Adult Literacy and Numeracy Tutor
Teach reading, writing, and maths to adults with low basic skills — from Entry Level through to Level 2 — in community learning, further education, and workplace settings as part of the Skills for Life agenda.
Low
High
Level 3 Award in Education and Training: approximately 6 weeks part-time; Level 5 DET: 1–2 years part-time alongside teaching; some adult education providers recruit and train non-qualified tutors in areas of need
Award, Certificate or Diploma in Education and Training (Level 3–5, ETF-recognised) is the standard teaching qualification; Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) for substantive FE roles. Subject specialist knowledge in literacy or numeracy; GCSE English and maths (Grade C/4 or above) as a minimum. Enhanced DBS check required.
possible
What you do
Adult literacy and numeracy tutors teach English and mathematics to adults who did not achieve functional literacy or numeracy during their schooling, or who have lost skills due to disuse, disability, or language barriers. You teach across entry levels (Entry 1–3, broadly pre-GCSE) and Level 1–2 (broadly GCSE equivalent), working towards Functional Skills qualifications (English and Maths, regulated by Ofqual, delivered by AQA, City & Guilds, Pearson, and others). Learners may include adults with learning difficulties, adults for whom English is an additional language (though ESOL is a distinct specialism), people returning to work after caring responsibilities, people in the criminal justice system, or adults seeking to improve skills for employment or personal development.
You assess learners' starting points using standardised initial assessments, plan and deliver lessons individually adapted to their needs and goals, prepare learners for Functional Skills assessments, and maintain records of learning and progress. You work in community learning centres, further education colleges, community organisations, libraries, workplace basic skills programmes, and prisons. Many adult literacy and numeracy tutors work part-time on hourly or sessional contracts, particularly in community learning. The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) and the AoC (Association of Colleges) provide professional development frameworks. The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) or Certificate in Education and Training (CET) is the standard teaching qualification for FE and adult education.
Why this career is resilient
An estimated 7.1 million adults in England have literacy levels at or below what is expected of an eleven-year-old (PISA data and DfE National Survey of Adult Skills). The government's Skills for Life and Multiply programmes commit funding to adult literacy and numeracy improvement. Post-16 education funding through the Adult Education Budget and DfE-funded Multiply programme sustains community learning provision.
The structural need — a large adult population with basic skills deficits — is not diminishing. Automation of routine work increases the importance of literacy and numeracy for workforce adaptability. Prison education is an expanding sector with statutory provision requirements. Functional Skills qualifications are gatekeepers to employment and further training, sustaining demand from learners motivated by economic need.
A typical day
Morning: two Entry Level 3 literacy classes at a community learning centre — one group of five adults working on sentence construction, phonics, and reading comprehension using contextualised materials (job applications, benefit letters, bus timetables); one-to-one session with a learner preparing for a Functional Skills English Level 1 assessment. Afternoon: Level 2 maths class at an FE college — six adults preparing for Functional Skills Maths Level 2, focusing on ratio and proportion in workplace contexts. Mark practice assessment papers and give written feedback. Update the college's individual learning plan system for all learners.
Routes in
Full-time college course
Study full-time at a further education college, usually for 1–2 years. You will need to fund yourself or apply for a student loan (available for Level 4+ courses).
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Sessional/hourly rates in community learning: approximately £15–£25/hour. FE college lecturer salary (full-time): approximately £26,000–£38,000 on the AoC national pay spine. Prison education tutor: varies by contractor. Part-time and portfolio income is common in adult literacy.
Training costs: Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training: approximately £1,500–£3,500. Some community learning providers fund the DET for employees. ETF professional membership available. No NHS bursary; DfE bursaries may apply for shortage FE teaching subjects — check DfE website for current eligibility.