The Scottish Government

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Progress 2006/2007

Section 1: National leadership and effective local action

Policy Development

Refresh of Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland ( ALNIS)

Four events took place during May and June 2006 to offer stakeholders the opportunity to express views on progress and consider key priorities for a refresh of ALNIS, under the following themes:

• ALN Partnership roles
• quality of provision
• workforce/staffing
• how ALN Partnerships distribute resources
• measuring progress
• engaging learners
• literacies in different contexts
• funding
• future priorities

Two short-life working groups provided advice on training and development and on developing literacies in the workplace. An event in September 2006 gathered learners' opinions, experiences and views on the strategy.

English for Speakers of Other Languages ( ESOL) Strategy

The national Adult ESOL Strategy for Scotland, launched in March 2007, aims to upgrade the quality and quantity of publicly-funded ESOL in Scotland. There is funding of £5 million in the financial year 2007/2008 to create an additional 4,000 learner places in colleges, community learning and voluntary organisations. A National Panel of ESOL experts will oversee implementation of the strategy.

Supporting ALN Partnerships

Learning Connections supports the 32 ALN Partnerships and other organisations to deliver quality literacies learning. During 2006/2007 this support took the form of:

• training
• the development and dissemination of new resources
• grants for a range of initiatives
• the dissemination of effective practice
• information sharing and networking events

advice on specialist literacies issues

Links with National Organisations

Partnership working at a national level is crucial to reaching more learners across all sectors.

During 2006/2007 Learning Connections worked with a range of national organisations, including:

• AbilityNet Scotland
• Association of Scotland's Colleges
• Careers Scotland
• learndirect scotland
• Learning Link Scotland
• Money Advice Scotland
• NHS Education for Scotland
• Scotland's Colleges
• Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
• Scottish Further Education Unit ( SFEU)
• Scottish Prison Service
• Scottish Trades Union Congress ( STUC)
• Scottish Qualifications Authority ( SQA)
• Sector Skills Councils
• Trade unions
• Universities
• Workers' Educational Association
• Youthlink Scotland

Skills Towards Employability National Working Group

In February 2007 this national working group updated and signed the joint Statement of Arrangements which aims to help Jobcentre Plus welfare benefit recipients to access appropriate local literacies support which will assist them to move into secure and sustained employment.

Scottish Prison Service ( SPS)

In spring 2007 Learning Connections and SPS held a national seminar, Literacies Inside and Out, which brought together a range of organisations including ALN Partnerships, SPS and the Community Justice Authorities to explore links between literacies learning in prison and the transition to literacies learning in the community.

UK and International Links

Scotland links with a range of other countries to exchange practice and share challenges on adult literacies, and Learning Connections is represented on a number of UK and international networks. These include:

Five Country Group ( UK and Ireland)

In February 2007 this group produced a paper, Basic Skills and the Lisbon Agenda: Realising Policy Priorities in Adult Literacy and Numeracy in the UK and Ireland. The paper identified common traits, challenges and priorities among the five countries to inform literacies discussions within each country and in relation to developments in the European Community.

Skills for Life Inter-Departmental Group (Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales)

Quarterly meetings of this group (hosted by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, UK Government) provide opportunities to share practice and maintain contact with government departments and agencies that have a UK-wide remit (such as Jobcentre Plus and the Ministry for Defence).

The National Research and Development Centre ( NRDC) ⁴

Learning Connections has collaborated with the NRDC on a number of research projects to enhance learning from research activity, not least by enabling comparisons between the different approaches in Scotland and England.

Research and Practice in Adult Literacy ( RaPAL) ⁵

In June 2006 Learning Connections provided financial support for practitioners to attend the RaPAL Conference at the University of Glasgow. The event attracted over 120 UK and international practitioners, policy-makers and academics. Practitioners in Scotland have also contributed to the RaPAL Journal.

The Grundtvig Project

Learning Connections and ALN Partnerships are working with European partners to establish a network of literacies practitioners and learners to share practice and information on literacies development in each of the countries involved.

'Le Bon Accord' of learning

In November 2006 North Lanarkshire literacies learners hosted a visit by 30 practitioners and learners. The visit was part of the Grundtvig 2 project, Fostering the emancipatory dimension of adult literacy procedures in Europe - Literacy and Emancipation. The learners from North Lanarkshire greeted the visitors at the airport with an official welcome in French. Learners took part in discussions and role-play to demonstrate learner-centeredness and also undertook English-French interpreting duties. The European visitors also attended the North Lanarkshire learners' conference and visited adult literacies provision.

Section 2: A quality learning experience

Innovative learning and teaching approaches and resources which meet individuals' needs and interests ensure that all learners enjoy a high quality experience . . .

Curriculum Framework Wheel

Learners and tutors helped to inform the development of two new versions of the Curriculum Framework Wheel. The first, a hard-card version, makes it possible for learners and tutors to break down or build up the Wheel. The CDROM version brings the planning and reviewing process to life by using:

• video clips of learners and tutors
• images of everyday texts
• prompt questions for planning and reviewing learning, and
• a page where learners and tutors can make notes.

ESOL resources ... the sounds of Scotland

The development of SoundScotland resources ⁶ has helped open up the world of local accents and dialects from across Scotland for literacies learners whose first language is not English. These online materials aim to improve the listening and speaking skills needed to learn, live and work in Scotland.

National Online Resource Bank

In June 2006 Learning Connections launched Adult Literacies Online ( www.aloscotland.com), an online databank which features learning resources, research and reports, and tutor training materials. There is also a "contribute" section, where users can submit their own resources. The site currently features over 1000 resources, including tutor training packs, research reports, webquests, worksheets, video and audio clips.

Our Song

Learners at Edinburgh University Settlement ( EUS) have been making music together at a course run by CLAN (City Literacy and Numeracy) Project Worker, Calum Nicholson. Learners wrote and recorded their own songs, found out what touring with a band is really like and worked on improving their literacies skills.

Don't be floored by the CITB test!

Andrew was taken on as an apprentice by a Dalkeith flooring company on the condition that he passed the Construction Industry Training Board ( CITB) entry test. The test asks candidates about technical drawings, as well as a number of general numeracy questions. Andrew was able to answer the technical questions but struggled with some of the numeracy aspects.
He worked out an individual learning plan with his tutor at Jewel and Esk Valley College and attended 'drop-in' numeracy sessions once a week. A few weeks later Andrew
re-sat the CITB test and passed it successfully.

Anne's plans for college

When her daughter started nursery school Anne felt very anxious. She was plagued by the memory of one of her teachers calling her 'hopeless' - and she knew that soon she would have to help her daughter with her homework. This anxiety prompted Anne to ask for support to improve her spelling and numeracy. Anne has since made great progress and has completed a Steps to Excellence course, visited her local Careers office, and written an article for the local learner newsletter. Recently, Langside College arranged for Anne to visit their campus, to help her plan taking her learning to the next level. She hopes one day to become a literacies tutor.

Jim gets it write!

I first came to the Courtyard in Glasgow in April 2006 as I wanted to improve the quality and expression in my letter writing. Later in the year I joined the North West Writers Group who were writing a book to be published in time for the Aye Write! book festival in February 2007. Along with some other learners, I had the privilege of reciting my stories at the festival! As a result of the experience of doing the project and the help my tutor has given me, I've been able to put more into my writing.

Together in electric dreams …

North Ayrshire ALN Partnership has developed innovative interactive Electronic Learning Plans ( ELPs) so learners can personalise and take real ownership of their learning. The ELP has also proven to be an effective tool for recording, reflecting and providing evidence of learning. Learners, tutors and course co-ordinators have given enthusiastic feedback, and ALN Partnerships across the country have also expressed interest.

Learning Connections awarded the following grants in 2006/2007:

Learner publications

15 grants of £3000 each were awarded to groups across Scotland to publish books of writing by literacies learners. Learners produced the content and supervised the design, illustration and layout process. 500 copies of each publication were distributed to ALN Partnerships for use by other literacies learners.

Numeracy

Organisations that received numeracy resource grants in March 2006 have used and evaluated the materials they purchased, which included software, games and all types of measuring equipment. ⁷

Specific learning difficulties

Materials purchased included mind-mapping software, computer screen readers, coloured overlays and digital voice recorders, as well as a wide range of publications. These resources will enhance the scope and quality of work with learners who have specific learning difficulties.

Classroom assistants, we're counting on you!

Falkirk Council's Employment and Training Unit ( ETU) asked the Adult Literacies Team to work with potential classroom assistants, as many applicants were not passing recruitment screening tests. This wasn't necessarily because their maths skills were poor, but because many of the applicants would not have used the mathematical operations required in the entrance test since leaving school. The Adult Literacies Team developed a two-and-a-half hour course which is delivered to the applicants on the morning of the entrance test. The training has been successfully delivered to three groups, with ETU staff reporting a significant increase in the pass rates of applicants to the classroom assistants course. One applicant commented:

"I'd never have done it without that wee refresher. It's 20 years since I left school and I'd forgotten most of it."

Section 3: A system that learns

An important feature of the Scottish approach to adult literacies is the continuing professional development of the workforce. Learning Connections has supported professional development during 2006/2007 in a variety of ways:

Standards Council for Community Learning and Development

A new Standards Council for Community Learning and Development will support the professional development of key sectors of the adult literacies field and embrace the functions currently undertaken by Community Education Validation and Endorsement ( CEVE). It is envisaged that the Council will also offer guidance on matters relating to initial training and the professional development of Community Learning and Development staff, and will explore the establishment of a registration system for the full range of practitioners.

Teaching Qualification Adult Literacies ( TQAL)

Learning Connections is funding a Scottish Consortium to develop and deliver a pilot of TQAL, which has been validated as a Bachelor of Arts ( BA) in the three awarding institutions of Strathclyde, Aberdeen and Dundee Universities.

43 TQAL students (who are tutoring in adult literacies) and 24 Practice Tutors undertook the first module, 'Learning Worlds', in March 2007. The Practice Tutors support and mentor the TQAL students in the workplace, while also undertaking a Masters level award themselves. The Consortium, which also comprises two ALN practitioners, the Scottish Further Education Unit ( SFEU), Cardonald College and Forth Valley College, has recruited Professor Yvonne Hillier from the University of Brighton to evaluate the pilot which finishes in September 2008.

Professional Development Award ( PDA): Literacies in the Workplace

In June 2006 Learning Connections awarded Glasgow Community Learning Strategy Partnership a contract to develop the PDA: Literacies in the Workplace at Level 7 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework ( SCQF). The course is designed to develop participants' skills, knowledge and understanding of the principles, process and practice of developing and delivering literacies learning in a workplace context.

Professional Development Award ( PDA) in ESOL Literacies: Teaching Adults Reading, Writing and Numeracy

Across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland many ESOL teachers are working with literacies learners whose first language is not English. Learning Connections worked in partnership with North Highland College to develop a distance learning/residential version of the PDA in ESOL Literacies: Teaching Adults Reading, Writing and Numeracy. During the first part of 2007 eight teachers from as far afield as Shetland, Orkney, Wick and Fraserburgh participated in the course and they hope to graduate in the autumn.

Information and Communications Technology ( ICT) in Adult Literacies ⁸

Training on Using ICT with adult numeracy learners took place in November 2006, covering the use of spreadsheets, sound, games, photography, blogging and webquests. Training on Using video with adult literacies learners followed in March 2007.

Adult Dyslexia: Understanding the Difference

Learning Connections has produced this interactive training CDROM for literacy tutors and others supporting adults who may be dyslexic. It offers an insight into how dyslexia can affect people and provides information on the ways in which even simple techniques can reduce the barriers to learning and improve working lives.

Numeracy Energiser - Training the Trainer ⁹

Learning Connections held two Numeracy Energiser Training the Trainer events which were designed to equip the 30 participants with the knowledge and confidence required to deliver numeracy training within their own ALN Partnership.

Sharing information and effective practice

Learning Connections supports a number of networks and forums for sharing information and effective practice in adult literacies, which meet regularly throughout the year:

• ESOL and literacies
• ICT and literacies
• Literacies and disabilities
• Numeracy
• Specific learning difficulties
• Workplace literacies
• Youth literacies
• CoPAL (Communities of Practice in Adult Literacies) This national online forum provides a facility for interaction, discussion and the sharing of effective practice by people interested in adult literacies in Scotland. ¹⁰
• Pan-Ayrshire Literacies ( PAL) North, South and East Ayrshire ALN Partnerships continue to meet regularly to share effective practice and news about developments. Supported by Learning Connections, PAL's second joint conference in May 2006 highlighted practitioners' enthusiasm for sharing experiences and exploring new ways of working.
• North ConnectionThe North Connection provides valuable support and important practice-sharing opportunities for the seven North of Scotland mainland and island ALN Partnerships. During 2006/2007 four meetings were held in Aberdeen or Inverness, with use of video conference facilities.

Speaking out across North Lanarkshire

North Lanarkshire's Big Plus Learner Representatives Forum has grown in strength over the past year. Three learners represent the group at ALN Partnership Management Group meetings and learners are now undertaking "committee skills" training. During 2006/2007 the learners set up a website to share information about their work and adult literacies in North Lanarkshire.

Getting Connected in the North

With a grant from Learning Connections, Moray Adult Learners' Forum planned, organised and held the 'Get Connected - to Learning in the North' event in March 2007. The event brought together 70 people from the Western Isles, Shetland, Highland, Aberdeen, Angus and Moray, and offered learners the opportunity to share experiences and provide support for each other. 'Get Connected' was a great success - for the organisers who gained new skills and confidence, and for the participants who travelled from further afield, met new people, tried out new activities and shared learning experiences.

National Adult Literacies Events

Each year Learning Connections hosts a number of national events. The following events took place during 2006/2007:

• Innovations in ICT and Literacies, Phase 2 - June 2006
• To the Max - August 2006
• International Literacy Day - September 2006
• National Adult Numeracy Seminar - December 2006

National Development Projects: Research and Evaluation

Learning Connections has continued to commission a number of research projects which seek to inform the development of both policy and practice:

British Cohort Study

A Scottish analysis of the data from the 2004 round of the British Cohort Study 1970 ( BCS70) is being prepared for publication and will provide useful information on Scottish lifestyles linked to educational achievement.

Effective Learning for Adults with Learning Difficulties

This research explored nine case studies where tutors working with adults who have learning difficulties engaged carers to support the learning programme. A report illustrating the key barriers, the ways in which these were addressed and the resulting impact on learners' literacies development will be published in autumn 2007.

Financial Learning in Scotland

In spring 2007 Learning Connections funded a project to establish the scope of financial learning taking place in non-formal settings throughout Scotland. The data received from over 100 organisations across the country will inform future work in the area of financial education for adults.

Phase 2 of the Use of ICT in Adult Numeracy Teaching in Scotland

Professor Diana Coben of King's College London led the second phase of an action research project into the use of ICT in adult numeracy teaching. The 16 numeracy practitioners who took part investigated innovative learning and teaching approaches and produced resources. The projects were showcased at Learning Connections' National Adult Numeracy Seminar in December 2006 and the findings have been published in an NRDC report, 'Greater than the sum ... '¹¹

Innovations in ICT and Literacies ¹²

The June 2006 conference 'Changing the shape of adult literacies: the impact of technology' showcased work from the previous year's projects and launched a third round of projects which would investigate, among other aspects of ICT, the use of sound, pictures and video to enhance literacies learning.

Youth Literacies

In August 2006 Learning Connections and YouthLink Scotland launched the To the Max report ¹³ on youth literacies within the youth work sector. The report features nine pilot youth literacies projects and a number of the resources developed by them.

Adult Literacy and Visual Difficulties

Learning Connections commissioned research to establish the incidence of undetected visual/visual perceptual problems in adult literacy. The research will continue into its second phase during 2007/2008 and the final report will be published in autumn 2008.

Workplace Literacies Pilot Projects

In December 2006 eight pilot projects were awarded funding to develop models for addressing literacies learning in the workplace. These models will provide employers with a 'one-stop-shop' approach - from initial awareness raising through to delivery of learning. Resources and reports will be disseminated after the projects finish in early 2008.

Youth Literacies: mapping practice within the 16-25 age group, including identifying effective practice

This project identified the scope and diversity of youth literacies work in Scotland. Case studies providing models of effective practice will be published in autumn 2007.

Numeracy for Healthcare Staff

In March 2007 Learning Connections and NHS Education for Scotland awarded grants to ten projects on the themes of:

• exploring new approaches to teaching numeracy in the professional healthcare curriculum
• teaching numeracy skills across a wide range of healthcare disciplines, and
• working in partnership to help learners in the health sector with number skills.

Section 4: Raising awareness and attracting new learners

An important role for Learning Connections is to support the raising of awareness of adult literacies nationally and to encourage potential learners to contact their local learning providers.

The Big Plus awareness-raising campaign continues to play an important role in reducing stigma and attracting new learners. In September 2006 new TV adverts were launched around the key themes of employability, young people, numeracy, and health and well-being. Two new radio commercials also featured real learners talking about the positive outcomes of learning. The new TV adverts included the campaign website ¹⁴ for the first time, which led to an increase in visits to the site - over 12,500 from September 2006 to April 2007. There were also 6,000 calls to the national helpline, a 42% increase on 2005/2006.

During October 2006 and February 2007 market research measured the public's awareness of the campaign and of adult literacy and numeracy. Results showed that 40% of people interviewed recognised the Big Plus and there was a good understanding of the main messages of the campaign.

In November 2006 'the Big Plus for you' motivational film - which is sent to callers to the helpline - was updated with new footage and interviews with younger learners and the campaign came second at the Marketing Society of Scotland awards in March 2006.

International Literacy Day 2006

Every year since 1966 UNESCO has celebrated International Literacy Day on 8th September. Scotland joins others around the world in marking this important date and in 2006 over 200 people from across the country attended Learning Connections' national conference 'Attracting and Retaining Learners'.

The Big Plus in Libraries ¹⁵

The Big Plus in Libraries, a partnership between ALN Partnerships and local authority library services, is supported by Learning Connections and the Scottish Library and Information Council. This partnership aims to promote literacies learning opportunities and the public library service, while building and strengthening links between the two types of learning provision. During 2006/2007 libraries received funding to purchase resources for emergent readers.

Literacies Awareness for the Financial Sector

Between December 2006 and March 2007 Learning Connections piloted new literacies awareness-raising materials ¹⁶ with frontline staff working in financial organisations. This included staff and volunteers working in money advice centres, Citizens Advice Bureaux, credit unions and staff in one branch of Lloyds TSB.

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