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Start Date: 12/10/2026      End Date: 11/12/2026        Start Time: 12:30      End Time: 15:15        Hours per Week: 7.00      No of Weeks: 8
Fees:      £0.00 (tuition)     £714.00 (overseas)     £0.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Richard Hollingworth        No of Places: 11

Course Overview

Course Overview
Take the next step and gain a nationally recognised qualification and express yourself confidently at work and in everyday life. You will build your reading and writing skills through tasks such as understanding letters from your child’s school, following workplace instructions, reading job adverts, and responding to messages from services. You will work on writing emails to an employer, filling in forms, and producing short pieces of writing such as complaints, applications and reports.
In class, you will also develop your speaking and listening skills. You will take part in formal and informal discussions where you explain your opinions, ask questions, respond to other people’s ideas, and talk through situations you might face at work, at home, or in your community.
Throughout the course, you will be supported every step of the way. We offer additional help through our English grammar skills courses, as well as clear progression routes into vocational and digital skills courses to support your career.
This three-times-a-week course is your chance to level up your reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities in a fun, practical way.
You’ll explore real-world texts like articles, reports, and instructions, and learn how to write with clarity and purpose whether it’s a formal letter, a persuasive email, or a professional report. You’ll also practice using correct punctuation, technical vocabulary, and literary devices that make your writing more fluent and engaging.

Plus, you’ll practise presenting your ideas, participating in group discussions, and responding confidently to others. By the end, you should feel ready to take the exams and achieve the qualification. You'll feel more prepared to move forward, whether that’s into work, college, university, or simply communicating with ease in everyday life.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* • Speaking & Listening: Engage in structured discussions and presentations by listening attentively, responding appropriately, and making relevant contributions in formal settings meeting the criteria for effective verbal communication and interaction.
* • Reading: Demonstrate the ability to identify main points, ideas, and details in a variety of texts. Distinguish between fact and opinion and interpret meaning using context aligned with Level 1 reading comprehension and analysis standards.
* • Writing: Communicate clearly and effectively in writing across multiple formats (e.g. letters, emails, reports), using appropriate structure, tone, and vocabulary. Apply accurate paragraphing and varied sentence forms to meet Level 1 written communication criteria.
* • Personal Progression: Set and work towards a meaningful goal related to career or further study, using English skills to support planning, communication, and self-presentation reinforcing the real-world relevance of Functional Skills qualifications
* • Digital Literacy: Use digital tools to produce, save, and submit written work across devices, reflecting the practical application of English skills in modern contexts as encouraged by Pearson’s integrated approach.
* Personal Progression: Set and work towards a meaningful goal related to career or further study, using English skills to support planning, communication, and self-presentation reinforcing the real-world relevance of Functional Skills qualification
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
This course is for learners working at Level 1.
It is suitable for adults aged 19 and over who hold a level 1 qualification in ESOL or be able to demonstrate language at the required level.
This means you will be able to compose a range of texts, both formal and informal, give a presentation, take part in discussions, read or listen and understand a wide range of real-world texts.
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Equipment required

Equipment required
Please bring to every lesson:
• A folder
• Pens & pencils
• Lined A4 paper pad or notebook
• A smartphone (if you have one)
• A reusable water bottle
We will give you the WIFI details in the first lesson.
If you do not have access to a smart phone or a computer, speak to your tutor.

You will also need a personal GMail account to access the Google classroom, which will be used for submitting coursework and accessing course materials. If you do not have a GMail account speak to your tutor.
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How will you know you are making progress?

How will you know you are making progress?
From the start of your course, your tutor will talk with you about what you can do well and how you can achieve more. You will receive regular feedback and tutorials guiding you on how to develop your skills. Your studies and work outside the classroom (through Google Classroom) will be essential towards your progression and success on the course. In addition, you will keep a learning diary to form the basis of discussions with your tutor on what you need to work on. You will also develop the skills needed to self-assess and analyse your own strengths and areas for development.
There will be mock and practice exams to guide you. At the end of the course you will take the Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills Qualification in English at Level 1. There are four components that you must pass to gain the qualification.
• Speaking & Listening: Communicate ideas clearly, respond to questions, express opinions with evidence, and participate effectively in group discussions.
• Reading: Use reference tools, understand text structures, infer meaning from images, and apply punctuation and vocabulary to aid comprehension.
• Writing: Produce well-structured texts using appropriate formats, complex sentences, and accurate paragraphing within set word limits.
• Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar: Apply correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling—including tense, articles, and subject-verb agreement—for clear, precise writing.
The exam is taken at The Shadwell Centre at the end of the course therefore, you MUST attend all your classes.
At the end of the course, you will discuss your progress and what to do next with your tutor.
You must attend at least 90% of your classes.
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You will take 3 exams in the latter half of your course. These are one Speaking & Listening exam, comprising of 2 tasks, one Reading exam (paper-based) and one writing exam (paper-based). The Speaking & Listening exam will take place at either Idea Syore Whitechaopel or Idea Store Watney Market - your tutor will confirm closer to the time. Reading and Writing exams will take place at The Shadwell Centre.
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Progress opportunities - your next steps

Progress opportunities - your next steps
There are other courses you can do after or at the same time as this course:
• Getting ready for Functional Skills English Level 2
• ESOL level 2
• Functional Skills English Level 2
• Functional Skills Maths Level 1 & 2
• English grammar skills: using tenses and sentence structures confidently (level 1)
• English writing skills: improving spelling, punctuation and proofreading (level 1)
• Digital skills Entry 3/Level 1
• Digital skills in the workplace: using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Please ask your teacher for more information or contact Functional Skills email: functionalskills@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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Other info

Other info
This course will help you build confidence in your everyday life. You will develop important skills such as:
• Communication – speaking and writing clearly and confidently
• Teamwork – working with others in class
• Problem-solving – understanding and completing simple tasks
• Confidence – taking part in activities and trying new things
• Decision-Making - evaluating different options and thinking critically about situations.
• Time Management - managing your time effectively, including setting goals and meeting deadlines.

These skills will support you in your daily life, further learning, and future work opportunities.
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Extra Support

Extra Support
We can help you if you tell us you have a learning difficulty, disability or other support needs. Please tell us when you enrol or in your first class.
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