02 Mar 2021
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for employment
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
The Preparation for Employment qualifications, available at Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3, are focused on the skills which will help learners prepare for employment, whether paid or voluntary, open or supported. They also include content to improve learners’ general awareness of the world of work, as well as their understanding of some specific sectors.
They can be used to maximise learning on work placement or as part of a supported internship, as well as within classroom or community-based learning designed to help learners move towards employment.
These qualifications have been developed as part of a coherent suite designed to recognise the achievements of learners working at Entry level, as they prepare for employment, independent living, further learning or adult life in general. The suite also includes qualifications with the following titles:
- Skills for Active Learners
- Making Support Work
- Personal and Social Skills
- Preparation for Employment
- Enterprise
- Skills for Independent Living.
All the qualifications in the Entry level suite are designed to enable maximum flexibility, combining units at different levels and offering a wide range of choice, so that the curriculum can be led by the learners’ needs, accommodating the spiky profiles typical of learners at this level. Learning outcomes and assessment criteria are written in such a way that centres have the freedom to determine their own approach to teaching and learning, as well as the most appropriate form of assessment and type of evidence. In this way, the qualifications can be used to underpin person-centred programmes.
Preparation for Employment – 2019
This qualification was developed in 2019 to update our Entry level suite of qualifications. It will replace the older LEGACY: Gateway Qualifications Entry Level Certificate in Preparation for Employment (Entry 2) qualification. The two versions of the qualification will run in parallel until 31st July 2020.
If you are running Preparation for Employment please double check that you are registering and claiming on the correct version. If you have any queries about which version you are approved for, please contact us.
For information about the older version of the qualification, please visit LEGACY: Gateway Qualifications Entry Level Certificate in Preparation for Employment (Entry 2).
Rules of Combination
Learners must complete 13 credits of which a minimum of 8 credits must be at Entry 2, remaining credits can be achieved at, above, or below the level of the qualification. Learners may include no more than 2 units from Group B Working in a Sector. Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title (e.g. a learner may not include Communication skills for work at Entry 1 and Entry 2).
Units
Learners must complete 13 credits of which a minimum of 8 credits must be at Entry 2, remaining credits can be achieved at, above, or below the level of the qualification. Learners may include no more than 2 units from Group B Working in a Sector. Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title (e.g. a learner may not include Communication skills for work at Entry 1 and Entry 2).
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Applying for Jobs
Applying for a Job
Applying for jobs
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Career Planning
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Communication Skills for Work
Communication skills for work
Communication skills for work
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Completing a workplace task
Completing a workplace task
Contributing to workplace tasks
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Conduct and personal presentation for work
Conduct and personal presentation for work
Conduct at Work
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Dealing with Work-related Problems
Dealing with work-related problems
Solving Work-Related Problems
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Digital Skills for Work
Digital Skills for Work
Digital skills for work
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Direct own support in the workplace
Direct own support in the workplace
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Exploring and Presenting Enterprise Ideas
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Exploring Entrepreneurship
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Exploring the world of work
Understanding the world of work
Understanding the world of work
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Finding jobs
Finding jobs
Searching for a Job
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Following Instructions
Following Instructions
Following instructions
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Health and Safety in the Workplace
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Independent travel
Independent travel
Independent travel
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Interview Skills
Interview Skills
Interview Skills
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Introduction to Self-Employment
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Making choices
Making choices
Making choices
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Making the Most of Work Placement
Making the most of work placement
Making the most of work placement
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Negotiation Skills
Negotiation skills
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Numeracy Skills for Work
Numeracy skills for work
Numeracy skills for work
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Presenting information about self to an employer
Presenting information about self to an employer
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Reviewing and reflecting on own progress towards employment
Reviewing and reflecting on own progress towards employment
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Self-Management Skills for Work
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Setting Work-related Targets
Setting and Meeting Work-Related Targets
Setting work-related targets
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Self-advocacy
Speaking up for yourself
Speaking up for yourself
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Time Management
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Understanding self in an employability context
Understanding self in an employability context
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Using tools or equipment in the workplace
Using tools or equipment in the workplace
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Working in a Team
Working in a team
Working in a team
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Working Safely
Working safely
Working safely
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Customer service skills
Working with Customers
Working with customers
Learners may chose 1 unit from this group.
Working with Colleagues
Working with Others in the Workplace
Working with others in the workplace
Learners may include no more than 2 units from Group B Working in a Sector.
Introduction to the Hair and Beauty Sector
Introduction to the Hospitality Industry
Introduction to the Performing Arts
Introduction to the Retail Automotive Maintenance and Repair Industry
Working in Art and Design
Working in Business and Administration
Working in Construction
Working in Early Years Settings
Working in Health and Social Care and Children's and Young People's Settings
Working in Retail
Working in Sport and Active Leisure
Working in the Land-based sector
Internal quality assessor requirements
DCS status for centres previously approved to offer the legacy version of this qualification can retain DCS status for this qualification subject to ongoing maintaining standards through external quality assurance monitoring.
What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification is primarily aimed at learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities or with Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND), including those with complex needs, who are keen to get a job but first need a structured programme of learning to support their understanding of the world of work and the development of employability skills in preparation for supported employment.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification includes a broad range of skills which will support learners to develop the generic employability skills needed in most jobs, including areas such as working with customers, managing their time, problem-solving and getting on with colleagues. There are no mandatory units, enabling learners and providers to work together to select units appropriate to the individual’s needs, interests and aspirations for employment in line with the aims of the SEND reforms.
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
There is a Gateway Qualifications Award, Certificate and Extended Certificate in Preparation for Employment. The Extended Certificate is designed to meet the needs of learners, who would benefit from an extended course with a primary focus on employability skills. The size of the qualification means that for for full-time learners including those on 16-19 study programmes, there is still space in their programme for other types of learning, including, for example, English and Maths, work experience, or personal and social development, including unaccredited provision.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification supports progression to supported employment opportunities across a number of sectors.
What are the progression options?
Learners can progress from this qualification to further Entry level learning in the area of employability skills, including, for example, the Gateway Qualifications Entry level Certificate in Preparation for Employment (Entry 2).
Progression & entry requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or specific level of attainment to take this qualification and it is available to learners of any age.Funding information
There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.
The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).
View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you to deliver this qualification.