Basic Skills means "the ability to read, write and speak in English and use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general".
At Workbridge we run courses in basic skills, in conjunction with Northamptonshire Adult Learning Services, for clients of different ability levels. These range from those who struggle with very simple literacy and numeracy tasks to those bordering GCSE level. For the latter we can run a course in preparation for a National Literacy Qualification at Entry Level 3 .
For the former the courses cover simple writing tasks, and simple numeracy tasks particularly with regard to the use of money.
We have started assessing clients using a simple fast-track test to check suitability for a full assignment using the Basic Skills Agency Tests.
At present this is voluntary, but we hope to make it part of the induction process for new clients. This we feel would be of benefit in helping clients plan and set realistic objectives for themselves