10 Aug 2020
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
The Essential Digital Skills Qualifications have been designed to meet the content, conditions and requirements set out by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation that regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England.
The content of the qualifications is based on the National standards for essential digital skills April 2019 (reference: DfE-00082-2019) and covers 5 skills areas:
- Using devices and handling information
- Creating and editing
- Communicating
- Transacting
- Being safe and responsible online.
The qualifications are appropriate for adults (19+) across a wide range of settings.
The qualifications have been developed in collaboration with FE colleges, private skills/training providers, adult community learning providers and digital skills experts.
Resits
Resits are charged at £18 per attempt.
Rules of Combination
In order to achieve this qualification, learners are required to successfully complete the online assessment.
Units
In order to achieve this qualification, learners are required to successfully complete the online assessment.
Gateway Qualifications Level 1 in Essential Digital Skills
What is the purpose of this qualification?
The qualifications have the following purposes:
• to enable learners to develop the digital skills they need for life, work, or further study as set out in the National standards for essential digital skills
• to provide reliable evidence of learners’ attainment in relation to the National standards for essential digital skills.
At entry 3 the focus will be on developing skills for life and introducing learners to skills for work. At level 1 the focus will be more on skills for work with a secondary focus on skills for life.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
The content of the qualifications is based on the National standards for essential digital skills April 2019 (reference: DfE-00082-2019) and covers 5 skills areas :
1. Using devices and handling information
2. Creating and editing
3. Communicating
4. Transacting
5. Being safe and responsible online
The qualifications are appropriate for adults across a wide range of settings.
The qualifications have been developed in collaboration with FE colleges, private skills/training providers, adult community learning providers and subject matter experts.
Progression & Entry Requirements
No previous formal qualifications are required for entry to these qualifications. Learners should normally have English skills at the level below their chosen qualification. The DfE national standards in essential digital skills acknowledges that some adults may need support to handle and use digital devices for the first time and learn the following foundation skills before enrolling on an entry level course. • Turning on a device (including entering and updating any account information safely, such as a password) • Using the available controls on a device (such as a mouse and keyboard for a computer, or touchscreen on a smartphone or tablet) • use of accessibility tools (including assistive technology) to make devices easier to use (such as changing display settings to make content easier to read) • Interacting with the home screen on a device • Connecting to the internet (including Wi-Fi) safely and securely, and opening a browser • Opening and accessing an application on a device. Centres should carry out a initial assessment of each learner prior to the start of the qualification to identify their current digital skills capabilities and areas for development.Funding information
Learning Aims Search
The Hub provides a Learning Aims Search which you can use to check the funding status of any qualification or unit.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Hub website
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:
Guidance on using external assessment platform, Surpass
Special Considerations and Reasonable Adjustment Forms
Further guidance available for centres approved to deliver our EDSQs:
- Centre Guide
- Standardisation Materials
- Mock Assessments
- Mock Assessment Mark Schemes
Webinar with The Education and Training Foundation and Good Things Foundation
Watch now – Essential Digital Skills Support and Resources webinar
Offer our Qualifications
If you would like to teach our qualifications to your learners, submit an enquiry to discuss the best options.