The Skills for Life Strategy Unit works with its partners to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Skills for Life and set the strategy for the training and continuing professional development of Skills for Life practitioners. Our partners include the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED),  Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) and the Quality Improvement Agency for lifelong learning (QIA).

Free Professional Advice

LLUK run a free professional advice service for people working in the lifelong learning sector. Call their Information and Advice Service on 020 7936 5798 or email advice@lluk.org

Latest initial teacher training updates from LLUK

Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) is leading the reform of initial teacher/tutor/trainer education in England (ITTTE), as part of the further education workforce reforms.

Please click here for more.

National Reference Point for Skills for Life professional development

Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) operate the 'National Reference Point' for Skills for Life professional development (NRP.) This website has been established to offer specialist information and advice to those intending to join the profession, existing teachers and learning support staff, as well as those with an interest in their development.

The NRP will ensure that up-to-date information on current developments is available from a single source, which will include information on standards, qualifications and broader professional development opportunities.

To visit the new National Reference Point, please click here.

Skills for Life Improvement Programme

QIA are funding a wide range of reform and development activity across the Skills for Life sector. The ultimate aim of all their work in Skills for Life is to improve the learners' experience to ensure they succeed, gain qualifications and progress with learning throughout life and work. 

Click here to find out more.

The Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning (QIA)

The Quality Improvement Agency for lifelong learning (QIA) opened on 3 April 2006. QIA is a new Non-Departmental Public Body based in Coventry and spearheads the drive for quality improvement in the learning and skills sector. QIA was formally launched by the Secretary of State, Ruth Kelly, at a reception on the House of Commons terrace on Wednesday 5 April 2006 to coincide with publication of the QIA Prospectus and Corporate Plan. The QIA will take forward work on Skills for Life relating to quality, including the Skills for Life Quality Initiative.

For more information, please see the QIA website.

To download the press release on the launch of the QIA, please click here.

Interactive Raising Standards Guides

A range of updated Raising Standards Guides were launched in autumn 2005.

The guides are available in an electronic interactive format: on CD-ROM and on the internet, providing greater accessibility and flexibility of use. Each of the 13 Guides in the series deals with a different context of learning and is intended to help practitioners and managers improve the quality of teaching and managing Skills for Life provision by using the five Common Inspection Framework questions for their particular context.

The new Guides have also been updated. At a time of renewed attention to the process of self-assessment, new material has been added that will support those working in Skills for Life to refresh their understanding of what is needed to drive up quality and bring success to learners in literacy, language and numeracy. The existing hard copy guides are also due to be replaced by updated versions.

Please click here to see the web-based versions of the guides.

A CD-ROM containing all 13 Guides is available from DfES Publications on 0845 60 222 60, or by email: dfes@prolog.uk.com (please quote the reference: SfL/RSG/CD-ROM) or by clicking here.