Switch on to Literacies SPOTTERS AND REFERRERS Awareness Raising for Literacy and Numeracy

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Switch on to Literacies SPOTTERS AND
REFERRERS(Awareness Raising for Literacy and
Numeracy)
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The main purpose of Spotters Referrers is to

• Raise awareness of Adult Literacies
• Put Literacies in a Scottish and local context,
  and for those going on to ITALL training
• Provide background information on the development
  of current literacies provision

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Adult Literacy and Numeracy How did it all
start?

• An International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) in
  2000 concluded that
• 23 of adults in Scotland may have low skills
• 30 have inadequate skills to meet the demands
  of knowledge society and the information age

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The Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland
(ALNIS) report of 2001

• Made 21 recommendations for improvements to
  literacy provision in Scotland. Key targets for
  the strategy are
• To more than double the number of adult
  literacies learners
• To raise awareness of and promote adult
  literacies
• To improve the quality of provision
• To encourage research in adult literacies and
• To consult with learners.

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Learners Consultation Report 2001

• Learners wanted
• More support from tutors
• More consultation on planning and evaluation of
  learning
• Fewer barriers to accessing learning e.g. cost,
  transport, childcare.
• More openness and acceptance

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DEFINITION
To be able to read, write and use numbers, to
handle information, to express ideas and
opinions, to make decisions and solve problems,
as family members, workers, citizens and lifelong
learners
Adult Literacy Numeracy in Scotland Scottish
Executive July 2001
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BARRIERS TO LEARNING MAY BE CAUSED BY

• Stigma attached with literacy and numeracy
• Pressures on time at home and work
• Inconvenient location of learning opportunities
• Financial barriers
• Conflict with domestic and caring
  responsibilities
• Lack of information and absence of opportunity
• Belief amongst many that learning has little to
  offer them
• Unhappy memories of school

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OUR AIM

• To use the Scottish Social Practice Model to
  build upon existing skills of the learners to
  achieve their personal goals.
• To offer professional support to individuals by
  highly trained staff to improve their literacy
  and numeracy skills
• A learner centred approach
• Provision will be
• Well organised and flexible
• Meet individuals needs
• FREE OF CHARGE!!

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Scottish Executives Key Targets

• 51m of new resources over 5 years
• 40m for action locally
• Help 80,000 people by 2004 and 150,000 by 2006
• Improve the quality as well as capacity

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Literacies and Argyll and Bute Council

• Literacies has been included as part of the
  Community Learning and Development Partnership
• This gives Literacies a direct link with other
  agencies who are part of this group.
• Scottish Executive funding for adult literacy and
  numeracy is allocated through this Partnership

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The Local Literacies Service

• Recruit and trains volunteer tutors
• Welcomes learners who are either self-referred or
  referred by various agencies
• Matches learners and tutors for 1 to 1 work or
  working in small groups
• Supports learners and tutors
• Carries out marketing, development and
  partnership work

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The Local Literacies Service is

• Funded by the Scottish Executive via the Argyll
  and Bute Community Learning Partnership
• Part of Literacies funding is made available to
  the whole partnership for innovative projects
  addressing literacies issues through the
  Challenge Fund.
• Managed by Argyll and Bute Council Community
  Regeneration Service
• Generally based in Community Regeneration Centres
• Delivered by full and part time staff, working
  with a team of volunteer tutors.

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The Current Position in Argyll and Bute

• Most areas have completed, or are in the process
  of completing the first phase of ITALL
  (Introductory Training in Adult Literacy
  Learning) tutor training
• Learners are matched with tutors, ideally within
  a couple of weeks
• Ongoing national and local publicity campaigns to
  attract more learners
• In the process of developing a rolling programme
  of training to support both staff and volunteer
  tutors
• Developing a number of initiatives in the various
  centres through Challenge Fund monies

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Progress towards Scottish Executives Targets

• To date over 71,000 new literacy learners have
  been supported throughout Scotland
• A Curriculum Framework on approaches to teaching
  and learning has been developed
• Literacies Project has now been extended to 2008

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For further information, please contact

• Nasreen Kharegat
• Adult Literacy and Numeracy Manager
• Braeholm
• 31 East Montrose Street
• Helensburgh G84 7HR
• Tel/ Fax [phone]
• nas.kharegat_at_switchontoliteracies.co.uk

Or contact us through the Big Plus free
phone [phone]