Devon County Council

Improving English, Maths & Language Skills

Check your English and Maths skills.
Click here to try Move On - Skills Check and find out what level your skills are currently at. It takes just a few minutes and you will receive feedback immediately.

Why do a Skills Check?
When we don’t use a skill regularly we may need to brush up and get a nationally recognised qualification..  

Skills for Life is about improving skills in English and Maths.  Skills for Life - read more. Courses are free if you have an identified need or if you don’t have a GCSE qualification Grade C or above (Level 2).  Qualification Levels – what they mean.

You can get an up-to-date qualification in English or Maths that is nationally recognised by taking a national test. National Tests - find out more.   

If English is not your first language, you can do an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course.  ESOL courses may have a fee.

The Benefits
People with good English and Maths skills:

• have more confidence
• have better job prospects - can more easily adapt to change and work more flexibly
• find it easier to manage money
• find it easier to help their children with schoolwork.

Organisational Benefits Improving workforce English and Maths is part of Investors in People (IiP).  The benefits include fewer errors, reduced sickness, greater efficiency and better service delivery. IiP Guide for Employers - download.

Recent research shows that a significant number of UK workers in the public and private sectors do not have the right literacy or numeracy skills.  National statistics show that 30% of university graduates have literacy or numeracy skills below Level 2.
Research - read more (12KB - pdf help)

How to Update your Skills
Devon Adult and Community Learning (DACL), part of Devon County Council, offers free courses in its centres throughout Devon. DACL Courses - more information.

Other organisations throughout Devon also offer free training. Other Training - find (31KB - pdf help)

Fast-track courses, lasting just a few hours, are available to quickly brush up skills.  If more work is needed to improve skills, courses can last a number of weeks.  

Free training is available in the daytime, in the evening and on-line (including on-line learning from home).  Before starting a course, a proper assessment of your skills will be done to help plan your learning.  

How to Check your Skills
Try the Move On - Skills Check to find out what level you're at. It just takes a few minutes.

How to Practise your Skills.
The internet has a number of websites that offer practise tests, quizzes and games.
Improve your Skills -  Find out more (23KB - pdf help)

Where to get Support and Advice
Contact Catherine Logan, (07816 973910, email: catherine.logan@devon.gov.uk) if you:

• would like an informal discussion
• are having problems finding suitable training
• have dyslexia or another learning difficulty

All discussions will be kept confidential

UNISON provides its members with information and support. They also offer courses to help you manage your money and build your confidence. UNISON - contact.