Over the past few months, I’ve been working on a project that brings together much of what I’ve learned through tutoring and resource writing: the Functional Skills English Level 1 Writing Workbook (127 pages, 25 units).

As with my other materials, my aim has been to create something practical, structured, and genuinely supportive for learners who are preparing for their Functional Skills writing exam. I’ve drawn on years of teaching experience, as well as my perspective as an autistic parent of neurodivergent children, to make sure the workbook combines rigour with accessibility.

The workbook includes:

• 25 structured units that take learners from sentence-level skills through to extended writing.
• A consistent format in every unit: why the skill matters, guided practice, Quick Try activities, an extended writing task, and a self-check.
• Model texts written at exam length (200–250 words), so learners see exactly what’s expected.
• Real-world, adult-relevant contexts: workplace emails, housing repairs, community reports, booking holidays, formal letters, and more.
• A comprehensive appendix: grammar toolkit, connectives bank, proofreading guide, strong vs weak examples, and a personal progress tracker.

I’ve designed this workbook with flexibility in mind: it works well in the classroom, for one-to-one tutoring, or for independent home study. The uncluttered layout and predictable structure are particularly helpful for neurodivergent learners, who often benefit from clear routines and relevance in their learning materials.

You can find the workbook in my TES shop: Functional Skills English Level 1 Writing Workbook – 25 Units (127 pages), and also on Amazon as both a Kindle eBook and as a paperback.

As always, my hope is that these resources save teachers time and give learners the confidence and strategies they need to succeed in Functional Skills English.

This workbook follows on from my recent post, Teaching Autistic Students – Insights from 25 Years’ Experience, where I shared some of the classroom strategies that have shaped my approach to literacy support.

You can also explore more of my inclusive English resources here on the site, or visit my TES shop for the full range of printable workbooks and teaching packs.

If you’d like to know more about my background and teaching experience, you can read my About page

Written by Kate Coldrick, an educator and writer based in Woodbury near Exeter.