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Developing your skills

Improving your skills can help you plan your money, get another job, help your child with homework, fill in forms, and give you confidence you never knew you had.

There's a wide range of courses you can take to help boost your skills, some of which can lead to a qualification.

You'll be able to learn in your local area, and in a way that suits your lifestyle - part time, full time, during the day or in the evening. And you'll be with other like-minded adults - it's not at all like being at school.

Free advice from the Get On helpline

If you want an informal and confidential chat about improving your skills, call the Get On helpline.

Lines are open from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm, seven days a week.You can also book a free call back at a time to suit you by using the interactive telephone service.

• Book a free call back from a Get On advisor

Get your free Get On DVD

Watch the new Get On DVD, to see how improving your maths and English skills could make a real difference to your life.

To order your copy, just call the Get On helpline on 0800 66 0800 -  you also can order or watch the DVD online by clicking on the link below.

• Get On: order a DVD or watch online Opens new window

What’s involved?

Reading and writing (or literacy) courses cover speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Number (or numeracy) courses cover numbers, fractions and data; multiplication and subtraction; and measurement, shapes and time.

You might be asked to do a test before you start your course, to help your tutor decide which course is best for you.

Try a 'taster' course

Not sure about committing to a full course? It’s worth checking if your local learning provider runs ‘taster’ courses. These are short courses which let you practise your reading, writing and number skills, and give you an idea what a longer course would be like.

Search for a course with the Directgov coursefinder

Use the Directgov coursefinder to search for the right course for you  - or to find your local learning provider.

• Find a course

Learning online

BBC RaW and Skillswise

BBC RaW (Reading and Writing) can help you boost your skills through online activities such as games, quizzes and tests. You can also find out about your nearest RaW centre - this could be your local library or learning centre. You can get help with RaW online, take part in activities and share your experiences with others.

The BBC Skillswise website also has lots of guides and tools to help you with your reading and writing.

• Test your skills on the BBC RaW website Opens new window
• Do a free online game or activity to develop your skills with BBC Skillswise Opens new window

Test your skills on the Move On website

The Move On website lets you test your english and maths skills online, or find a local test centre if you want to get a qualification.

• Test your skills on the Move On website Opens new window

More places to learn online

There are lots of free online learning resources, including courses, games and quizzes - to find out more, see the article, 'e-learning'.

• e-learning

Do you have a passion for reading and writing?

Try a Quick Read!

Quick Reads are short paperbacks written by best-selling authors that are designed to be compulsively readable. The books are available in bookshops, supermarkets and libraries, priced at £1.99.

Ten new titles were released in March 2008, including books by Gordon Ramsay, Colin Jackson, Josephine Cox - and a new Doctor Who story.

• Find out more about Quick Reads Opens new window

Link up with other people

If you enjoy reading, writing or storytelling, you might want to get together with other like-minded people.

Your local library is a great place to start looking for book clubs and other activities, or you can find RaW events near you on the BBC website.

• Libraries and books (home and community section)
• Find a BBC RaW event near you Opens new window

More useful links

• Returning to learning
• Skills for Life qualifications
• Learn with top football clubs