Certificate in Life Skills: Update

ASDAN Certificate in Life Skills (Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3) is approved by Ofqual, DCELLS and CCEA, and is listed in Sections 96 and 97 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 for pre- and post-16 candidates until August 31, 2011.

IMPORTANT: The last date for registering candidates for the Certificate in Life Skills was August 31, 2009. Certification will continue for candidates registered prior to that date until August 2011. A new qualification, Personal and Social Development at Entry 1, 2 and 3, is now available. This incorporates all the content of the Certificate in Life Skills, as well as offering further units and increased flexibility. Training workshops for this qualification are also available.

More information about the changes regarding Life Skills is contained in the following letters:

October 2008 letterPSD E1 coverPSD E2 coverPSD E3 cover

May 2009 letter

Units for the PSD qualification can be viewed on the PSD Entry section of this website. Student books have also been developed to help candidates achieve the qualification.

Secure Area for registered centres

If your centre is registered with ASDAN for Life Skills, you can access further information and resources via the website's Secure Area.

It contains all relevant updates, essential documents, meeting information and resources and enables you to:

  • Download resources, including forms, guidance and mailings
  • Register your candidate numbers and names
  • View updated moderation meeting dates
  • Purchase materials from the online ASDAN catalogue
  • Check the list of candidates registered from your centre

There is no limit to the number of people from a centre who can register for a Secure Area password. You can register for a password online, by clicking here to access the request form.

The Certificate in Life Skills

The qualification consists of six units, each of which is divided into five sections:

  • Personal Care (Identifying and understanding the effects of harmful drugs; Health and fitness; Personal hygiene; Different roles and responsibilities in and outside the home; Healthy eating)
  • Community (Personal safety; Travelling around; Shopping; Seeking help and advice; Using leisure facilities)
  • Citizenship (Self advocacy; Decision making; Developing good relationships and resolving conflict; Different communities; Caring for others and the environment)
  • Home Management (Preparing a meal; Safety in the home; Using equipment; Money management; Cleaning the home)
  • Preparation for Working Life (Finding out about work; Preparing for a work-related activity; Using help and advice to plan your next steps; Taking part in a work-related activity)
  • ICT (Using ICT in the home; Using ICT in the community; Using ICT in personal communications; Using ICT to enter, store and retrieve information; Using ICT to present ideas)

To gain the Life Skills qualification, candidates need to complete four (out of the six) units. Certification is also available for individual units at all Entry levels.

Assessment

The qualification will be assessed through a portfolio of evidence. The learner is also required to do Additional Activities (set by ASDAN), which provide confirmation that the learner has met the specifications for the unit(s). Both the portfolio and the Additional Activities will be assessed internally within the centre and moderated externally by ASDAN.