Adult literacy - resources and publications

Adult literacy resources

Choose an item from below or scroll down to see the full list:

Barrington Stoke: Most Wanted is a series of novels edited for adults with a reading age of eight or above. The series focuses on crime and horror to fit in with the fact that 90% of adult emergent readers are male. Available from August 2007. www.barringtonstoke.co.uk

Brown and Brown resources. Brown and Brown is a publishing company that focuses on materials to support adults' and children's learning, including ESOL, open learning/family learning, adult basic education and teacher training. To order a publications catalogue call 016973 42915 or email info@brownandbrownpublishing.co.uk.

Adult reading materials. A range of materials for adults including the life stories of famous people and short thrillers.
Contact: The Basic Skills Agency. Tel: 0870 600 2400. Website: www.basic-skills.co.uk.

*Avanti Books Resources Guide. An incredibly useful guide to the huge variety of basic skills support materials that are available, including those produced by Avanti and by other publishers, large and small. The guide is revised and updated regularly, with new titles conveniently highlighted. All titles can be ordered from Avanti. Cost £3.50 including p&p.
Contact: Avanti Books, Unit 9, The io Centre, Whittle Way, Arlington Business Park, Stevenage SG1 2BD. Phone: 01438 747000. Fax: 01438 741131. Website: www.avantibooks.com.

AVID is a teaching resource for teachers working with women in prisons. It has been developed by the Basic Skills Agency and HM prison service to reflect the style and subject matter of women's magazines. It has articles, photo spreads, puzzles and exercises to develop literacy and numeracy skills. AVID is available to all prison departments and the Basic Skill Agency hopes to make it more widely in future. Cost: £9.50 plus p&p. Reference: A1069.
Tel: 020 7405 4017. Website: www.basic-skills.co.uk/resources/

Basic Skills for Life series. Materials for adult learners produced by Axis Education. The books are designed for teaching literacy and numeracy by focusing on subjects that learners can relate to. They are divided into 'life skills' (Making Ends Meet, A Place of Your Own, Coping with Cooking and Doing It Yourself) and 'job skills' (Job Hunting, Job Applications and Job Interviews). Activities are mapped to the national standards for literacy and numeracy. Free downloads and sample pages are available on the website.
Contact: Axis Education, PO Box 459, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4WZ. Tel: 01939 251007. Fax: 01939 251067. Website: www.skillbuild.co.uk

Coping with Learning: Coping with Life. A book by John Holloway that details the true lives of adult basic skills student from diverse backgrounds, and, in their own words, how they coped with, and are overcoming the challenges of literacy. Geared towards adult readers, both to establish reading skills, as well as to learn of others with similar literacy challenges. Email: Holloway.john@virgin.net.

Easy English Dictionary . A first dictionary for adults learning to read and understand English words. Through a simple layout, sentence examples of every words, and a list composed of 3,800 words, new readers become confident in dictionary using, phonetic, and literacy skills, as well as grammar and vocabulary. Website: www.languagepost.co.uk

*First Choice books database. The database lists books suitable for adult emergent readers and can be searched by a range of themes. It is managed by the Vital Link project, which brings together adult basic skills providers and libraries to use reading for pleasure to support literacy skills development. Visit www.firstchoicebooks.org.uk.

*Gatehouse Media Ltd publishes and distributes books and resources for use with adult literacy learners, including materials written by adult learners and suitable for beginner readers; talking stories on audio-cassette, interactive CD-Rom readers; and student worksheets.
Contact: Gatehouse Media Limited, 80 Walton Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington WA4 6NP. Tel: 01925 267778. Email: info@gatehousebooks.com. Website: www.gatehousebooks.com.

Hear More books. Series of 16 short readers targeted at ESOL learners, although the subject matter and level are also appropriate for native English speakers who want to improve their literacy skills. Titles come with an accompanying cassette and can be used to support reading groups and pairs or to extend individual and family study. The Hear More books follow the Hear Hear package (ISBN 0954602315) that helps pre-entry to entry level 1 learners to progress from reading isolated words to reading more information.
Price: £64, plus £7.50 dispatch. ISBN 0 954602323. Visit www.languagepost.co.uk or call 0121 515 1854 for more information.

Learning for Life: The Foundations for Lifelong Learning, David H. Hargreaves, The Policy Press, ISBN 1 861345976, £14.99

Livewire Series. Published in association with the Basic Skills Agency, the Livewire series is a collection of titles designed to motivate reluctant readers of all ages. The series includes a wide range of high interest titles, text types and genres that are matched to national curriculum levels and reading ages. The series is suitable for older children and teenagers, and post 16 adult education. For a full listing or further information on any of these titles please call 020 7873 6247.

*New Leaf - is a community publishing project set up to publish and promote writing by people who not normally expect to see their words in print. New Leaf are dedicated to publishing books written by and for adults. They publish short, high-quality titles written by adults themselves.

Contact: Anne Chester, New Leaf Books, 5 Wardley Road, Walton, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 6JA. Tel: 0798 424 1863. Website: www.newleafbooks.org.uk.

Mind Kind Way. A system of computer tutors that teaches students reading, writing, thinking and understanding skills. It is suitable for learners of all ages, abilities and cultures, including students for whom English is a second language. It can be used as a standalone resource or adjacent to an external curriculum. Tutors cover all skills from basic to complex and consists of one CD containing hundreds of lessons, and password protected access.
For more information visit www.mindkindway.com

*Open Door. A collection of contemporary short novels by Irish authors, written specifically for those wishing to improve their literacy skills. Each title aims to engage the reader with an adult storyline, written in short, pacy sentences and simple vocabulary. This means that titles will also appeal to foreign language students, as well as elderly readers or those with poor eyesight, who appreciate the slightly larger print than is usual. Titles have been translated into an number of languages and a poetry series is also available. Cost £4.99 each. Published by New Island Books.
Contact: New Island Books, 2 Brookside, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14, Ireland. Tel: (00 353) 1 298 9937. Website: www.newisland.ie.

Open Door/Clipper audio packs. W.F. Howes has produced unabridged audio versions of 'high interest, low reading level' titles, including those in the Open Door series, to support adult literacy learners. Each audio version is accompanied by a text version of the title. Recordings are made by professional actors and short pauses are inserted between each word to allow the adult time to follow the text in print.
Contact: W.F. Howes, Units 6/7 Victoria Mills, Fowke Street, Rothley, Leicester LE7 7PJ. Tel: 0116 230 1144. Email: enquiries@wfhowes.co.uk. Website: www.wfhowes.co.uk.

Penguin Readers are written by specialist ELT authors. The language, topics and page design are carefully graded to match both the age and ability of every learner. Primarily aimed at young learners but can be used with adults learning to read. Website: www.penguinreaders.com.

Quick Reads books for emergent adult readers or those who just want a short fast-paced read.
(More information about Quick Reads on the NIACE website.)

Readability. Basic Skills Agency leaflet on how texts should be written and laid out in order to make reading easier for adults. It covers both design elements - such as use of white space, line spacing (leading), type choice and size, use of upper and lower case, illustrations and overprinting, page layout and page breaks - and readability elements - such as sentence length, choice of words and readability level. (A version for children is also available.)
Contact the Basic Skills Agency publications line on 0870 600 2400, reference A1880. You can also view the text on the Basic Skills Agency website at www.basic-skills.co.uk.

Readers with Exercises, Brown and Brown - This series provides stories with adult themes in simple, straightforward language. Each reader is accompanied by a set of photocopiable exercises which will improve reading and visual spelling skills, increase vocabulary and stimulate writing and discussion. To order a contact Brown and Brown, Keeper's Cottage, Westward, Wigton, Cumbria CA7 8NQ. Tel 016973 42915.

Skillswise magazine. Free BBC magazine for adult learners to accompany the BBC Skillswise website. It includes articles, celebrity interviews and activities for improving basic skills. To order copies, email your postal address and number of copies required to skillswise@bbc.co.uk, using "Skillswise magazine for learners" as the subject heading.

SMOG formula. Method for working out the readability level of written material in order to match it to the "reading with understanding" level of the reader.

Vista, published by Sandstone Press, is a series of novellas written and edited for the enjoyment of readers with differing levels of reading skills, from the emergent to the accomplished. The series is the result of a partnership with the Adult Literacies Group in the Highlands. The first three titles were by Isla Dewar, Des Dillon and Suhayl Saadi. Further titles are written by well-known Scottish authors. For information visit www.sandstonepress.com

Top

Basic skills (including numeracy)

Skillswise. The BBC's online resource for adult literacy and numeracy. Visit www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise

Barefoot Basic Skills Work Programme is a community-led approach to tackling poor basic skills. The resource pack, developed by West Cheshire College and Trafford Hall (home of the national tenants' resource centre), contains general information and guidance plus 230 pages of photocopiable resources. £70 plus post and packaging.
Contact: Clare Owens, West Cheshire College, Handbridge Centre, Eaton Road, Chester CH4 7ER. Tel: 01244 670530.

Direct Payment resource pack. Direct Payment can be quite a daunting prospect for some people. This pack is designed to address some of the concerns and issues that people may have. It provides a broad range of resources, for a number of audiences to allow users to select the most appropriate information for their, or their client's, needs. Copies are available from The Basic Skills Agency, Admail 524, London WC1A 1BR, tel: 0870 600 2400 quoting code: A1705

Effective Basic Skills Provision for Adults. Report published by the Basic Skills Agency in response to the recommendation of the report by the Working Group on Post-school Basic Skills, A Fresh Start, that we should be using the evidence from existing successful programmes to develop new basic skills provision. It uses evaluations of major basic skills action research projects, data from consultancy and advisory services, and specific research into effectiveness undertaken on behalf of the Agency. It summarises the available evidence on effective approaches to recruitment, materials, staffing, quality of teaching and assessment. Free of charge (reference A877).
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400.

Football basics. A new assessment tool measuring adult literacy and numeracy through a virtual football club. Introduces learners to calculating values of sponsorship, running retail and ticket office, analysis of statistics and league table positions. CD Rom or as network installation programme. £25+VAT; 10-user pack £100+VAT. Contact Sportsvine 01423 705501; email:info@football-basics.co.uk or website www.football-basics.co.uk.

Getting On. Pack developed by the Basic Skills Agency and the Prison Service for use by women preparing for resettlement in the community, although it would be suitable for anyone working with women on their basic skills. All exercises are mapped to the adult basic skills core curriculum. Cost £9.50.
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400.

New Deal Option packs. Packs produced by the Basic Skills Agency to provide materials for students to use to improve their basic skills through the New Deal initiative. Each pack contains tasks linked to a variety of employment opportunities. Cost £11 each plus p&p.
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400. .

No Sweat pack. Produced by the Basic Skills Agency in partnership with HM Prison Service to support the basic skills development of prisoners by using sport as a stimulus. The pack uses original articles and illustrations from sports magazines and journals, with sports trivia scattered throughout. The activities and exercises work on reading, writing, oral skills and numeracy and contains four units, which can be worked on in any order. Cost £9.50 (reference A875).
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400.

Say What You Like! This campaign, run by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, is part of the wider Skills for Life strategy aimed at involving learners who are currently participating in language, literacy and numeracy activities in saying why they got involved, about the obstacles and barriers they face, and helping towards spreading the word to others who may benefit from literacy skills. To participate or find out more visit www.niace.org/saywhatyoulike or call 0116 204 4200.

Skills for Life Network. To receive free, fortnightly e-news updates highlighting the latest Skills for Life news, developments, events and resources, register with the National Skills for Life Network at www.skillsforlifenetwork.com. The website also features a Knowledgebase to enable you to quickly find information and key documents.

The Jobsearch Reading Disc. CD-Rom that utilises multimedia technolgy to help jobseekers to develop the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills they require to get a job. It has five main areas of activity - Focus on Jobsearch, Writing a Letter, The Interview Challenge, Reading Exercises, and Case Studies & Experience Exchange - plus an authoring tool so that tutors can add new content or tailor materials to a learner's particular needs. Cost £99 plus VAT (reference A825).
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400.

Activities to support literacy skills development in a library context is a resource pack for Skills for Life literacy learners produced by Kirklees library service in partnership with Huddersfield Technical College. The pack can be used by Skills for Life tutors or by library staff. The activities, which are mapped to the Adult Core Curriculum, are designed to demystify the library, explain how a library works, and how learners can get the most from using a library. For more information or to download a copy visit www.skillsforlifenetwork.com/ or contact Judith Robinson at Kirklees Library Service judith.robinson@kirklees.gov.uk

Adult Learning in Colleges and Groups: Ideas Pack (Sandstone Press, Vista Series).This education pack by Margaret Gilroy is the first of its kind in the adult literacy field and carries a foreword by the director of the National Literacy Trust, Neil McClelland OBE. It is designed for college or tutors working with adult learners. Priced at £30.00, for more information email info@sandstonepress.com

Adult Learning Yearbook. Directory of adult learning contacts and organisations covering adult education providers, central and local government, further and higher education institutions, learning partnerships, training bodies and organisations, learning guidance providers and other relevant organisations. Cost £23.95.
Contact: NIACE Publication Sales, 21 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE. Tel: 0116 204 4216. Fax: 0116 2044276. Email: orders@niace.org.uk or visit www.niace.org.uk/Publications/A/Yearbook.asp

Adult Literacy: A handbook for development workers. Published by Oxfam/VSO 1995. A practical book for development workers with little adult literacy training on how to plan and manage a small scale literacy programme.
Contact: Oxfam, 274 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX27 7DZ. Tel: 01865 311 311.

The Adult Literacy and Numeracy Curriculum for Adults. Adult Basic Skills Curriculum published by the Government at the beginning of 2001. Available free.
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400.

A pilot interactive version of the literacy curriculum was launched in July 2002. This allows tutors to search the core curriculum, investigate the appropriate guidance and save, store and/or print relevant sections in the note-book facility for use in learning plans, schemes of work or lesson plans. A CD-ROM version will also be produced shortly. Visit www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/curriculum_literacy/

Adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL: a guide to Learning and Skills Council funding 2002/3. Guide for anyone seeking Learning and Skills Council funding for basic skills work. It provides an overview of LSC funding and changes to its methodology for 2002/3, with case studies that illustrate different arrangements.
Contact DfES publications on 0845 60 222 60, quoting reference SFLFG 0203.

Adults' Basic Skills: benchmark information on the scale of need in different areas of England. CD-Rom produced by the Basic Skills Agency to provide those responsible for funding, planning and providing basic skills education for adults with reliable information that can be used to focus resources effectively and set targets for improvement. It provides details of the percentage of the population with low/very low levels of literacy and the percentage of the population with low/very low levels of numeracy for every ward in England. Cost £46 plus VAT (ref A774).
A dual language version is also available to provide similar statistics for every ward in Wales. Cost approx £20 plus VAT (ref A905).
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400.

Adult Basic Skills: Developing a local action plan. Freeguide produced by the Basic Skills Agency in 2000 to help those involved in producing action plans to reduce the number of adults with poor basic skills. It is intended to be of interest to people involved in learning and skills councils, learning partnerships and those involved in basic skills provision for adults including colleges, adult and community education services, voluntary organisations and public sector employers. The guide suggests what should be included in any action plan and includes three case studies from different areas of the country as examples of what an action plan might look like.
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400.

At the heart of learning: promoting literacy, language (ESOL) and numeracy skills development is an information pack developed by the NIACE Regional Achievement Programme. For more information visit www.niace.org.uk or call 01620 44200

Basic Skills agency resources
A set of 9 free resources to support workplace Literacy, Language and Numeracy (LLN) are available on the Basic Skills Agency Website. These were produced through the two year London Development Agency and Basic Skills Agency project, Embedding LLN in London Local Authorities. The following resources are available: training resources for workplace managers and providers including training on embedded curriculum development; strategic planning pack and organisational needs analysis toolkit; project summary; project guide looking at lessons learnt from intensive workplace LLN programmes; samples of learning needs and evaluation reports and a workplace LLN strategy.
To access and download these reports go to: http://www.basic-skills.co.uk/site/page.php?cms=3&p=767

Basic Skills and Political and Community Participation. This free report, based on findings from a study of adults born in 1958 and 1970, tracks the cross-over between poor basic literacy and numeracy skills and involvement in the broad polical process and community affairs. Research was carrried out by Samantha Parsons andJohn Bynner of the Centre for Longitudinol Studies at the Institute of Education.
Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400. Can be downloaded from
www.basic-skills.co.uk.

Basic Skills Bulletin. Independent newsletter providing information on adult basic skills policy and practice, including news and current developments, articles, case studies of good practice and information on resources, training and conferences. Cost £79 per year for 10 issues.
Subscriptions office: Circa Ltd, Freepost ANG10945, Cambridge CB1 2BR. Tel: 01223 564334. Email: subscriptions@basicskillsbulletin.co.uk. Website: www.basicskillsbulletin.co.uk.

Basic Skills magazine. Basic Skills Agency quarterly magazine for basic skills teachers containing practical ideas for teaching and reviews of new materials. Free of charge.
Contact the Basic Skills Agency on 020 7405 4017 to be added to the mailing list.

Basic Skills Online. A course for specialists and basic skills tutors delivered over the Internet, developed by the Basic Skills Agency and Cambridge Training and Development Ltd. Comprises 11 modules of two to three hours each which cover essential areas of basic skills teaching, including planning, assessment, reading, writing, spelling, numbers, speaking and listening. A single use licence costs £55 plus VAT and p&p.
Contact Basic Skills Agency Publications on 0870 600 2400.

Breaking the Language Barrier: report of the working group on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Oct 2000. A summary and the report in full are available from the DfEE's lifelong learning website at http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/esol/front.htm

Colour Blind. A practical guide to teaching black and ethnic minority adult learners, published by NIACE (the national organisation for adult learning). It uses case studies, practical advice, handouts and exercises to show practitioners how to plan, create, deliver and market programmes to this target group more effectively. Cost £40.
Contact: Campaigns and Promotions, NIACE, 21 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE. Tel: 0116 204 4216 .

Developing embedded literacy, language and numeracy: supporting achievement. A NIACE lifeline series resource by Jan Eldred, which helps teachers to consider how these subjects can be taught alongside or within other programmes of study. For more information contact visit www.niace.org.uk or call 01620 44200

Developing intensive learning: Lessons from the Pathfinders, copies can be obtained from Dfes Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 ODJ; tel:0845 6022260; email: dfes@prolog.uk.com; reference: DILLP.

Developing residential learning: Lessons from the pathfinders, copies can be obtained from Dfes Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 0DJ; tel: 0845 6022260; email:dfes@prolog.uk.com; reference: DRLLP.

The Dyslexic Adult in a Non-dyslexic World, by Ellen Morgan and Cynthia Klein. Book written for teachers, employers, careers advisers, counsellors and others who support, work with or live with dyslexic adults. It uses case studies and adult 'voices' to explore a range of issues affecting dyslexic adults, emphasising the cognitive style of dyslexic people and its effects on their personal, academic and working lives. Published by Whurr Publishers. Contact: 020 7359 5979 or available from www.amazon.co.uk

Everyday English Editor
A software tool that enables users to paste text into the Editor window of a secure website. The Editor then shows the percentage of everyday words, based on its 17,500 word definition of everyday English. It also highlights non-everyday words and long sentences, making it easy to spot passages where readers may have difficulty. Useful for anyone preparing written material for adults with lower literacy levels. Visit www.optimum-uk.com/Editor.html

Expanding Learning in the Workplace: making more of individual and organisational potential by Lorna Unwin and Alson Fuller, published by Niace ISBN 1-86201-172-9, price: £8.95

Freedom to learn: Basic skills for learners with learning difficulties report of the working group looking into the basic skills needs of adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, DfEE, May 2000
Copies of the report can be ordered on 0845 60 222 60 quoting Ref: FTLB. The report is available in large print and braille.

Fixing or changing the pattern?, Veronica McGivney. NIACE study based on the views of practitioners, literature on lifelong learning and McGivney's research throughout the 1990s. It examines whether there have been any real changes in participation in organised forms of education and training since the publication in 1990 of Education for other people: access to education for non-participant adults. Cost £15.95.
Contact: NIACE, 21 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE. Website: www.niace.org.uk

Getting Creative with Getting Connected
A joint project of The National Youth Agency and NIACE, this is the first of a planned series of activity packs for practitioners and young adult learners engaging with the Getting Connected curriculum framework. The pack costs £25 plus £2 postage per copy. To order, contact the NYA sales department at sales@nya.org.uk, or tel: 01162427427.

A guide to outreach with laptops Angela Wood, National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education November 2000, ISBN 1 86201 109 5 £5.95 (details under ICT resources)

Improving adult basic skills: benefits to the individual and to society,
John Byner, Steve McIntosh, Anne Vignoles, Lorraine Dearden, Howard Reed, John Van Reenen
Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics, Institute for Fiscal Studies. January 2001, ISBN 1 54185 430 1 £4.95
This research report is based on analysis of data collected in the 1970 British Cohort Study and the National Child Development Study (1958 Cohort Study), together with modeling based on the Family Expenditure Survey and Family Resources Survey. It found that individuals who improve their basic skills:

Key Skills Qualification external assessment exemplar material. A pack of materials produced by QCA and its partner bodies in Wales (ACCAC) and Northern Ireland (CCEA) to help adult learning centres to prepare for the introduction of the Key Skills Qualification in September 2000. The pack focuses on the external assessment component of the qualification and is designed to provide centres with a guide to the level of difficulty of the external assessment component of each key skills. The pack is available from awarding bodies, Learning and Skills Development Agency, Learning for Work and the QCA website at www.qca.org.uk.

Local Literacies: reading and writing in one community, David Barton and Mary Hamilton. A book that researches how people make use of reading and writing in a wide range of contexts.
Published 1998, Routledge.

The Learning Divide Revisited: a report of the findings of a UK-wide survey on adult participation in education and learning. Naomi Sargeant, NIACE, September, ISBN 1 86201 088 9 £22.95.
Contact: NIACE on 0116 204 420.

Lifelines in Adult Learning. This series, produced by NIACE, provides background information and examples of good practice in adult and community learning. Each title focuses on a different area, including Community education and neighbourhood renewal; Spreading the word: reaching out to new learners; Managing community projects for change; Engaging black learners in adult and community education. The latest four titles cover adult literacy, numeracy, ESOL and embedded basic skills. Cost £6.95 each.
Contact: Publications Sales, NIACE, 21 de Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE. Tel: 0116 204 4200. Website: www.niace.org.uk.

Literacies in the community: resources for practitioners and managers.
City of Edinburgh Council, October 2000, £35 outside Scotland, ISBN 1 902299 10 8.

Literacy and numeracy: what adults can and can't do Basic Skills Agency Ref: A1010
This booklet gives examples of what adults can and can't do in a series of tests. It includes questions and adults' responses.
Contact: Basic Skills Agency, Admail 524, London WC1A 1BR. Tel: 0870 600 2400. Fax: 0870 600 2401.

Making the curriculum work for learners with dyslexia. This guide, the first in a Basic Skills Agency series called 'Making the curriculum work', details how the Adult Literacy Core Curriculum can work for learners with dyslexia. Chapters include information on how people with dyslexia learn, how the curriculum does and does not work for them, developing learning programmes, and word, sentence and text level skills. Cost £4.50 (plus p&p).
Contact Basic Skills Agency Publications on 0870 600 2400 or visit www.basic-skills.co.uk.

National Test Toolkit. Information on the national tests for adult literacy and numeracy, including funding details, practice tests (paper-based and on-screen), a comparison of awarding bodies and details of how to deliver the Skills for Life 'Move on' approach.
Contact DfES Publications on 0845 60 222 60, reference SFL NTT.
A national register of test centres is at www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/testcentres.

The Parental Stake in Pre-school Education. Report produced by the Social Market Foundation which makes the case for increasing the numbers of parents who contribute to early years education on the grounds that it will not only sustain the early gains made by the child but will also help to improve skills and reduce social exclusion among adults. Among the listed benefits for adults are increased literacy and numeracy, greater confidence and better employability, particularly for those parents from deprived backgrounds. These are in addition to the more often reported benefits for children who engage in pre-school education. Cost £5.
Contact: Social Market Foundation, 11 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QB. Tel: 020 7222 7060. Fax: 020 7222 0310.

Powerful Literacies, eds. Jim Crowther, Mary Hamilton and Lyn Tett. Book including issues raised by and for learners, teachers and researchers from the outcomes of literacy programmes in Britain and internationally. It addresses the twin themes of power and literacies, and approaches power in a variety of ways - sharing power between teachers and students; accessing power through using and understanding new technologies; learning as a powerful agent of change. Literacy is approached as a complex social practice, and a range of literacies is explored, such as literacy as a communal resource and as reflexive practice. Cost £15.95.
Contact: Publication Sales, NIACE, 21 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE. Tel: 0116 204 4216.

Public sector: public potential, improving the basic skills of public sector workers
The Basic Skills Agency 2001 Ref: A919
This leaflet lays out the reasons and methods for helping public sector employees improve their basic skills. It includes comments from staff in authorities where investment in basic skills has had positive results and lists the benefits of training for staff. It also suggests ways to help employees such as using union learning representatives and training providers in further education colleges.
Contact: the BSA on 0870 600 2400.

Progress in adult literacy: do learners learn? Greg Brooks, Rachael Davies, Laura Ducke, Dougal Hutchinson, Sally Kendall and Anne Wilkin, Basic Skills Agency, ISBN 1 85990 132 9, Ref: A1035 and Summary A1036. January 2001, £5.50.
Contact: Basic Skills Agency Publications, Admail 524, London WC1A 1BR. Tel: 0870 600 2400. Fax: 0870 600 2401.

Reading: developing adult teaching and learning: practitioner guide
Niace and NRDC publication that is one of a series of guides to good practice – each in a key area of adult education – arising from five Effective Practice Studies carried out by NRDC from 2003 to 2007. Each guide in the series aims to update teachers on research and to encourage them to reflect on their practice. They are intended to inspire teachers to try ideas and approaches which research suggests are effective. Principles of good practice are illustrated by clear and relevant case studies from current research. All examples are highly relevant to the classroom. ISBN: 978 1 86201 339 1. Sept 2007. £9.95. www.niace.org.uk/publications/R/Reading.asp

Shout It Out Learning Project. Since 1996 the Shout It Out Learning Project has been performing 'roadshows' to school and community groups in the Plymouth area to raise awareness of literacy problems in both children and adults. Now, with funding from the Basic Skills Agency and Plymouth College of Further Education, the project is able to travel further afield. Performances are led by Sue Torr, who sought help for literacy difficulties as an adult and went on to write Shout It Out, an award-winning play based on her experiences.
Contact: Shout It Out Learning Project., Plymouth College of Further Education, Learning Warehouse, 15-17 Union Street, Plymouth PL1 2SU. Tel: 01752 227668.

Say What You Like!
NIACE campaign involving learners, part of the Skills for Life strategy.

Skills for Life strategy publications. There is a huge amount of published guidance on the Skills for Life strategy, published by the Department for Education and Skills.
Skills for life: the national strategy for improving literacy and numeracy skills. Code: SFLLN
Skills for life: the national strategy for improving literacy and numeracy skills. Focus on delivery to 2007. Code: SFLNS2
Get On Campaign promotions and communications strategy 2004-5. Code: SFL CPO405
Subject specifications for teachers of ESOL. Code: ESOL/SS01/2002
Subject specifications for teachers of adult literacy and numeracy. Code: DfES/SS01/2002
Delivering Skills for Life Toolkit. Code: DSFL
Adult Literacy: Core Curriculum
Adult pre-entry curriculum framework for literacy and numeracy
Access for All: Guidance on making adult literacy and numeracy core curricula accessible
To order any of the above call 0845 60 222 60 or visit www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus

Skills for Life: Literacy materials for embedded learning: volunteering. ASDAN has launched a new CDROM of literacy resources written by Skills for Life tutors who work for a voluntary sector training organisation and support volunteers. It contains literacy resources and guidance mapped to the National Adult Literacy Core Curriculum. For more information visit www.asdan.org.uk or call 0117 954 3965.

Skills for Life planner. Online guide designed to help anyone responsible for staff development in a school or local authority to plan and implement training in language, literacy and numeracy skills across the whole school workforce. Visit www.tda.gov.uk/sflplanner

Starting points…a peer approach to basic skills by Gail Russell; UK Youth, 2003 ISBN 1904479006 £19.75. Includes key elements for peer education work; guidance in planning projects; recruiting, training and supporting youth tutors; evaluating peer education projects; ways to facilitate learning and learning materials and activities for youth tutors to use. Available from UK Youth, 20-24 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Tel: 020 7242 4045.

Supporting Dyslexic Students in Further Education: Guidelines for best practice. Published by the London Language and Literacy Unit these guidelines aim to provide a practical framework to encourage the establishment and development of high quality support for dyslexic students in further education, based on current best practice as identified by practitioners in the field. Using a survey of practice as a starting point, the guidelines are the result of wide consultation and extensive discussion. ISBN 1 872972 30 6. Price £18.00.
Contact: London Language and Literacy Unit, South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA. Tel: 020 7815 6290. Email: lllu@sbu.ac.uk.

Teaching practice and mentoring: The key to effective literacy, language and numeracy teacher training. A guide to good practice in mentoring in initial teacher training. The book suggests ways of supporting mentors more effectively through partnership working, strategic planning, training, professional development and the provision of materials and resources.
Contact: 0161 204 4216 / 0161 204 2804 or email orders@niace.org.uk, quoting ISBN 1 86201 237 7.

Time to Read: best practice in Reader Development work with adults in North West England 2000-2004, edited by Anne Caldwelt and published by Time to Read: the NW Libraries Reader Development Partnership. A full-colour publication outlining a range of projects undertaken in the North West by library authorities, described by the staff who delivered them. Contact: Jane Mathieson, Time to Read, c/o Manchester Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester, M2 5PD. 0161 236 4451

Understanding barriers to learning, Peter Maxted. Overview of the cultural, structural and personal barriers to learning, pulling together research and thinking from the 1990s to the present day. Published by the Campaign for Learning. Cost £12.95.
Contact: Southgate Publishers, The Square, Sandford, Crediton, Devon EX17 4LW. Tel: 01363 776888. Email: info@southgatepublishers.co.uk. Or order online at www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk.

Using laptop computers to develop basic skills: a handbook for practitioners

What do learners want? This free publication from NIACE details what learners in Skills for Life provision feel were both the barriers and triggers to their return to learning. There's a summary report, testimonies from the learners involved, plus a learner-centred DVD that aims to give potential learners a feel for what it's really like, from people just like them who've made the leap into learning. For more information visit www.niace.org.uk/saywhatyoulike/

Helplines and information on courses

Learndirect. National education helpline that provides details of adult education courses available in your area. Tel: 0800 100 900.

Basic Skills Agency helpline is for anybody wanting more information on how to improve their basic skills. Tel: 0800 700 987. The BSA refer callers to the nearest quality marked provider in their area.

Adult Literacies in Scotland provides information and advice on adult literacy and numeracy programmes in Scotland, including details of provision by local authorities and colleges.
Email: peoplesl@communitiesscotland.gov.uk. Tel: 0131 479 5424. Website: www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk

Top

Learning Works Awards. An awards programme that aims to recognise and promote the value of learning in relation to the workplace and employment opportunities. The awards are open to any adult in the UK who, by gaining new skills through learning, has found employment or improved their career prospects. Runs annually to coincide with Sign Up Now Week in September.
Contact NIACE on 0116 204 4200 or see www.niace.org.uk/alw

New Learning Opportunities Awards. A scheme that helps to disemminate good practice and stimulate the use of new routes and learning methods to increase adult participation in education and training. Awards are presented annually to organisations that have shown exceptional innovation and commitment in delivering quality learning opportunities to adults. Runs annually to coincide with Sign Up Now Week in September.
Contact NIACE on 0116 204 4200 or see www.niace.org.uk/alw