Overcoming barriers to adult basic skills in Sussex

The objectives of this research were to: uncover the barriers to adult basic skills learning; explore the extent to which these barriers can be overcome; and highlight elements of good practice that may improve the participation of adults in basic skills learning. Barriers to learning included: a tendency for people to over-estimate their literacy and numeracy abilities or not see the relevance of improving their basic skills; issues of stigma and negative school experiences; lack of time or resources to undertake learning; and lack of awareness among employers about basic skills and their workplace relevance. The contents are: Background and overview of research; Understanding basic skills; Motivations for learning; Dispositional barriers to learning; Practical and resource related barriers; Provider related barriers; Barriers to workplace learning; Addressing the barriers; References. Show less