Link into Learning - Skills for Life specialists

Last updated: 18/02/2010 Add to My Bookmarks

Link into Learning offers friendly, flexible help with the essential skills of adult literacy, numeracy and English for speakers of other languages.  Literacy and Numeracy are free but there is a termly charge for ESOL provision. 

Literacy

Covers English reading and writing skills including spelling, punctuation and grammar, as well as the communication and study skills which will help you move on to further learning.

Numeracy

Involves handling the numbers, data, diagrams, measurements and money calculations which you might come across at work or in everyday life.  It goes up to the equivalent of GCSE level Maths.

We also offer help with job search skills, writing CVs, and with basic computer skills to support literacy and numeracy.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

These courses help learners whose first language is not English to develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, with improving grammar.  Termly fees are payable but concessions and support for hardship are available.  Speak to your local Centre for advice.  Recently Link into Learning has seen increasing numbers of learners in this area, with students who have come from all over the world.     

Tuition

Link into Learning tutors work with individuals and small groups in a friendly, informal atmosphere.  You can sign up for a course as short as a nine-hour brush-up, or as long as a whole year:  the course will always be tailored to your individual needs, and you can arrange to attend at times to suit you.

Qualifications

We offer nationally recognised adult qualifications in literacy and numeracy which can plug a gap in your CV if you do not already have GCSEs or their equivalent in English and Maths. Each test takes about an hour and can be done on paper or on screen.  They can also come with free, short brush-up courses to help you prepare.  Try a practice test here Qualifications in English and Maths.  We also offer key skills, which can support your achievement on NVQ, Access to HE and other courses.

Centres

Link into Learning has 30 learning centres covering all areas of Cornwall.  They are staffed by professional teachers, all of whom have a subject specialism in literacy, numeracy or English as a second language.  The centres are equipped with extensive learning resources, and up-to-date computer equipment. See the Link into Learning Centres page for an address list of centres. 

Volunteers

We also have many volunteer support tutors, which is what makes us able to give such individual attention to our learners, often supporting them on a one-to-one basis.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, we can give you free training which will lead to a useful City & Guilds qualification in learning support.

Short Courses

We have themed short courses tailored to the needs of individual groups.  These include

• Customer care
• Computers plus
• Develop your potential
• Keep up with the children
• Introduction to NVQs
• Understand school English and Maths

and we are always developing new themes in response to people's suggestions.

Outreach

Outside the centres, we have several teams of tutors who deliver learning in local venues, hosted by partner organisations. We have several project teams which specialise in different kinds of learning.

For Family Learning

Contact Morwenna Vernon on 01726 891993, email - morwenna.vernon@cornwall-acl.ac.uk (including courses in schools).

Community Groups

We also have roving development tutors who can put on free courses anywhere there is a demand for them. They work with voluntary and community organisations to bring learning to the heart of local communities, and will tailor a course to suit the interests of the group concerned.  If you would like to join such a group, or if we might be able to help your organisation, please contact:

Libby Pidcock on 01726 816550, email - libby.pidcock@cornwall-acl.ac.uk

Working with Companies

We run courses for employees in the workplace, tailored to the needs of individual companies.  These are based around the essential skills of literacy and numeracy, placed in the context of people's jobs, and can also be delivered alongside specific work-related skills and qualifications such as care, health and safety, food hygiene or others, and a range of NVQ's.

Contact John Avis on 01726 816550, email - john.avis@cornwall-acl.ac.uk

Other Partners

Link into Learning works with Job Centre Plus to deliver skills assessments and training for clients on the New Deal.  We also work with the Youth Service, the Probation Service, and will welcome approaches from any other organisation with an interest in improving the skills of adults.

Inclusiveness

Our provision is for anyone over the age of 16 who wants to improve their skills, and it is free.  We also aim to reach people who face other challenges, too: people who are unemployed, single parents, people with disabilities and learning difficulties, and people who are isolated geographically or economically.

Training Teachers

We are strongly committed to staff development. Through Adult Education, we can offer generic teaching qualifications for tutors and support tutors and, as Link into Learning, we are now becoming involved in delivering new subject qualifications for specialists in literacy and numeracy.

For Teacher Training

Contact Rae Pugh on 01840 213511 email rpugh@cornwall.gov.uk

National Recognition

Through its work in all these areas, Link into Learning has built up a national reputation over a period of 20 years.  We managed the original Basic Skills Agency quality mark, and were consulted on the influential Moser Report, which led to the current National Skills for Life Strategy.

Please also see our Family Learning and Link into Learning Centres pages.