From the Programme Manager

After nine years of supporting the delivery of key skills, the Key Skills Support Programme came to an end on 31 March 2008. Although the programme will not continue, we believe that it has left behind a valuable legacy that will help with the delivery of the main key skills until 2010 (with final accreditation in 2012/13). The hard work and commitment of key skills practitioners will support providers in the successful transition to the functional skills qualifications and Diplomas.

External evaluation of the programme and research show that KSSP has offered invaluable support to practitioners: 80% of those interviewed felt that the KSSP had improved their understanding of key skills and 77% agreed that the KSSP had helped them to raise the quality of teaching and learning.

KSSP contributed to a year-on-year increase in the confidence of teachers and tutors. Most confirmed that the KSSP has helped them to:

• integrate key skills into vocational and academic learning programmes
• support integration with, and progression from, Skills for Life teaching
• build their organisation's capacity to deliver and support key skills
• understand the development of functional skills.

On behalf of all my KSSP colleagues I would like to thank all those who have been involved in the KSSP and have offered the time, skills and expertise that have contributed towards the high quality delivery of key skills we now see.