Update 2010

It is reassuring that having at least functional levels of literacy, language and numeracy skills is now seen as an entitlement for all.  This is a big step on from the 1995 starting point for this partnership set of developments in Birmingham (‘We need to start to do something more about literacy and numeracy’).  The national picture is now one of:

• all children 0-5 supported to develop communication, literacy, number etc
• all school children able to spend focused time on how language works, and how maths works – with ‘catch-up’ support for those progressing more slowly than anticipated
• an entitlement to practising functional literacy and numeracy throughout secondary school and within whatever 14-19 learning and skills pathway they choose (academic, diplomas, apprenticeships) etc
• literacy, language and numeracy integrated into programmes for offenders; for those upskilling in work; for adults on employability programmes
• an expectation that the majority of the workforce will have high levels of work-related literacy and numeracy skills.

The national commitment is that 95% of the adult population will be functionally literate and numerate by 2020.  This will require ongoing support across a range of activities through our main contact provider organisations in Birmingham to ensure that the city is well placed to at least match this national aspiration.  These activities are substantially in place.

 The progress needed, however, cannot be achieved by focusing solely on literacy, language and numeracy content of programmes, important though that is.  It will require work on a much broader front.

Birmingham Core Skills Development Partnership, as a freestanding company, is helping the range of public and private agencies in the city to move forward on a number of themes:

• how to lift more children out of poverty
• a renewed focus on improving the English language levels of adults (in priority, disadvantaged neighbourhoods)
• the best ways forward for young people at risk of worklessness
• improved routes for parents wanting to return to work
• supporting the decision-making and system-performance around services for children and young people