Free resources

These are just some of the resources developed by Learning Unlimited staff, working on a range of national and international projects.

Connecting Families training manual
Picture This! toolkit and book
Volunteers, English language learners and conversation clubs
Family Learning Online report 2020
Learners new to ESOL
CPD online modules
Family Skills toolkit
The language experience approach – video
PIP into the kitchen – the Haringey PIP project cookbook
PIP Project Toolkit
Family Learning in Prisons – A Complete Guide
Maths4us – learning maths online
Welcome to the UK toolkits
Teaching and Learning English topic-based units
Level 3 Advanced Numeracy Preparation Pack
Skilled to Go
The teacher educators handbook



Connecting Families training manual

This training manual shares some of the key learning, resources and approaches developed through the National Lottery Community Fund-funded Connecting Families project.

Designed to combat the loneliness experienced by many marginalised and socially-isolated families, the project trained 40 volunteer parents and migrant women to engage and support these families through a rich and varied programme of family learning workshops with follow-up one-to-one/small group support and signposting. We hope this manual will support other providers in adapting, replicating and cascading this model.

The manual is free to download in pdf format here.



Picture This! toolkit – Guidance and resources for ESOL practitioners

Picture This! was a participatory ESOL and photography project, run in partnership with Fotosynthesis. Here we share what we learnt from this project – tips, tools, activities and resources to run your own ESOL and photography course or simply to embed in your regular ESOL classes. Download here.

The Picture This! book
Since we were unable to hold a ‘real life’ exhibition, as well as this online exhibition we created a fabulous book of all the work produced to give to each participant. Here you can download the pdf to simply enjoy or use in your classroom however you see fit.
Download for free here.

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Volunteers, English language learners and conversation clubs

Learning Unlimited has worked with Learning and Work Institute to research and develop a new set of resources aimed at volunteers supporting adult English language learners and organisations using volunteers in this role. These resources are free to use for all. 

Developed with volunteers with little or no training or previous experience in mindthe resources are designed to support the delivery of conversation clubs and other volunteer-led language practice for adult English language learners. However, they will be useful to anyone engaged in delivering conversation-based English language practice. The suite of resources includes: 

  • A set of 15 units for conversation club sessions, with supporting guidance on using them to run a conversation club. 
  • A guide for volunteers supporting English language learners. 
  • A guide for organisations working with volunteers in English language provision. 
  • A conversation practice toolkit full of useful ideas, activities and resources. 
  • A report of the research. 
  • A set of four supplementary videos. 

In 2020, Learning & Work and Learning Unlimited were commissioned by MHCLG ( Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) to develop additional guidance for running conversation clubs online.

This can also be accessed here.

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Family Learning Online report 2020

How do we Improve our Family Learning Online Interventions During the Covid-19 Pandemic?

During the 2020 national lockdown in the UK, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Learning Unlimited tutors had to adapt quickly to deliver online courses and workshops, instead of face-to-face teaching. This change in teaching approach enabled Family Learning practitioners to continue with their work and to support many learners who may have felt isolated during the current crisis. However, this form of supporting learning is new for both practitioners and online learners. The purpose of this short report is to describe the research undertaken into the variety of interventions used, to explore their effectiveness from the participants’ perspectives and possible adaptions for future work.

Given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the consequential uncertainty of future teaching situations this research is intended to help tutors to develop as practitioners, engage with learner preferences, gain further knowledge of online technical issues and adapt to create new opportunities for future online learning opportunities. It will further enable the Learning Unlimited Family Learning team to continue their work with a range of families including those who are more vulnerable, helping the teaching team to meet the participants’ current needs.

Download the full report here or find a summary of the research findings here.

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Learners new to ESOL

These materials, created with Learning and Work Institute, are designed to support practitioners (teachers, classroom assistants, volunteers and others) working with ESOL learners who are often referred to as being at ‘pre-Entry’ level. Now available to download from https://esol.excellencegateway.org.uk/learners-new-esol

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CPD online modules

There are two new on-line CPD modules available at https://www.foundationonline.org.uk/course/index.php?categoryid=33

  • ‘Supporting ESOL learners with literacy’ is designed for ESOL teachers who are new to working with ESOL learners with basic literacy needs
  • ‘Supporting ESOL learners with grammar’ is designed for functional skills and non-ESOL teachers who are working with ESOL learners, so please forward the link to colleagues who might be interested. (It might also be useful for new ESOL teachers who want to increase their understanding of grammar and the effects of language transfer/interference.)

The modules are accompanied by videos.

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Family Skills toolkit


The Family Skills course includes content on making the most of bilingualism, oral traditions, home literacy practices, reading strategies, phonics, learning through play and primary education in England. It includes input just for parents, along with short joint parent/child activities as part of each session. Sample pages of the toolkit can be found on this page.

 

Request a digital copy of the Family Skills toolkit

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The language experience approach – video

The language experience approach.

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PIP cookbook
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PIP into the kitchen – the Haringey PIP project cookbook

Learners in the Haringey classes shared their recipes in PIP into the kitchen, a collection of over 20 recipes from 12 countries.

A pdf of the cookbook can be downloaded here, there are limited free hard copies available too (postage and packing applicable), for more information please contact [email protected]

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PIP Project Toolkit

The Parents’ integration through Partnership (PIP) toolkit was developed to support ESOL providers working with children’s centres and primary schools in the UK to run contextualised ESOL programmes for parents/ carers. This toolkit is aimed at ESOL teachers and children’s centre/primary school partners who:
– may not have run an ESOL programme before and would like to set one up
– may have run generic ESOL or Family Learning programmes and would like to develop a
programme which specifically targets parents and carers who:
are new to the UK
−need to develop their skills in English
−would like to develop their skills and confidence in supporting their child’s learning
−would like to get more involved in the children’s centre and/or primary school.
This toolkit shares ideas, resources and lessons learned from the PIP project. All the materials and activities in this toolkit were piloted on PIP courses taught by Learning Unlimited teachers and trainers.

This publication was funded through the GLA (Greater London Authority) using EIF (European Integration Fund) funding and a pdf can be downloaded here, there are limited free hard copies available too (postage and packing applicable), for more information please contact [email protected].

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Family Learning in Prisons – A Complete Guide

This book goes some way to making it easier for all those who want to be involved in family learning in prisons. Its aim is to provide useful tools for the experienced family learning tutor who is starting work in a prison, for the prison officer who wants to enhance the quality of provision for families and for the staff employed by a wide range of organisations to work with prisoners and their families.

It is hoped that the advice given will pave the way and begin to make family learning part of the core offer of every prison.

The publication was funded through the Big Lottery Fund and a pdf can be downloaded here.

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Maths4us – learning maths online

Learning Unlimited has worked with NIACE and Jisc to produce three short online courses to help adults get better at maths, manage money better and support children with maths. We hope they will engage adults into maths learning as well as provide extra tuition for those already engaged in maths learning. Learners can work through one particular course or dip in and out – just choosing the bits that interest them. The courses use videos to introduce different topics, quizzes and games to help check and develop skills used. The resources are based on everyday activities and can be accessed by learners independently or in a supported environment.

The three short  courses are: Everyday Finance to develop the mathematics skills involved in financial planning; Everyday Maths to develop mathematics skills involved in everyday living and Helping Children with Maths to boost skills and confidence in order to support children’s developing mathematics. These resources are mainly aimed at parents and carers of children aged between 3 and 8 but there are also links to websites of interest to parents and carers of children of all ages.

Visit their website to get learning.

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These four downloads were all produced as part of the Welcome to the UK project which was funded through the EU European Integration Fund.

Preparing for life in the UK – toolkit
A materials toolkit for providers working outside the EU with adult ESOL participants who are planning to settle in the UK. Available to download here in full.

Preparing for life in the UK – authorable toolkit
Sections of the toolkit have been made authorable so that tutors an adapt it better suit their teaching and learning contexts:

Welcome to the UK – toolkit.
A materials toolkit to support integration for providers working with adult ESOL new arrivals in the UK. Available to download here in full.

Welcome to the UK – authorable toolkit
Sections of the toolkit have been made authorable so that tutors an adapt it better suit their teaching and learning contexts:

Welcome to the UK – befriender training toolkit.
A toolkit designed to support providers in running a befriender training programme for volunteers providing informal support to women newly arrived in the UK. Available to download here.

 

 

Welcome to the UK – resources pack.
A resources pack to complement activities from the above three toolkits. Available to download here.

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Teaching and Learning English

Topic-based unit – ESOL in the UK

Designed as part of the EIF-funded Teaching and Learning English (TaLE) project, these materials all use everyday life in the UK as contexts for supporting adult learners to develop their language and literacy skills in English, as well as their knowledge and confidence about life in the UK.
The activities and materials are aimed at beginner and elementary adult learners working at the equivalent of ESOL Entry levels 1 and 2 in the UK/A1 and A2 on the Common European Framework. Available to download here.

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Topic-based unit: Staying safe at home

This pack has been designed to supplement the above-mentioned ESOL in the UK, and its main objectives are for learners to:

  • develop their skills, knowledge and confidence in English
  • recognise the similarities and differences between staying safe at home in Bangladesh and the UK
  • develop language and strategies to help them to stay safe in the UK
  • develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to follow up issues relating to personal safety in the UK.

The pack includes teacher’s notes and materials for use with adult learners in Bangladesh or other non-EU settings and can be adapted for use in the UK. The teacher’s notes are designed to provide a quick and easy overview for teachers who can then use, adapt and incorporate them into their own lesson plans, as appropriate, in order to ensure that lesson content and activities best meet the needs, interests and levels of their learners.

These activities and materials are aimed at beginner and elementary adult learners working at the equivalent of ESOL Entry levels 1 and 2 in the UK/ A1 and A2 on the Common European Framework (CEFR). Suggestions for differentiation and extension activities for learners working at a higher level are also included.

Pack available to download here
Accompanying audio files in zipped folder

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Topic-based unit: Staying safe outside the home

This pack has also been designed to supplement the above-mentioned Year 1 ESOL in the UK and the main objectives here are for learners to:

  • develop their skills, knowledge and confidence in English
  • recognise the similarities and differences between staying safe outside in Bangladesh and the UK
  • develop language and strategies to help them to stay safe in the UK
  • develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to follow up issues relating to personal safety in the UK.

The pack includes teacher’s notes and materials for use with adult learners in Bangladesh or other non-EU settings. The teacher’s notes are designed to provide a quick and easy overview for teachers who can then use, adapt and incorporate them into their own lesson plans, as appropriate, in order to ensure that lesson content and activities best meet the needs, interests and levels of their learners.

These activities and materials are aimed at beginner and elementary adult learners working at the equivalent of ESOL Entry levels 1 and 2 in the UK/ A1 and A2 on the Common European Framework (CEFR). Suggestions for differentiation and extension activities for learners working at a higher level are also included.

Pack available to download here
Accompanying audio files in zipped folder

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Topic-based unit: ICELT task sheets for trainers and trainees

This pack, developed by St Giles International, is intended for use by teacher trainers and candidates on a Cambridge ICELT (In-service Certificate in English Language Training) Module 1 (Language for Teachers) course. The pack has been designed to supplement the delivery of an ICELT course and contains material relating to the six assessed tasks that candidates need to submit for this stand-alone module.

The pack does not contain course input sessions, as these would need to be developed by any centres running the ICELT course. It should be noted that courses should comply with all Cambridge English Language Assessment regulations and requirements. For guidance on this, please refer to the Cambridge website: www.cambridgeenglish.org  Pack available to download here

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Topic-based: Phonology for English teachers in Bangladesh

This pack, Phonology for English teachers in Bangladesh, developed by St Giles International, is intended for use by teacher trainers and candidates on teacher training programmes including Cambridge ICELT Module 1 (Language for Teachers) and Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) courses. The pack has been designed to supplement the delivery of ICELT and TKT courses and contains a series of four teacher training sessions focussing on phonology. The materials and activities were designed for a group of English teachers whose first language was Bangla (Bengali).

The first two sessions cover the principal areas of phonology, moving from sounds and phonemes to stress and intonation. The main aim here is to improve the participants’ own pronunciation and awareness of phonology. In the third session, the focus moves on to how teachers can analyse phonology in lessons when dealing with new language and lexis. The fourth session is a review. Pack available to download here.

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Level 3 Advanced Numeracy Preparation Pack

This resource pack was developed by Jackie Ashton, Graham Griffiths, David Kaye and Daian Marsh for the Learning Skills and Improvement Service (LSIS) Skills for Life Support programme.
It is available to download from the Excellence Gateway.

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Skilled to Go

The Office of Fair Trading commissioned this resource to aid adults in making sound financial decisions and avoiding scams. The resources are now available on the Citizens Advice website in the consumer education resources section.

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The teacher educators handbook

This is an ebook edited by Graham Griffiths , Helen Sunderland and John Sutter for a national project with LSIS. It is available to download from the Excellence Gateway.

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