Essential Digital Skills Level 1

This course is for learners to want to improve their skills in the everyday practical use of digital skills both in life and work and build upon the skills developed in the Essential Digital Skills Entry 3 qualification. A variety of learning activities will be used on this course, including tutor presentation and demonstration, practical application of skills, individual and group work, discussions, Q&A, internet research, individual research and project work. You will also work through activity sheets and online resources designed to support the development of skills in each of the modules.

Regular home study will be essential to successfully complete this course. You will be supported to develop good study skills.

Your tutor will also support you to improve your English and maths skills alongside your learning of your vocational subject. This will include assessing your current skills and planning learning activities related to your subject that are designed to develop your skills in these areas. To support this, you will undertake some e-learning modules, where appropriate, as homework.

Achievement at Level 1 reflects the ability to select and use relevant knowledge, ideas, skills and procedures to complete well-defined tasks and address straightforward problems. It includes taking responsibility for completing tasks and procedures and exercising autonomy and judgement subject to overall direction or guidance.

This is a course leading to a qualification. This course is paid for by public funding and you will be required to complete all the necessary coursework/assignments by the give deadlines. Please note: if you do not successfully complete the course within the period of the course, you will not be able to repeat it at the subsidised fee. For further information on the syllabus for this course please go to www.bcs.org.uk.

You will be required to participate in an Admission Session to attend this course.

A good knowledge and use of English language at Entry 3 is required for this course. If English is not your first language you may need to provide proof of an English language qualification or complete a Skills Check prior to enrolment.

You can check the suitability of this course for a preferred career path or route to employment by looking at various job profiles on the National Careers Service https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

There is an expectation that if you enrol on this course, you are willing to commit fully to the period of time involved in this course, the associated home study and the assessed work required, and intend to complete the portfolio of evidence required .  For term dates please refer to www.skillsandlearningace.com/about/term-dates. 

This is a Level 1 course

• Awarding body: NCFE


• Assignments/Coursework: Yes


• Examination(s): assessment

You will negotiate a Personal Learning Plan with your tutor identifying the areas you need to develop; this will be reviewed at regular intervals. There will be a classroom based assessment at the end of the course. Please note that this qualification must be completed within the academic year. It may be possible to re-sit the examination within the academic year at an additional fee.

No prior qualification is required although some basic IT skills will be needed to access this course.

Please bring an A4 folder, paper and pen to each session for notes and handouts. You will need to practise your IT skills between sessions. A discussion with the course teacher during the first session is advisable before purchasing any new IT equipment/software. PLEASE NOTE - anything provided is on loan to you and must be returned at the end of the course. If it is not returned you will be invoiced for the full cost of a replacement. Course costs If you are unemployed, looking for work and are in receipt of any other state benefit, you may be eligible for a concession. For information regarding any funding for this course please please refer to the Finance page on our website www.skillslearningace.com/learning-with-us/finance/ or phone 01202 124444 for further information. PLEASE NOTE - that the following fees will apply:

• If you fail to attend an exam then you will be charged an administrative fee of £30, unless you are able to provide medical evidence in support of your absence


• One free resit is allowed per unit


• Subsequent exam resits will incur a fee of £25

No charge is made for the resitting of mock assessments.

Certificate in IT User Skills at Level 1 or Level 2 is a suitable next step. Skills and Learning offer a variety of other IT courses and progression opportunities, please speak to Customer Services or your tutor for more information. Other courses may be offered by Skills & Learning or other local providers. There are a range of courses available to help the development of skills for work. There are a variety of e-learning courses that can be started at any time of the year. Up to date English and maths Functional Skills and Essential Digital Skills qualifications can help you progress at work or into further or higher education. Skills & Learning work with local employers to offer Sector Based Work Academy Programmes and Apprenticeship training. Please visit our website www.skillsandlearningace.com for more details. Your tutor may also be able to discuss the possible next step options with you. You may like to talk with a Careers Adviser about other courses. General careers advice and guidance can be provided by the National Careers Service a href="https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/">https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk For further information please contact us on 01202 123444.

English, maths and computing skills: all of our courses support the development of relevant English, maths and computing skills.

Refunds: please see details of our cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions on our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/terms-and-conditions or in our brochure.

Attendance: before enrolling you should ensure that you can attend all classes offered as far as possible.

Places on courses: many of our courses are in high demand. If you have been offered a place but no longer require it, please advise us immediately as you may be preventing another learner from taking the place. Where learners do not attend the first session, without having given prior notice, Skills & Learning reserve the right to offer the place on the course to another learner; you will not be eligible for a refund it it is outside of the terms outlined in our cancellation policy.

Fully funded learners: if you have been offered a fully funded place on a course and no longer require it, you must advise us before the course starts so that your place can be offered to someone else. We reserve the right to withdraw future offers of fully funded places if you regularly do not start or complete funded courses.

Home study: you will be required to do significant study at home between sessions to assist with your learning and progress.

Qualification Levels: there is further information about qualification levels on our website.

Proof of identity: please bring photographic ID and your National Insurance number with you to your first session. You will also need to provide it for any external examinations you take.

Off-site activities: with some courses, there may be the opportunity for off-site enrichment activities at additional cost, for example: gallery, museum or exhibition visits. Where this is an integral part of the course, your tutor will discuss the arrangements with you during your induction.

Parking at centres: parking at centres may be limited; please be prepared to use on street parking or pay and display car parks. For information regarding each centre, please visit the venue section of our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/.

Refreshments: tea/coffee or vending machine(s) are available at some venues. Further information can be found in the venue section of our website www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/.

Unspent Criminal Convictions we require learners to disclose any unspent criminal convictions. Please refer to www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/disclosure-of-unspent-convictions.

If you have any accessibility or disability issues that we need to accommodate or if you think you may need any other support to complete your chosen course, please contact: 01202 123444 or e-mail enquiries@salbcp.com. All enquiries are treated in confidence.