Gateway Qualifications Entry Level Certificate In ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 3)

Key Facts

Level:
Entry Level 3
Subject Sector:
12.1 Languages, Literature and Culture of the British Isles
Credits:
27
Qualification No:
601/5354/4
GLH:
270 hours
Total qualification time:
270 hours
Price:
View price list
Age Range:
Pre 16, 16-18, 19+

Whilst some of our qualifications are regulated for pre 16 learners our minimum age is 14.

Qualification purpose

Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area

Qualification Grading Type

Pass

Assessment Methods

  • Task-Based controlled Assessment
  • Written Examination

    • Why choose this qualification?

    Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life are awarded at no additional charge once a learner has successfully completed all three components. Certificates are awarded at the level of the lowest achieved component.

    Support

    • Full qualification induction part of qualification approval and on-going support including regular visits from the quality assurance team.
    • Certificates turned around within 5 days of receipt of confirmed marks.
    • Support from a named account team.

    Assessments

    • Assessments are available on demand and can be booked during evenings and weekends.
    • No minimum time period between assessment attempts.
    • Assessment tasks based on life skills and everyday situations.
    • All entry level and Speaking and Listening at level 1 & 2 assessments can be contextualised by Centres (but must be approved by Gateway Qualifications).
    • Entry level assessment tasks can be taken on different days and times.
    • Each component is available individually as an Award (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening) or as an overarching Certificate.
    • Learners can ‘spike up’ a level as part of the Certificate.
    • All assessments internally marked and externally quality assured (with the exception of Level 2 Reading & Writing which is externally marked).

    Rules of Combination

    Learners have to complete a total of 27 credits by achieving 1 unit from each unit group (Group A: Reading, Group B: Writing and Group C: Speaking and Listening). A minimum of 2 units must be achieved at the level of the qualification.

    Units

    Reading

    Learners must complete 1 unit from this group.

    Reading

    Level:
    Level 1
    Guided Learning Hours:
    60
    Credits:
    6
    Unit No:
    R/506/8483
    Click here to view full unit details

    Reading

    Level:
    Entry Level 3
    Guided Learning Hours:
    60
    Credits:
    6
    Unit No:
    H/506/8486
    Click here to view full unit details
    Speaking and Listening

    Learners must achieve 1 unit from this group.

    Speaking and Listening

    Level:
    Level 1
    Guided Learning Hours:
    120
    Credits:
    12
    Unit No:
    M/506/8426
    Click here to view full unit details

    Speaking and Listening

    Level:
    Entry Level 3
    Guided Learning Hours:
    120
    Credits:
    12
    Unit No:
    K/506/8487
    Click here to view full unit details
    Writing

    Learners must achieve 1 unit from this group.

    Writing

    Level:
    Level 1
    Guided Learning Hours:
    90
    Credits:
    9
    Unit No:
    T/506/8427
    Click here to view full unit details

    Writing

    Level:
    Entry Level 3
    Guided Learning Hours:
    90
    Credits:
    9
    Unit No:
    H/506/8424
    Click here to view full unit details

    Tutor/assessor requirements

    Tutors/Assessors delivering the Gateway Qualifications ESOL qualifications should ideally hold a recognised teaching qualification such as the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training or Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training and ideally a specialist ESOL teaching qualification or the CELTA or DELTA qualification. Tutors/Assessors should ideally have an ESOL or Skills for Life background, alternatively they may have a linguistic background.

    Internal quality assessor requirements

    Internal Quality Assurers in addition to being ESOL Tutors/Assessors, should ideally hold a recognised internal quality assurance/verification qualification or be working towards one, examples as follows:

    • D34 qualification.
    • V1 qualification.
    • Internal Verifier Award.
    • Internal Verification of Credit Based Learning: Continuing Professional Development for Practitioners Award.
    • Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice.
    • Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice.

    What is the purpose of this qualification?

    The qualification is intended for learners, including adults and young people, for whom English is a second or other language and who wish to develop their language skills at this level in order to progress in further study, work or life.

    What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?

    This qualification is based on the National Standards for Adult Literacy and is fully referenced to the ESOL Core Curriculum. There are 3 mandatory units in: Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening.

    How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?

    This qualification is part of a suite of ESOL qualifications which allows learners to progress through a framework of ESOL units and qualifications from Entry 1 to Level 2. Learners could move on from this qualification to an ESOL (Skills for Life) Award or Certificate at Level 1.

    Learners can also progress from this Entry 3 Certificate:

    • to a Level 1 Functional Skills qualification in English
    • to other qualifications at Level 1 and above
    • towards a GCSE in English.

    Which sector does this qualification support?

    This qualification is designed to help learners to develop the English language skills that are needed in a wide range of job roles.

    What are the English and maths progression options?

    This qualification is part of a suite of ESOL qualifications which allows learners to progress through a framework of ESOL units and qualifications from Entry 1 to Level 2. Learners could move on from this qualification to an ESOL (Skills for Life) Award or Certificate at Level 1.

    Learners can also progress from this Entry 3 Certificate:

    • to a Level 1 Functional Skills qualification in English
    • to other qualifications at Level 1 and above
    • towards a GCSE in English.

    What barriers will this qualification help the leaner overcome?

    This qualification is designed to help learners to develop the English language skills that are needed in a wide range of job roles.

    Progression & entry requirements

    Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification. However, it is anticipated that their learning provider will have selected the qualification as suitable for learner on the basis of findings from initial and/or diagnostic assessment. Learners must be aged 16 or over to take this qualification.

    Funding information

    There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.

    The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:

    View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website

    The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).

    View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search

    How to find a learning aim

    If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:

    How to Use: Find a learning Aim

    Additional funding information for ESOL

    For Adults

    • The Adult Education Budget states that they will fully fund unemployed individuals aged 19 + and co-fund all other individuals aged 19+.
    • Providers offering ESOL qualifications may need to deliver additional learning to individual learners that incurs additional cost above the qualification rate. For more information please read our Additional Funding for ESOL article.
    • This qualification is eligible for funding under the European Social Fund (ESF).

    For Young People

    We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.

    This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.

    The information from our ESOL Centre Handbook has now been incorporated into our main Centre Handbook and our ESOL Qualification Specifications.

    You will find information such as assessment practice, transporting assessment materials, returning external assessments, secure storage requirements and required assessment display documents in the main Centre Handbook.

    Information about staffing, assessment conduct, supervision arrangements and assessment marking relating specifically to ESOL Skills for Life qualification can now be found in the Qualification Specification.

    ESOL Teaching and Learning Resources

    ESOL Sample Assessments

    Related Qualifications