The collective mission of the Skills Builder Partnership is to ensure that everyone builds the essential skills to succeed.
The Skills Builder Universal Framework breaks the 8 essential skills down into a sequence of steps. It’s used by educators to build employability skills in their students, by companies to support recruitment and career progression in their staff, by Impact Organisations and Community Schemes, and by individuals to develop their essential skills throughout life.
With the Universal Framework as the scaffolding for building essential skills, we have developed a range of tools and resources to effectively support teaching, practising, applying and reflecting upon essential skills in a range of contexts.
But we know that everybody learns differently.
We take an inclusive-first approach to creating our tools and resources in an effort to ensure everyone is able to build these essential skills in a way that is inclusive and accessible.
We also know some individuals require additional levels of support and reasonable adjustments to facilitate inclusive learning, so we have developed a range of inclusive resources to support effective practice. Here are some examples of these resources, together with ideas and how these have been successfully applied in an inclusive learning setting.
1. Skill Stories
What are they?
- 8 short stories (1 per essential skill).
- Colourful picture e-books.
- Related to Steps 0 and 1 of the Universal Framework
How can you use them?
- Circle time conversations
- Interventions and guided support
- Small group sessions
2. Expanded Universal Framework Posters
What are they?
- 8 colour posters (1 per essential skill)
- Cover Steps 0-15 of the Expanded Universal Framework
- Stepping Stone descriptors break down explicit components of each Step
How can you use them?
- Desktop resource for small groups or individuals
- Can be personalised for target setting
- Explicit next steps, praise and feedback
3. Skill Icons
What are they?
- Colour icons for each of the 8 essential skills
- Includes Communication icon for learners who use alternative forms of communication
How can you use them?
- Used in displays and work sharing to highlight essential skills in action
- Visual aids in documents and resources to highlight links with essential skills
- Added to websites, newsletters and other comms to support consistency
4. Skill Symbols
What are they?
- Widgit InPrint symbols used alongside essential skill icons
- Consistent colour scheme used across symbols and icons
- Includes Communication skill
How can you use them?
- Lanyards for recognition and communication
- Visual aids and communication support
- Used as a template for other pictorial systems
5. Vocabulary Flashcards
What are they?
- Skill definitions to share and discuss
- Clear language and imagery
- Real-life photo images to aid recognition
How can you use them?
- Visual display and desktop resource
- Blank templates to create own definitions
- Learners can personalise flashcards, using images of themselves
6. Skills Mats
What are they?
- Features all eight essential skills
- Supports identifying and naming essential skills
- Promotes independence and ownership
How can you use them?
- Visual aid for skills recognition
- Reward system to demonstrate skills being demonstrated
- Used as a ‘bingo board’ to recognise skills and target others
7. Skills Tokens
What are they?
- Printable resource to use as part of reward systems
- All eight essential skill icons featured
- Colour skill icons, presented as a grid for easy preparation
How can you use them?
- Build learner motivation and engagement
- Supports identification of essential skills used
- More discreet, personalised reward and praise
8. Expanded Universal Framework Passports
What are they?
- 8 colour passports (1 per essential skill)
- Stepping stone descriptors for each skill step (3 per step)
- Printable and digital resource
How can you use them?
- Record skill application and capture evidence
- Supports learners to articulate explicit examples in all contexts
- Can be validated with stamps, signatures or photos to aid recognition and increase personalisation
Looking for even more? The Skills Builder Inclusive Learning Resource Pack provides an overview of resources and activities to support all learners, including those with additional needs. Alongside this overview, Best Practice Snapshots give examples of where these have been successfully applied in an inclusive learning setting.
You can find the full resource pack on the Hub: https://hub.skillsbuilder.org/training-area/inclusive-learning-resource-pack/
