The Basic Skills Agency has released details of the new national basic skills curriculum for adult learners on its website.

The curriculum is split into two parts: literacy -including the ability to speak, listen and respond as well as read and communicate using the written word - and numeracy - the ability to read, calculate and interpret mathematical information. In addition, there are three parts to to the basic skills standards, which are linked in turn to the national curriculum and key skills currently used in education.

Feedback is invited on the draft document, which is due for publication at the end of June.