| Duration: | August 2003 - March 2005 |
| Partners: | The National Youth Agency |
| Project leader: | Bethia McNeil, Project Officer (YALP) |
[Introduction] [Background] [Aim of project] [Schedule] [Case Studies] [Questionnaire] [Documents] [Email Discussion Group] [Contact us] [Links]
Introduction
The Young Adults Learning Partnership (YALP) has been commissioned by the National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy (NRDC), to undertake research and development work in the field of basic skills and young adults. This new funding enables YALP to concentrate on a specific project focussing on informal education and the development of young adults' literacy, language and numeracy skills.
Background to the project
YALP has undertaken a range of research and development work around young adult learners’ including Finding the Missing, which established the reasons for an consequences of young adults’ disengagement from learning; Only Connect; a guide to good practice in educational work with disaffected young adult learners; devising and developing Getting Connected; an alternative curriculum for social inclusion; and researching ways in which informal learning can help young adults with mental health difficulties.
In 2001/02, following on from what we had learned from previous field work, YALP undertook research into improving take up and achievement of young adults in basic skills provision. This piece of research provided a snapshot of current basic skills provision for 16-25 year olds, which showed that the range and quality of provision varied enormously, and there was a real need for development of practices, materials and policy in this area.
The current research is premised on that knowledge and experience. It also relates to a key priority within the Skills for Life strategy which seeks to engage and improve participation with young adults aged 16-25, particularly those who are not engaged in learning activity. It also corresponds with the widening participation and social exclusion agendas of both local and central government, including growing concerns around the number of young adults not in education, employment or training. The project also has particular relevance to the government’s Transforming Youth Work/Resourcing Excellent Youth Services, and the recent White Paper, 14-19 Opportunity and Excellence.
Project Aims
The project aims to:
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identify and disseminate practices, materials and resources, for work with previously or currently marginalised young adults, that encourage the development of literacy, language and numeracy skills levels in informal learning |
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provide a framework of critical success factors for working informally on literacy, language and numeracy skills with young adults |
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evaluate existing learning and teaching materials oriented specifically to work with young adults in informal learning settings |
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identify practitioners’ training needs and possible strategies to address them |
Schedule
The project is divided into two phases.
Phase One – August 2003 to April 2004
During Phase one, the initial activity was around the literature review,
which focused on theory, practice and policy of literacy, language and
numeracy skills provision for young adults. It provided a synopsis and
critique of significant identified literature. Phase one also involved
mapping the territory of literacy, language and numeracy provision, through
initial project visits, a postal questionnaire, case studies and follow-up
telephone interviews. A research report was produced at the end of Phase One
including preliminary findings.
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Phase Two – April 2004 to December 2004
The work In Phase Two built on the work in Phase One and commenced
with the formation of a consultation panel of young people and practitioners
drawn from the project visits in Phase One. The role of the panel was to examine and
assess a selection of teaching, learning and resources. The outcomes of the
review was documented in the form of strengths, weaknesses and
recommendations for use and adaptation.
Groups of practitioners and young people were asked to devise new materials or test local existing examples.
A report was also be produced on the specific gaps identified in training available to practitioners, followed by a number of training events or briefings.
The final project report and case studies are available at:
www.nrdc.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=424
Case Studies
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Ten detailed case studies developed as part of the research project will be included in the final project report, to be published April 2005.
Documents
| Reports A summary of the interim project report has now been published, and is available to download from NRDC website.
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Online Resources - A Guide
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Newsletters:
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Briefing sheets presented at the Skills for Life 2003
conferences.
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Email Discussion Group
The remit of the e-mail discussion group for literacy, language and numeracy (LLN) has now been widened and can be accessed on the YALP home page under "Have your say...". We still welcome discussion about LLN and young adults.
The discussion group moderator is Linda Dixon, Research Assistant, Young Adults Learning Partnership.
Contact us
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If you would like further information, or would like to be involved in the research project, please contact the Project Officer, Bethia McNeil at NIACE, 21 De Montfort Street, Leicester, LE1 7GE, Tel: 0116 2047057, Email: Bethia.McNeil@niace.org.uk |
Useful Links
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NIACE Homepage |
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The National Youth Agency |
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Young Adults Learning Partnership (YALP) |
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National Research and Development Centre (NRDC) for adult literacy
and numeracy |
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The Prince Trust |
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CentrePoint |
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Money Matters To Me |
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Observatory of Basic Skills |
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Literacy and Social Inclusion
Project |
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Basic Skills Agency Financial
Literacy website |
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Skillswise |
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Basic and Key Skills Support
Material project |
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Lancaster Literacy Research
Centre |
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Basic and Key Skillbuilder,
West Notts College |
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Getting Connected |
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ALI Excalibur Good Practice
Database |
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LSC Skills and Education
Network Guide 2... Basic Skills |
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