Skills for Life tutors (also known as basic skills tutors) teach and support adults of all ages who wish to improve their skills in reading, writing and spelling (literacy), maths (numeracy) and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). They work in a variety of organisations, including further education colleges, community centres, adult learning centres, the workplace and prisons).

The work of a Skills for Life tutor typically involves:

• carrying out diagnostic assessments
• discussing individual goals with students
• designing learning programmes to suit the needs and abilities of the students
• preparing teaching materials
• using a range of resources such as worksheets and computer packages
• delivering individual and group teaching sessions
• keeping records
• guiding and supporting learning support assistants and volunteers.

Most Skills for Life tutors specialise in literacy, numeracy or ESOL, although some teach more than one of these areas.

Hours and Environment

As a Skills for Life tutor you could work in full-time, fractional or part-time positions. In fractional post you will work on a permanent contract for a fraction of the week. As a part-time tutor you may only have a temporary contract. As a full-time tutor you are likely to work up to 37 hours a week, with around 25 hours spent teaching. Evening work is common. 

You could be based in a college, but as outreach and community-based classes are increasing, you could also teach in community centres, schools, libraries or prisons.

Skills and Interests

To be a Skills for Life tutor you need:

• excellent communication and listening skills
• the ability to get on well with people of all ages and backgrounds and understand their needs
• patience and tact
• creativity to devise appropriate, interesting and meaningful learning activities
• enthusiasm and the ability to motivate and encourage students.

Entry

To qualify as a Skills for Life tutor from September 2007 you will need to do one of the following new qualifications:

• Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (English Literacy)
• Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (English ESOL)
• Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (Mathematics Numeracy).

These qualifications will be available full-time (one year) and part-time (two years). If you want to do a part-time course and are not already employed as a teacher, you will need to arrange some teaching hours, probably on a voluntary basis, so that you can be assessed. On a full-time course, teaching placements will be arranged by the course provider.

The qualifications will be endorsed by LLUK, the Sector Skills Council responsible for the professional development of all those working in community learning, further education and work-based learning.

Universities and higher education colleges will continue to offer specialist PGCE and Cert Ed qualifications. They may not use the qualification titles mentioned above, but will have to reference their qualifications against the Level 5 Diploma.

Contact the LLUK Information and Advice Service for details of the new qualifications and endorsed courses.

If you want to find out if you are suited to this type of teaching, you could do some voluntary work and perhaps complete the Level 2 Certificate in Adult Learner Support before applying for a diploma course, although this is not essential.

Training

If you already have an adult teaching qualification and want to qualify to teach literacy, ESOL or numeracy, or a qualification in teaching literacy, ESOL or numeracy, and want to qualify in an additional specialist area, you can do one of the following qualifications:

• Level 5 Diploma in Teaching English (Literacy CPD) in the Lifelong Learning Sector
• Level 5 Diploma in Teaching English (ESOL CPD) in the Lifelong Learning Sector
• Level 5 Diploma in Teaching Mathematics (Numeracy CPD) in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

Contact the LLUK Information and Advice Service for details.

Qualifying as a Skills for Life tutor does not give you qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in schools. See the Primary and Secondary School Teacher profiles for more information.

Opportunities

Skills for Life tutors and support workers can work in:

• colleges
• adult education centres
• community centres
• voluntary organisations
• prisons
• private training providers
• work-based training organisations.

There is a growing demand for Skills for Life tutors, since new initiatives to improve adult literacy and numeracy are constantly being developed.

With experience, you could be promoted to senior lecturer or head of department, or move into training other tutors.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Starting salary can depend on experience, qualifications, and whether the tutor is employed by a further education college, a charity or a private training provider.

Skills for Life support workers usually earn around £12,000 to around £18,000 a year.
Qualified tutors earn around £18,000 to around £25,000 a year.
Experienced Skills for Life tutors can earn up to around £30,000 a year.
Departmental managers may earn between £30,000 and £35,000.

Further information

Adelaide House
39-49 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8FD
Tel: 028 9025 7777 5th Floor
St Andrew’s House
18-20 St Andrew Street
London
EC4A 3AY
Information and Advice Service: 020 7936 5798
Email: advice@lluk.org Area 2A North
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Tel: 0845 345 4745