
English Short Courses
Level 1 and Level 2 English qualifications.
With Futures you can complete a fully-funded English Functional Skills qualification from our Nottingham training centre.
These courses can be completed in as little as:
- Level 1 English - 12 half days
- Level 2 English - 30 half days
Applying for most further education routes or job vacancies will be made easier with a qualification in English – here’s your chance to gain one!
NEW: We are now offering virtual English short courses for those in public sector employment.
Meet Marie, a former learner who enhanced her career opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria
To gain access to our adult courses, you must meet the following criteria:
- Are aged 19 years old or over (must have turned 19 by 31st August 2021)
- Have lived in the UK or a European Economic Area (EEA) Member state for the last three years or more or be an Individual or Asylum Seeker with certain types of immigration status*
- Are actively seeking employment and claiming an unemployment benefit of either: Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance (WRAG) **
- OR must be earning under £18,525 annual gross salary and be able to commit to the course. Please be aware that for Maths and English you can earn any amount if you can commit to the course.
*Please contact us for further details for further information on immigration status
** Other state benefits may be accepted, please contact us for further information
Level 1 English Qualification
Functional Skills English Level 1 uses practical, easy-to-understand situations to help you improve your writing, reading, listening and speaking. Level 1 English is popular for people who need to improve English skills before starting Level 2 English.
What will the course cover?
The qualification is made up of 5 topics, some of which include:
- Identifying bias, inference and language techniques used by authors.
- Exploring the purpose of text.
- Discussions leading to speaking and listening assessments.
- Locating information, reading practice and skim, scan and detail reading techniques.
- Focusing on sentence structure and learning how to plan and write creatively.
What can I do next?
Upon completion of your Level 1 Certificate you have a number of new opportunities:
- Complete your Level 2 Functional Skills certificate
- Use your new skills to write successful job applications for entry level roles
- Apply for a Level 2 apprenticeship
Who can do this course?
We can offer Functional Skills English to anyone over 19 who is currently unemployed or on a low income*. You must be able to commit to attending the training centre for the duration of your course.
Learn more about this course.
Level 2 English Qualification
A Level 2 English qualification will improve your career options. You'll be able to apply for jobs in careers such as; nursing, teaching, policing, the fire service and many more. You'll also be able apply for higher education courses, apprenticeships and training courses.
What will the course cover?
The qualification is made up of 3 modules, some topics include:
- Linguistic techniques and devices
- Comparing and contrasting different texts
- Contributions and discussions
- Formal and informal language
- Layout, format, structure and writing of various texts
What can I do next?
Upon completion of your Level 2 Certificate you have a number of new opportunities:
- Apply confidently for job vacancies in your chosen industry
- Apply for a Level 3 apprenticeship
- Access various Higher Education training routes such as college or sixth form that can lead to University
Who can do this course?
We can offer Functional Skills English to anyone over 19 who is currently unemployed or on a low income*. You must be able to commit to attending the training centre for the duration of your course.
Learn more about this course.