It would be impossible to name everyone who has contributed to the writing and production of this Guide. However, the following deserve a special mention.

We are grateful to the learners whose photographs speak of their involvement in, and contribution to the Skills for Life agenda. They are: Michelle Attwater, Ben Ball, Joanne Buyth, Michael Green, Ian Jones, Kathleen Keily, Brian Kendall, Tony Lees, Sandra Robson McVeigh, Liam Newell, Kevin Rilley, David Shields, Joanne Swift, Solaiman Tahir, Ruth Taylor, Philip Turner, Sarah Louise Wilkinson, Anthony Woollam and Denise Young.

We also thank the provider staff, teachers and trainers who appear in the Guide. They are: Richard Barrett, Stuart Bowler, Genevieve Clark, June Davenport, Adrian Evans, Bettina Haddon, Alexis Hanford, Gary Kelly, Diane Koppit, Janet Long, Julia Lougheed, Mairi-Anne Macleod, Gaynor May, Graham Meades, David Merrett, Sarah Morgan, John Newell, Mike Parkin, Donna Parkinson, Linda Pratt, Sue Saxton and Helen Timm.

This Guide has benefited from the expert advice and help of the following organisations and individuals: staff from the Offenders Learning and Skills Unit including Phil Hind, Liz Lawson, Elaine Morris, Anne Smith and David Syson, with particular thanks to Marie Devall. I would also like to thank the Governor, staff and young prisoners at HMYOI Hindley for their help and support in preparing this Guide, and the governors and staff from HMYOI Aylesbury and HMP and YOI Low Newton; and Pip Deverson at the SOVA Basic Skills project at HMP and YOI Feltham. I would also like to thank inspectors from the Adult Learning Inspectorate for their invaluable advice and support.

Thanks go to Merillie Vaughan-Huxley OBE for her invaluable help and support, and to the heads of learning and skills and education managers of the following institutions for the release of staff time and support to undertake this important project: HMP and YOI Askham Grange, HMYOI Aylesbury, HMP and YOI Bullwood Hall, HMP and YOI Chelmsford, HMP Drake Hall, HMP and YOI Eastwood Park, HMP and YOI Forest Bank, HMYOI Hindley, HMP and YOI Holloway, HMP and YOI Low Newton, HMYOI Onley and HMYOI Stoke Heath.

Merillie Vaughan-Huxley OBE assisted the Skills for Life Strategy Unit in the production of these guides.

Ken Towner took the photographs.

WRITER BIOGRAPHY

Iris Evans has many years’ experience in teaching basic skills and delivering key skills programmes nationally. She has also provided consultancy to a number of providers on basic skills and Skills for Life. In particular, this has meant setting up strategies for delivery, self-assessment and development plans, training staff and managers, quality assurance systems and preparing providers for inspection. She is also a highly experienced associate inspector with the Adult Learning Inspectorate and inspects foundation and Skills for Life programmes in prisons and young offender institutions.

THE RAISING STANDARDS SERIES

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Adult and Community Learning

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Embedded Learning

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: E-learning

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Family Learning

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Further Education Colleges

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision Jobcentre Plus Programmes

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: The Juvenile Secure Estate for Young People Aged 15-17

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Offenders Supervised in the Community by the National Probation Service

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Prisons

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Voluntary and Community Sector

A Contextual Guide to Support Success in Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL Provision: Work-based Learning