Your Functional Skills Journey Guide Whatever your starting point, we’ll support you to build confidence, make progress and achieve.
Build Your Skills. Grow Your Confidence. Open New Opportunities. As part of your apprenticeship, you may need to complete, or may choose to opt into, Functional Skills qualifications in English, maths or both subjects. Functional Skills are practical qualifications designed to help you use English and maths confidently in the workplace and everyday life. They are not simply about passing an exam. They help you develop skills that can strengthen your performance at work, support your apprenticeship and create more options for your future. If you are aged 16–18 when you begin your apprenticeship and do not already hold suitable equivalent qualifications, English and maths will normally be a mandatory part of your programme. If you are aged 19 or over, you may be able to opt into Functional Skills with the agreement of your employer. What Could Functional Skills Do for You? Professionally, they can help you: •
communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues, customers and families
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write accurate emails, reports, observations and workplace documents
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understand instructions, policies and important information
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use numbers confidently when measuring, budgeting, planning or recording data
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solve workplace problems and make informed decisions
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develop greater confidence when contributing to meetings and discussions
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prepare for promotion, further training or a higher-level apprenticeship
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demonstrate valuable skills to current and future employers
Personally, they can help you: •
manage money, bills, budgets and household costs
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understand payslips, wages, discounts and percentages
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complete forms and understand official information
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communicate your ideas more confidently
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make sense of information presented in charts, tables and graphs
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support children, family members or others with their learning
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feel more prepared for future study or career changes
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gain a recognised qualification and a sense of achievement
Functional Skills are skills for your apprenticeship, your career and your everyday life.
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Your Six-Month Functional Skills Journey At Best Practice Network, our aim is to help you complete your Functional Skills examinations within the first six months of your apprenticeship. Completing Functional Skills early means you can: •
build useful skills from the beginning of your apprenticeship
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apply your learning in the workplace straight away
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avoid English and maths becoming a barrier later in your programme
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focus more fully on your occupational learning and final assessment
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feel confident that an important part of your apprenticeship has been completed
You will start your Functional Skills learning from the first month of your apprenticeship and work towards completing approximately 60 guided learning hours per subject. This will usually involve around 10 hours of learning each month for six months. Your individual training plan may be adjusted according to your starting point, prior learning, support needs and progress. What Counts as Guided Learning? Functional Skills cannot be completed entirely through independent or self-directed distance learning. You will receive structured teaching and active support from tutors and Functional Skills specialists. Current apprenticeship funding rules state that English and maths training must not be delivered fully through selfdirected distance learning and that active learning must take place in line with the signed training plan. Your guided learning may include: •
live virtual classrooms with a Functional Skills tutor
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individual teaching and one-to-one support
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tutor-led workshops and examination preparation sessions
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guided activities completed during taught sessions
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structured feedback following assessments or mock examinations
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supported learning through Century
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directed activities using workbooks, videos and practice resources
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discussion and review of how English and maths apply to your job role
Independent revision is still valuable, but it cannot replace active teaching. Your tutor will help you understand new topics, correct misconceptions, practise methods and apply your skills.
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What Will Happen When You Start? 1. We Review Your Previous Qualifications Your tutor will review the English and maths qualifications you have already achieved to confirm whether you: • must complete Functional Skills • can choose to opt into Functional Skills • already hold an accepted equivalent qualification • need to study English, maths or both subjects Any standalone English and maths requirements will be included in your training plan. 2. You Complete an Initial Assessment You will complete an initial assessment through Century. This helps us understand: • your current working level • your existing strengths • the topics you need to develop • the most appropriate level of teaching • whether you may need additional support Complete your assessment independently and honestly. It is not an exam and you are not expected to know every answer. An accurate result allows us to provide the right teaching and support. 3. You Receive a Personalised Learning Plan Your assessment results will be used to create a personalised learning plan. This will help you focus on the areas that will make the greatest difference to your knowledge, skills and confidence. You may attend: •
Level 1 sessions to strengthen your foundational knowledge and core skills Level 2 sessions to develop more advanced skills and prepare for a Level 2 examination If you are working towards Level 2, you may initially attend some Level 1 sessions to strengthen particular areas. This does not mean you have failed or moved backwards. It ensures that you have secure foundations before progressing. •
What Support Will You Receive? You will not be expected to manage Functional Skills alone. Our support includes: Experienced Tutors and Specialists Your Apprenticeship Tutor will monitor your progress, explain expectations and help you access the appropriate teaching. Weekly Virtual Classrooms Live sessions delivered by functional skills specialists provide structured teaching, worked examples, opportunities to ask questions and guided practice. Sessions are available at different levels and cover key topics in English and maths.
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Personalised Learning Through Century Century provides focused English and maths activities based on your individual learning needs. You can use Century to: •
follow your personalised learning pathway
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revisit topics that you find challenging
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practise skills between taught sessions
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receive immediate feedback
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track your progress and recognise your achievements
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access built-in tools such as read-aloud functions and adjustable visual settings
Century supports your taught learning, but it does not replace attending live teaching sessions. Highfield Resources You may be provided with: •
revision videos
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workbooks
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practice questions
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examination-style activities
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mock examinations and mark schemes
Your tutor will direct you to the resources that are most relevant to your learning needs. Examination Preparation Before your examination, you will have opportunities to: •
attend an examination preparation session
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become familiar with the examination format
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practise examination techniques
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complete a mock examination under suitable conditions
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receive feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement
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complete additional learning before your examination is booked
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Individual and Additional Learning Support If you have a learning difficulty, disability, health condition or previous negative experience of English and maths, please tell us as early as possible. Depending on your individual needs, support may include: •
one-to-one teaching • additional explanations and guided practice • adapted or accessible learning resources • assistive technology • additional mentoring or check-ins • reasonable adjustments • approved examination access arrangements • additional time with your tutor Learning support funding may be available where an apprentice has a disability or learning difficulty and requires reasonable adjustments to complete the apprenticeship, including English and maths Asking for support is not a sign of weakness. It helps us understand how you learn best and put the right support in place. What Do We Expect from You? We will provide teaching, resources, encouragement and individual support. In return, you are expected to take an active role in your Functional Skills journey. Your Commitment You are expected to: • • • • • • • • • • • •
begin your Functional Skills learning in the first month of your apprenticeship aim to complete your examinations within six months complete approximately 60 guided learning hours per subject work towards around 10 hours of learning each month attend your booked virtual classrooms and taught sessions arrive on time and be ready to participate complete assigned Century activities and learning tasks use the workbooks, videos and revision resources provided complete assessments and mock examinations honestly and independently practise between taught sessions raise any concerns or support needs at the earliest opportunity keep your tutor and employer updated about any barriers affecting your progress
English and maths learning should take place during your normal working hours where it forms part of your agreed apprenticeship training plan. Employers are expected to allow apprentices to complete agreed apprenticeship training, including required standalone English and maths activity, during working hours.
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Attendance Matters Regular attendance is essential because each session builds on the learning covered previously. If you miss a session, you should: 1. tell your tutor as soon as possible 2. access any resources you have been directed to 3. complete the activities you have missed 4. attend a replacement or alternative session where available 5. ask for help if you do not understand the topic Repeated non-attendance may delay your examination, affect your progress and make it more difficult to complete within the six-month target. Preparing for Your Examination When you have completed the relevant learning and your tutor believes you may be ready, you will: 1. attend an examination preparation session 2. complete a mock examination under examination conditions 3. receive feedback on your strengths and areas for development 4. complete further teaching and practice where needed 5. take another mock examination if appropriate 6. have your examination booked when you are ready We normally look for a mock score of approximately 65–70% or above, alongside evidence of completed learning and tutor judgement, before booking an examination. If you are not ready after your first mock, this is not a failure. Your results will show us exactly where you need further teaching and practice. Your tutor will agree the next steps with you, which may include additional virtual classrooms, Century activities, Highfield resources or individual support. Your Six-Month Plan Month 1: Understand Your Starting Point •
Complete your initial assessments.
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Access Century.
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Attend the Introduction to Functional Skills session.
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Understand your learning plan and expectations.
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Begin your first taught sessions.
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Months 2–4: Develop Your Skills •
Attend regular virtual classrooms.
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Complete guided activities and tutor-set work.
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Follow your Century learning pathway.
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Use Highfield videos and workbooks.
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Ask for help when you need it.
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Apply your developing skills in the workplace.
Month 5: Prepare for Your Examination •
Complete your planned learning sequence.
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Attend examination preparation.
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Complete a mock examination.
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Review feedback with your tutor.
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Address any remaining knowledge gaps.
Month 6: Demonstrate Your Skills •
Complete any final revision or teaching.
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Demonstrate examination readiness.
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Attend your booked Functional Skills examination.
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Celebrate the skills and confidence you have developed.
We Will Support You, but Your Participation Matters Functional Skills are a partnership between you, your employer and Best Practice Network. We will: •
provide structured teaching
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create a personalised learning plan
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give you access to Century and supporting resources
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monitor and discuss your progress
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prepare you for your assessments
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identify and arrange appropriate support
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recognise your progress and achievements
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Your employer will: •
support your participation
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allow time for agreed learning during working hours
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encourage you to apply your skills in the workplace
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help you maintain momentum towards your six-month target
You will: •
attend
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participate
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practise
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ask for help
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act on feedback
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complete your agreed learning
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take responsibility for your progress
You do not need to feel confident before you begin. Confidence develops through attending, practising, asking questions and recognising the progress you are making. We will support you at every stage, but your commitment will be the key to your success.
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