Literacy, Language and Numeracy Publications

Breaking down barriers:
Certificate in workplace language, literacy and numeracy training, Chris Holland, Fiona Frank, Jaine Chisholm Caunt
This revised edition of a successful pack contains new material on developing a holistic, integrated approach to workplace provision and reflects the changing policy context in the UK at the beginning of the 21st century. Accessibly priced in a new format, the resource provides a practical 'how to' guide to establishing a workplace basic skills programme, within a theoretical context.

Divided by language: A study of participation and competence in languages in Great Britain undertaken by NIACE, Fiona Aldridge
Divided by language is an outcome of a project started in 1999. NIACE carried out a survey of language learning as part of evidence to be provided to the Nuffield Inquiry (2000) into modern languages, which reported that ‘capability in other languages is crucially important for a flourishing UK’. Language learning is often seen as the backbone of traditional evening class provision, and NIACE was keen to see how far this penetrated the population as a whole.

The give and take of writing: Scribes, literacy and everyday life. Jane Mace
This exciting new title puts writing at the heart of the literacy debate. Looking at the vast number and roles of scribes in the cultural life of societies, Mace examines how the power balance between scribe and author alters in the public world. She considers how scribes keep or lose the trust of their authors in expressive writing; and finally sets out arguments for the 'language experience' approach to adult literacy learning and teaching.

A guide to outreach with laptops, Angela Wood
This Guide focuses on how laptops are, and could be, used innovatively, creatively and resourcefully in Basic Skills, Outreach and Widening Participation generally. There are examples of models of delivery, looking at what does and does not work. One chapter is devoted to best practice in developing a laptop-based project.

ICT - the new basic skill, Alan Clarke
This paper addresses issues raised by the increasing role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the way we work, learn, relax and govern ourselves. It investigates a prevailing assumption that anyone without ICT skills will be at risk of being excluded from society - just as lack of basic skills can lead to exclusion.

Insights from Research and Practice: For adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL practitioners, Edited by Margaret Herrington and Alex Kendal
This enlightening book brings together debates about theory and practice which have developed over 18 years in the Research and Practice in Adult Literacy (RaPAL) Bulletin.

Inviting learning: An exhibition of risk and enrichment in adult education practice, Peter Willis
Inviting Learning tells of Willis's experiences in offering informal and formal learning opportunities whilst working with young adults in Melbourne, Aboriginal people in Australia's Outback, welfare workers in Central Australia and mature age university students in Adelaide. It is set out in seven 'installations' in an imaginary 'exhibition' containing stories of specific episodes in different settings and enriched with poetic reflections and analysis.

Literacy and the new work order, Chris Holland with Fiona Frank and Tony Cooke
In the last two decades, lobbyists and interest groups of the New Right have presented literacy as an economic imperative, by an inverse process of blaming lack of economic competitiveness on those who lack skills needed for the New Work Order. Policy response in advanced capitalist countries has been to promote lifelon

Moving on with confidence, Jan Eldred
This paper explores changing perceptions of “success” in teaching and learning adult literacy in England. The author recognises that what constitutes “success” is contested, and reviews some of the debate surrounding the concept. The main part of the paper addresses a range of indicators of “successful” teaching and learning in adult literacy in England. It poses the question whether an increase in confidence is a key measure of success.

Old Money: Financial understanding for older adult learners, Shiela Carlton, Jim Soulsby & Di Whitelegg
Finance is a complex business.  The list of financial considerations grow from our early adulthood and become more pressing as we get older.  But how can we understand the issues and calculations involved when they are difficult, disconnected or inadequately described through information embedded in the small print?

Opening up a new world: A good practice guide for delivering basic skills and ESOL in the local community, Sue Grief, Helen Murphy, Bhupinder Nijjar, Chris
In 2001, the Learning and Skills Council provided funding to extend outreach provision in local community settings through pilot projects. The aim of the projects was to explore innovative and effective ways to attract new basic skills and ESOL learners from 'hard-to-reach' groups and to build the capacity of institutions to undertake further outreach work. This guide brings together the good practice demonstrated and developed through these projects

Outside the Classroom, Edited by Ellayne Fowler and Jane Mace
There is a large body of research that shows literacy is a matter of context and social relationships – rather than a skills-deficient model of inadequacy and lack. Drawing on this research, Outside the classroom explores how, by using the social practice view of literacy, teachers and policy makers can look beyond the skills focus of the classroom to see something of the networks and environments in which learners operate.

Powerful Literacies, Eds. Jim Crowther, Mary Hamilton and Lyn Tett
As the gap increases between those with access to information and those denied it, redistributing information and making it accessible become ever more important educational and political tasks. While some people now have greater access to a wide range of information, they do not necessarily have the basis for making critical judgements about its significance and value.

Ordering Information
All the above publications can be ordered online, by visiting the publications section of this website OR by telephone on 0116 2044 216.