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New post-16 phonics toolkit to support the Functional Skills Reform Programme

Imke Djouadj, Head of Programmes: maths and English for the ETF

The new Education and Training Foundation (ETF) Post-16 Phonics Approaches Toolkit is now available to download from the ETF’s Excellence Gateway website.

The toolkit is part of the wider work ETF is doing to support the Functional Skills Reform Programme and the result of a partnership between the ETF, University College London Institute of Education (UCL IoE) and ccConsultancy. It is designed to support practitioners exploring the use of phonics approaches with post-16 learners.

The toolkit introduces resources created specifically for adult learners, explains how to put post-16 phonics approaches into practice in different settings, and explores how to adjust pace and sequence.

The final section of the toolkit considers how phonics approaches fit more broadly within a rich post-16 literacy curriculum. It directly addresses the diversity of learners’ needs, knowledge and prior experience.

The toolkit has been developed in collaboration with practitioners at a selection of eight further education providers:

  • The Army Education Centre
  • Bishop Burton College
  • Essex Adult Community Learning Service
  • Kendal College
  • North Lancs Training Group
  • North Tyneside Council Adult Learning Service
  • Novus/HMP Haverigg, and
  • Redcar and Cleveland College

Imke Djouadj, Head of Programmes: maths and English for the ETF, said:

“The new ETF Post-16 Phonics Toolkit takes a flexible, learner-centred approach that is fully appropriate for the post-16 sector and can help learners to continuously move forward, creating momentum that can positively impact on motivation. It has been developed in collaboration with a variety of further education providers and we thank them for their enthusiastic engagement.”

In addition to the toolkit, the ETF has built a full CPD support offer to help practitioners new to phonics to try out innovative teaching approaches, both with their entry-level Functional Skills learners and other post-16 students. The full CPD offer is accessible on the ETF website.


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