Functional Skills · How we deliver
Online, in venue, or hybrid
Same qualification, same mentor, same platform. The choice is about where the learner already works best, and most of our learners are already in one of these places.
Make a ReferralThree ways to take part
A hybrid pattern, hub some weeks and online others, is agreed per learner rather than sold as a separate product.
| In venue, in their existing group | In venue, 1:1 | Online 1:1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions | Functional Skills blocks inside the learner's current group sessions at a hub | Dedicated hours at the hub with their mentor | Teams with a Player Ready mentor |
| Who it suits | Learners already attending a hub who want the qualification without changing anything else | Learners who need quiet, full attention, or help staying on task | Learners who cannot travel, are anxious in buildings, or live outside our hub areas |
| Kit | Provided at the hub | Provided at the hub | Laptop or desktop with webcam and microphone, stable broadband (not a mobile hotspot) |
| The exam | Online invigilation on a hub laptop in a quiet room we set up | Online invigilation with a mentor alongside; staff handle the setup and stay nearby | Online invigilation at home: a quiet room nobody enters, photo ID, webcam on; or at the nearest hub if home is not workable |
| Safeguarding | Hub policies, DBS-checked staff on site | Hub policies, DBS-checked staff on site | Our online delivery policy applies; sessions are logged in ReadyApp |
| Transport | None beyond the journey the family already makes | None beyond the journey the family already makes | None |
Hubs: Plymouth, Exeter, Taunton, Truro, Portsmouth. Online sessions run nationwide through Online AP.
Exam day, in detail
The exam is always online. These are the rules wherever it is sat.
- Booking: exams can be booked for a specific date and time, Monday to Sunday including evenings, often within 24 hours. Booking earlier is cheaper.
- Invigilation: remote invigilation (TQUK) is self-guided through the exam software with footage reviewed afterwards; live human invigilation (Open Awards) is a one-to-one video call, Monday to Saturday. Remote invigilation needs a PC, laptop or Chromebook.
- Room: a quiet room nobody enters during the exam. Phones and tablets away. Webcam and microphone on throughout. Photo ID required.
- Reasonable adjustments: extra time and other adjustments are available with notice and the EHCP as evidence. Most of our learners have an EHCP, so this is part of the plan from the start.
- Results: email in 2 to 6 working days (TQUK) or 6 to 16 (Open Awards). Digital certificate within 24 hours of a pass result; paper certificate on request.