Gateway Qualifications Entry Level Diploma in Skills for Independent Living (Entry 3)

Rules of Combination

Learners must complete 37 credits of which a minimum of 20 must be at Entry 3 or above. Learners must include units from at least 2 of the 3 groups: A Personal and Social Skills, B Employability Skills and C Learning Skills. They cannot include more than 30 credits from any one group. Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title (e.g. a learner may not include Working in a Team at Entry 1 and Entry 2).

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Units

Internal quality assessor requirements

DCS status for centres previously approved to offer the legacy version of this qualification can retain DCS status for this qualification subject to ongoing maintaining standards through external quality assurance monitoring.

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What is the purpose of this qualification?

This qualification is for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities or with Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND), including those with complex needs, who would benefit from a broad programme of learning which combines the skills needed for increased independence, (supported) employment and/or further learning.

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

This qualification includes a broad range of skills which will support learners to develop the skills they will need in order to live fulfilling adult lives including:

• personal and social skills such as self-advocacy and independent travel;
• the generic employability skills common to most entry-level jobs, including supported employment opportunities, such as following instructions and getting on with colleagues;
• learning skills such as setting targets and reviewing progress.

There are no mandatory units, enabling learners and providers to work together to select units appropriate to the individual’s needs, interests and aspirations for their adult lives, in line with the aims of the SEND reforms.

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How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?

There is a Gateway Qualifications Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma in Skills for Independent Living. The Diploma is designed to meet the needs of learners, including those on 16-19/25 study programmes, who need a lengthy programme (usually over two to three years) before progressing to further learning at the next level or in order to achieve their desired adult life outcomes.

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Which sector does this qualification support?

This qualification supports progression to supported employment opportunities across a number of sectors.

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What are the progression options?

Learners have a number of further learning progression options from this qualification, including to Level 1 employability qualifications such as the Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Certificate in Employability Skills and Level 1 vocational qualifications such as Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Certificate in Retail.

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Progression & entry requirements

Learners do not need any prior qualifications or specific level of attainment to take this qualification and it is available to learners of any age.

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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

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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.