The Basic Skills Agency will be launching the first ever Adult Literacy Core Curriculum for adults studying Welsh at its stand at the National Eisteddfod at 11am on Wednesday August 4th.

This is the first time that a curriculum has been produced for adult learners of the Welsh language. It has been designed so that it is consistent with the curriculum demands in English and is based on the national standards for adult literacy qualifications. It is a landmark publication in Welsh medium education, and will form the basis for building education programmes that will help strengthen the Welsh language.

Alongside this, the Basic Skills Agency will be launching the Adult Numeracy Core Curriculum in Welsh, which is the curriculum for learners improving their numeracy through the Welsh medium, as well as the Adult Pre-Entry Core Curriculum for Literacy and Numeracy, which is the curriculum for adult learners of literacy and numeracy in Welsh whose skills are below that of Level 1 (or the equivalent to GCSE grades D-G). The Basic Skills Agency will also be launching Access for All, which is designed to help adults with a range of disabilities and learning difficulties to improve their basic skills.

The curricula in Welsh have been produced as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s National Basic Skills Strategy, which is being overseen by the Basic Skills Agency. They have been developed in recognition of the importance of the Welsh language in the drive to improve basic skills across Wales.

Rhiannedd Pratley Executive Director for Wales at the Basic Skills Agency said,

“The Adult Literacy Core Curriculum is uniquely new in Welsh. Alongside the other curricula, it will be an essential tool for teachers and those responsible for providing training and support in adult literacy and numeracy through the medium of Welsh.

“The Basic Skills Agency recognises the importance of the Welsh language in developing skills and encouraging adults back into education. Increasingly, employers are demanding Welsh language skills and these curricula will strengthen the opportunities for those who want to improve their literacy and numeracy skills in their language.

“These curricula are just part of a wider process of improving reading, writing and mathematics skills across Wales. I look forward to welcoming everyone to the Agency’s stand at the Eisteddfod to find out more about the Agency and its work.”

Toni Schiavone, Assistant Director for Wales at the Basic Skills Agency will be launching the publications at the Agency’s stand, number 427-430, at 11am. Members of the media are invited. If you wish to attend please inform the Basic Skills Agency press officer on the number below.

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Notes to Editors

1. The National Basic Skills Strategy for Wales was launched in April 2001. The Welsh Assembly Government has pledged £27 million for the Strategy. The Basic Skills Agency has been asked to oversee the implementation of the National Strategy on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.

2. The Strategy aims to provide a coherent approach to raising standards of literacy and numeracy in children, young people and adults. It involves a number of specific measures and partnership with a range of organisations.

3. The Basic Skills Agency is the national development agency for literacy and numeracy in England and Wales. We are funded primary by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Welsh Assembly Government. Our mission is to contribute to raising standards of basic skills in England and Wales. Our aims are to develop approaches that most effectively improve standards of basic skills and disseminate good practice. Our Patron is HRH The Princess Royal, the Chairman is Garry Hawkes CBE, and the Director of the Basic Skills Agency is Alan Wells OBE.

4. We define basic skills as ‘the ability to read, write, and speak in English or Welsh and use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general’.

5. Research conducted by The Opinion Research Business (O.R.B) revealed that 28% of adults in Wales have low literacy levels and 32% have low numeracy levels.

6. For further information please contact Helen Vaughan-Jones at the Basic Skills Agency on 020 7440 6512, out of hours on 07776 132226 or email helenvj@basic-skills.co.uk