Skills for Life was launched in 2001 with a view to helping improve adult literacy and numeracy skills in the UK.  This was updated to include Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in 2003 when a white paper “21st Century Skills: realising our potential; individuals, employers, nation” stated the government’s commitment to the introduction of a new curriculum in ICT that reflected the existing Language, Literacy and Numeracy adult curricula.

Language, Literacy, Numeracy and ICT are the core basic skills considered to underpin entry to and progression in learning and skills for adults and are an essential component in raising the skills level in the borough.  The national Skills for Life strategy aims to help 750,000 adults achieve national certificates in Literacy and/or Numeracy by 2004 and 1.5 million by 2007 and Rotherham partners are working hard to ensure that access to the National qualifications are readily available in all areas of the borough. Several local initiatives including mobile on screen testing facilities and a central ‘drop in shop’  (The Skills Market) are already in place and more are planned.

The Rotherham Community Strategy and Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy set out the activities agreed by partners to meet the challenges and aims of supporting the economic and social development of the borough. A central theme of this is the raising of the skills levels of adults in the borough and the documents highlight the vital role of Skills for Life provision in this development.

Rotherham has a strong tradition of delivering adult learning and through a partnership approach. This is facilitated through the Rotherham Adult Learning Partnership (RALP).
Click here for more information on RALP.

South Yorkshire has a vibrant Professional Development organisation dedicated to Skills for Life staff development (PDNet). Further information on this can be accessed through the following website www.skillsforlifenetwork.com

For further information about ICT Skill For life visit the ICT in ACL Section of this site, or go directly to ICT Skill for Life