
Information and Advice Service for details of the
qualifications or advice on how qualifications you already have
will fit into the new framework.
If you have skills and experience but are not qualified, LLUK
will also advise you on how to have your skills and experienced
recognised towards becoming qualified.
What further training and development can I do?
If you already have an adult teaching qualification and want to
qualify to teach literacy, ESOL or numeracy, or have a
qualification in teaching literacy, ESOL or numeracy, and want to
qualify in an additional specialist area, you can do one of the
following qualifications:
- Level 5 Additional Diploma in Teaching English (Literacy) in
the Lifelong Learning Sector
- Level 5 Additional Diploma in Teaching English (ESOL) in the
Lifelong Learning Sector
- Level 5 Additional Diploma in Teaching Mathematics (Numeracy)
in the Lifelong Learning Sector.
Contact the
LLUK
Information and Advice Service for details.
As a Skills for Life teacher you will be expected to keep your
skills up to date through continuing professional development
(CPD). See the LLUK website for details.
Qualifying as a Skills for Life teacher does not give you
qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in schools. See the Primary
and Secondary School Teacher profiles for more information.
Where can I go for more information?
5th Floor
St Andrew’s House
18-20 St Andrew Street
London
EC4A 3AY
Information and Advice Service: 020 7936 5798
Email:
advice@lluk.orghttp://www.lluk.org
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning
adviser, call
0800 100 900 or
use our online
enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at:
www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Skills for Life teachers can earn from around £18,000 to
£25,000 a year.
- With experience this can rise to £30,000 or more a
year.
Starting salary can depend on experience, qualifications, and
where the teacher is employed.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You could work full- or part-time. As a part-time teacher you
may only have a temporary contract. As a full-time teacher you are
likely to work up to 37 hours a week, with around 25 hours spent
teaching. Evening work is common.
You could be based in a college but, as outreach and
community-based classes are increasing, you could also teach in
community centres, schools, libraries or prisons.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent communication and listening skills
- the ability to get on well with people of all ages and
backgrounds and understand their needs
- patience and tact
- creativity to devise appropriate, interesting and meaningful
learning activities
- enthusiasm and the ability to motivate and encourage
students.
What opportunities are there?
You could find work in colleges or adult education centres, or
with private training providers and work-based training
organisations.
With experience, you could be promoted to head of department, or
move into training other teachers.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and
general reading (links open in new window):
Education Guardian
Times Educational
Supplement
talent.ac.uk
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