Evaluate a range of ways to embed elements of Functional Skills in your specialist area???Functional skills are the core elements of English, Mathematics and ICT that provide individuals with the skills and abilities they need to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life, their communities and work.??™ http://curriculum.qcda.gov.

uk/key-stages-3-and-4/skills/functionalskills/index.aspxFunctional skills need to be embedded within the planning stage of the teaching cycle to ensure they are incorporated in delivery of the lesson. This enables the teacher to identify the needs of the individuals to allow continuing progress. When planning to include functional skills, teachers need to consider the following:What they are trying to achieve; identify their learner??™s strengths and weaknesses and which functional skills they need to develop. It is important to identify the learner??™s individual needs so you are able to set achievable goals and implement strategies to assess the learner??™s progress.How they will organise it to achieve their aims; After identifying individual needs teachers are able to plan to ensure progression will be made. When planning sessions, teachers are aware of the resources and equipment available to assist when embedding functional skills within their lesson.How well they are achieving their aims; Teachers need to establish a clear baseline of learner??™s needs to allow planned evaluations to check their progress.

Teachers need to implement strategies that will show clear progression as an ongoing process.http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/skills/functionalskills/index.aspxWithin Physical Education, embedding functional skills is a vital part of the learner??™s development.???PE develops pupils??™ competence and confidence to take part in a range of physical activities that become a central part of their lives, both in and out of school.

??™ (National Curriculum, 2007)To embed Literacy as a functional skill within PE, I would ensure the correct, key terminology was used by myself as an instructor, and by the learner??™s. For example, if learners were asked to describe a stretch in a warm up, ensuring that the learner was able to identify the correct muscle that was being stretched and explain where it was on the body. Literacy is also embedded into PE when evaluation is taking place. As part of a plenary, through peer-assessment, self-assessment and teacher feedback, learners are required to reflect on their progress and then identify any aspects that need further development.http://nationalstrategies.

standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/326671uc=force_ujI would ask the learners to identify what they had learnt throughout the lesson. This would include speaking and listening to other learners within the group. To incorporate reading, learners would be asked to look at game plans, risk assessments and problem solving tasks.

When evaluating performances, learners would compose written evaluations to embed writing as a functional skill.As an example of embedding Numeracy as a functional skill within PE, I would ask the learners to organise themselves into small groups. Recording, analysing and interpreting information such as scores, times and distances within Athletics also engages learner??™s in Numeracy. Learners could also use Numeracy when considering heart rates which could be used within a fitness session at the gym or circuit training.To incorporate ICT within my PE lesson I would ask the learner??™s to record data when analysing performance.

For example, capturing still pictures of another learner performing a forehand drive in cricket to then effectively implement the correct technique if needed. By researching different topics such as the origins of sports, learners are incorporating the use of ICT.To facilitate the way in which functional skills could be embedded into lessons needs an improvement of facilities. For example, within the Sports Hall a correct scoreboard, as a visual aid, is needed so learners are able to score keep within matches. This will embed Literacy via learning the correct rules and Numeracy by counting the points of teams.

The introduction of interactive whiteboards would create a learning environment in which pupils would have access to high quality education.Ensuring peer and self assessment takes place will facilitate the development of the learner??™s own ability to engage in their own and other learner??™s progression.