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Whether you are looking to build your confidence with new digital skills, improve your employability options or support your child's learning at home, we are here to help learners take the next step. We have a wide range of courses on offer including our new Employability in the Age of AI course and courses for parents to support their children.
Our courses are prioritised for those who live or work in Wokingham Borough, or those who have a child at a Wokingham school. Courses are either free or at a low cost with concessions for eligible learners. All of our courses are run by experienced qualified tutors, in supportive environments with a small number of learners. Further details around our eligibility is at the end of the newsletter - if you are unsure around eligibility - do get in touch.
Resilience and Anxiety in Teenagers
- 25 September and 2 October, Mondays 7.30pm to 9pm, online via Zoom
- £15 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Aimed at parents of secondary school pupils, this course looks at how stress and anxiety present themselves in teenagers, and at strategies for building resilience. The course looks at the causes of teenage anxiety and addresses a range of coping strategies and methods for reducing its impact.
Unlock your Potential on the iPad
- 1 October to 22 October, Thursdays 10am to 12pm, Cornerstone, Wokingham
- Free
- Apply here
This beginner-friendly course is designed to help you feel comfortable and capable with your device, whether you're browsing the internet, adjusting settings, or downloading apps.
No prior experience is needed! Whether you're brand new to tablets or just looking to build confidence, this course is perfect for you. iPads will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own iPad device if you prefer.
Introduction to Reception and Key Stage 1 Phonics, Reading, Writing and Spelling
- 8 October to 22 October, Wednesdays 9.30am to 12pm, Shinfield Green
- £20.00 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Gain confidence in how to support your child’s phonics, reading, writing, and spelling at home. Understand how these are taught in Reception and KS1 in schools today. Become clearer on what is expected by the end of each year including the Year 2 phonics screening.
Employability in the age of AI
- 9 October, Thursday 10am to 12.00pm, Earley Crescent Resource Centre
- Free
- Apply here
NEW COURSE! Unlock the power of AI in your job search! Whether you're re-entering the workforce, transitioning careers, or seeking your next opportunity, you'll gain practical and user-friendly strategies for making AI your personal career assistant.
Excel for Work
- 13 October to 24 November, Mondays 10.15am to 12.15pm, Wokingham Library
- £30.00 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Learn to use Excel to create a range of data tables, sort and filter data, use pivot tables and Lookups to analyse data. There will be no session on 27 October.
What will be covered in the course:
- Creating a Data Table and applying formatting
- Sort and Filter Data
- Use Pivot Tables
- Use Lookups
- Data Validation and Conditional Formatting
- More on Charts
- More on Headers and Footers
- Working with multiple Workbooks
IT Skills for Work
- 13 October to 24 November, Mondays 1.00pm to 3.00pm, Wokingham Library
- £30.00 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Refresh or learn new IT skills, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint to help you at work or on your job seeking journey. Practice file management, use simple documents, email attachments and feel more confident with IT skills that you might need for work. There will be no session on 27 October.
Managing your Child's Anxiety - Primary aged
- 14 October and 21 October, Tuesdays 7.30pm to 9.00pm online via Zoom
- £15.00 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Gain a better understanding of anxiety and how it might present in children. Consider how to respond positively and how to help support your child. This course is aimed at parents of primary school pupils.
Building your confidence to get back to work or volunteering
- 5 November to 26 November, Wednesdays 10am to 11.30am, online via Zoom
- Free course or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
This supportive course will help you to identify all the strengths and qualities you have that employers want and help you to understand how to look for solutions to challenges of working or volunteering to enable you to take the next steps you’d like to do.
Master Photo Skills on your iPad
- 5 November to 19 November, Wednesdays 10am to 12.00pm, Wokingham Library
- £22.50 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Whether you're capturing everyday moments or enhancing your favourite shots, you'll gain the skills needed to:
- Take high-quality photos with your iPad
- Import and organise images with ease
- Edit and enhance photos using built-in tools
- Share your creations effortlessly
This course is perfect for beginners and is also a great next step for those who have completed the Unlock the Full Potential of Your iPad. No prior experience needed, just bring your creativity! Join us and start capturing stunning photos with confidence.
Digital Skills for Beginners
- 6 November to 27 November, Thursdays 10am to 12.00pm, Wokingham Library
- Free
- Apply here
Learn how to use a laptop, including accessing the internet and using email. Build confidence in your digital skills in a supportive environment. Suitable for complete beginners. There are also optional drop in sessions available as a follow on from this course for ongoing digital skills learning.
Introduction to being a Teaching Assistant in schools
- 13 November to 11 December, Thursdays 9.30am to 12.30pm, The Oakwood Centre, Woodley
- £40 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
On this course you will learn about the roles and responsibilities of a Teaching Assistant, as well as gaining an understanding of other roles working with children. Learn about the roles and responsibilities of a teaching assistant, as well as gaining an understanding of other roles working with children. Gain confidence in applying to roles in schools and employability skills. You'll also gain an understanding of safeguarding in relation to schools. There will be no session on 4 December.
Building Resilience in your Child (pre-school aged)
- 18 November and 25 November, Tuesdays 7.30pm to 9pm, Online via Zoom
- £15 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Aimed at parents of pre-school children, this course looks at the elements of resilience in children and how we can support children in emotional growth. Help build your confidence in talking to preschool children about feelings and explore realistic expectations of yourself and your child.
Introduction to KS2 Phonics Reading, Writing and Spelling
- 26 November to 10 December 2025, 9.30am to 12.00pm, Wokingham Library
- £20 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Gain confidence in how to support your child’s reading, writing, and spelling at home. Understand how these are taught in KS2 in schools today. Become clearer on what is expected by the end of each year (3, 4, 5 and 6) including the Year 6 SATs.
Resilience and Anxiety in Teenagers
- 27 November and 4 December, 7.30pm to 9pm, Online via Zoom
- £15 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Aimed at parents of secondary school pupils, this course looks at how stress and anxiety present themselves in teenagers, and at strategies for building resilience. The course looks at the causes of teenage anxiety and addresses a range of coping strategies and methods for reducing its impact.
Create and Deliver Presentations
- 1 December and 8 December, 10.15am to 12.45pm, Wokingham Library
- £15 or free to those on job seeking benefits or a low income
- Apply here
Learn to use PowerPoint and create simple presentations. Gain confidence in presenting information in an engaging way and find out how you can use it for work or personal use.
Employability in the age of AI
- 3 December, Wednesday 10am to 12pm, The Oakwood Centre, Woodley
- Free
- Apply here
NEW COURSE! Unlock the power of AI in your job search! Whether you're re-entering the workforce, transitioning careers, or seeking your next opportunity, you'll gain practical and user-friendly strategies for making AI your personal career assistant.
Eligibility and Course Costs
Tailored Learning courses are funded by the Department for Education (DFE) through the Adult Skills Fund. Some free courses are part of the Legal Entitlement to access to English, Maths or Digital Skills for those who do not have a Level 2 qualification. For other courses the DFE requires the service to charge course fees to learners to contribute towards the cost of delivery.
Courses are free to those who are claiming benefits or those who are working and on a low wage (currently £25,750 pa).
Courses are open to those who are:
19 or older on 31 August 2025 and who live and are resident in an area of England that is outside of a ‘devolved authority’ area.
Asylum seekers are eligible to receive funding if they: have lived in the UK for 6 months or longer while their claim is being considered by the Home Office – please contact adulteducation@wokingham.gov.uk for further details.
Individuals who are not eligible for DFE funding:
- those who are here without authority or lawful status
- those who are resident in the UK on a student visa unless they are eligible through meeting any other of the categories described above
- those who are in the UK on holiday, with or without a visa
- they are in the UK on a sponsorship visa
- those whose biometric residence permit or residence permit imposes a study prohibition or restriction on the individual.
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