NRDC publications (archive)

Research reports, reviews and policy analysis produced by the National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy, language and numeracy (NRDC)

The National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy, language and numeracy (NRDC) was established by the UK government in 2002 as part of its Skills for Life strategy that aimed to improve the literacy, numeracy and language skills of adults in England.

NRDC closed its doors on 31 December 2015. 

The ILC recognises the important contribution the NRDC made to research and practice in this area.

The following publication list acts as a record and celebration of this work, and gives researchers an opportunity to explore the archive. It is arranged by year of publication. 

Publications

2010

• Brazier, L. & Hurry, J. & Wilson, A. (2010) Post-16 education and training provision for young people involved in crime: literature review (PDF, 0.8MB)
• Burton, M. (2010) Progress for adult literacy learners (PDF, 0.8MB)
• Cara, O., Litster, J., Swain, J. & Vorhaus, J. (2010) The Teacher Study: the impact of the Skills for Life strategy on teachers - Full report (PDF, 1MB)
• Cara, O., Litster, J., Swain, J. & Vorhaus, J. (2010) The Teacher Study: the impact of the Skills for Life strategy on teachers - Summary report (PDF, 1MB)
• Coulon, A. de (2010) Education, basic skills and health-related outcomes (PDF, 0.9MB)
• Hodge, R., Barton, D. & Pearce, L. (2010) Progression: moving on in life and learning (PDF, 1MB)
• Hurry, J. (2010) Improving the literacy and numeracy of young people in custody and in the community (PDF, 0.6MB) 
• Reisenberger, A., Barton, D., Satchwell, C., Wilson, A., Law, C. & Weaver, S. (2010) Engaging homeless people, black and minority ethnic and other priority groups in Skills for Life (PDF, 1.5MB)
• Sammy Rashid and Greg Brooks (2010) The levels of attainment in literacy and numeracy of 13- to 19-year old in England, 1948–2009 (PDF, 1.2MB)
• (2010) Recent trends in the initial training of teachers of literacy, numeracy and ESOL for the further education sector in England (PDF, 0.8MB)
• (2010) Teachers of adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL: progress towards a qualified workforce (PDF, 0.7MB)

2009

• Cara, O. & Coulon, A. (2009) Skills for life teachers’ qualifications and their learners’ progress in adult numeracy: results from the teacher and learner studies (PDF, 0.7MB)
• Hodgen, J., Coben, D. & Rhodes, V. (2009) Feedback, talk and engaging with learners: formative assessment in adult numeracy (PDF, 0.5MB)
• (2009) Learning literacy together: the impact and effectiveness of family literacy on parents, children, families and schools (PDF, 0.4MB)

2008

• Barton, D., Tusting, K., Hodge, R. & Appleby, Y. (2008) Learners' experience of work (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Maxine Burton, Judy Davey, Margaret Lewis, Louise Ritchie and Greg Brooks, November (2008) Improving reading: phonics and fluency (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Bynner, J. (2008) The digital divide: computer use, basic skills and employment: a comparative study in Portland, USA and London, England (PDF, 1MB)
• Bynner, J. (2008) The digital divide: computer use, basic skills and employment: a comparative study in Portland, USA and London, England. (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Cara, O. & De Coulon, A. (2008) Skills for life teachers' qualifications and their learners' progress in adult numeracy: analysis of data from the skills for life teacher and learner studies (PDF, 0.7MB)
• de Coulon, A., Meschi, E. & Vignoles, A. (2008) Parents' basic skills and their children's test scores: results from the BCS70, 2004 parents and children assessments (PDF, 0.6MB)
• Papen, U. (2008) Understanding literacy and health: a literature review from four fields of research: medical research and health education; literacy studies; linguistics and discourse analysis; medical anthropology and sociology (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Papen. U & Walters. S (2008) Literacy, learning and health (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Rhys, Warner, J., Vorhaus, J., Appleby, Y., Bathmaker, A., Brooks, G., Cole, P., Pilling, M. & Pearce, L. (2008) The learner study: the impact of the Skills for Life strategy on adult literacy, language and numeracy learners: summary report (PDF, 0.5MB)
• James Simpson, Melanie Cooke and Mike Baynham (March 2008) The right course? An exploratory study of learner placement practices in ESOL and literacy (PDF, 0.4MB)
• Vignoles, A., Coulon, A. & Marcenaro-Gutierrez, O. (2008) The value of basic skills in the British labour market (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Vignoles, A., Coulon, A. & Marcenaro-Gutierrez, O. (2008) The value of basic skills in the British labour market. Research summary (PDF, 0.3MB)
• (2008) Family literacy, language and numeracy (FLLN) (PDF, 0.6MB)
• (2008) Formative assessment (PDF, 2.7MB)
• (2008) Numeracy (PDF, 0.3MB)
• (2008) Persistence (PDF, 0.3MB)
• (2008) Priority groups (PDF, 1.1MB)
• (2008) Progression (PDF, 2.9MB)

2007

• Baynham, M. (2007) ESOL: effective teaching and learning (PDF, 0.5MB)
• Betts, S. & Kambouri, M. (2007) Using voting technology for assessment (PDF, 0.4MB)
• Burton, M. (2007) Oral reading fluency in adults (PDF, 0.4MB)
• Carpentieri, J. D. (2007) Five years on: research, development and changing practice: NRDC 2006-7 (PDF, 1.7MB)
• Casey, H. (2007) Getting the practical teaching element right: a guide for literacy, numeracy and ESOL teacher educators (PDF, 0.4MB) 
• Coben, D., Crowther, J., Kambouri, M., Mellar, H., Mogey, N., Morrison, S. & Stevenson, I. (2007) Greater than the sum... Report of the action research project: The use of ICT in adult numeracy teaching in Scotland, Phase 2 (PDF, 0.7MB)
• Cooke, M. & Roberts, C. (2007) Reflection and action in ESOL classrooms (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Green, A. & Howard, U. (2007) Insights : skills and social practices : making common cause (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Grief, S. (2007) Collaborative writing (PDF, 0.4MB)
• Hamilton, M., Davies, P. & James, K. (2007) Practitioners leading research: a report of action research projects from the NRDC Practitioner-Led Research Initiative (PLRI): Attracting new learners; Understanding purpose and perseverance in learners; How practitioners can engage in research; Creativity in the Skills for Life classroom; Resources to support practitioner research (PDF, 1MB)
• Newmarch, B., Rhodes, V. & Coben. D (2007) 'Bestimation': using basic calculators in the numeracy classroom (PDF, 0.5MB)
• Parsons, S. & Bynner, J. (2007) Illuminating disadvantage: profiling the experiences of adults with entry level literacy or numeracy over the lifecourse (PDF, 2.9MB)
• Sagan, O., Waite, E. & Cowan, S. (2007) Putting good practice into practice: literacy, numeracy and key skills in apprenticeships. Part 2 (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Tusting, K. & Barton, D. (2007) Programmes for unemployed people since the 1970s: the changing place of literacy, language and numeracy (PDF, 0.5MB)
• (2007) Learning for and in the workplace (PDF, 0.3MB)

2006

• Barton, D., Appleby, Y., Hodge, R., Tusting, K., Ivanic, R. (2006) Relating adults' lives and learning: participation and engagement in different settings (PDF, 1.3MB)
• Baxter, M. (2006) Measurement was not taught when they built the pyramids - was it? (PDF, 1.7MB)
• Bynner, J. & Parsons, S. (2006) New light on literacy and numeracy: summary version (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Bynner, J. & Parsons, S. (2006) New light on literacy and numeracy: full report (PDF, 2.9MB)
• Casey, H. (2006) You wouldn't expect a maths teacher to teach plastering...: embedding literacy, language and numeracy in post-16 vocational programmes: the impact on learning and achievement (PDF, 0.6MB)
• Hudson. C (2006) Maths4Life. Pathfinder report (PDF, 0.8MB)
• Hudson. C (2006) Maths4Life. Policy report: the implications for post-16 numeracy and maths of the Smith and Tomlinson reports, the 14-19 White Paper and the Skills White Paper: a policy discussion paper (PDF, 0.2MB)
• Kirby, J. & Sellers, T. (2006) Using learning styles in adult numeracy: an exploration of their value and potential in teacher training (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Ivanic. R (2006) Linking learning and everyday life: a social perspective on adult language, literacy and numeracy classes (PDF, 3.1MB)
• McLeod. R & Newmarch. (2006) Maths4Life. Fractions (PDF, 2.2MB)
• Morton, T., McGuire, T. & Baynham, M. (2006) A literature review of research on teacher education in adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL (PDF. 0.4MB)
• Vorhaus, J. (2006) Four years on: NRDC 2005-6: findings and messages for policy and practice

2005

• Atkin, C., Rose, A. & Shier, R. (2005) Provision of, and learner engagement with, adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL support in rural England: a comparative case study (PDF, 0.9MB)
• Barton. D & Papen. U (2005) Linking literacy and numeracy programmes in developing countries and the UK (PDF, 0.5MB)
• Beck. D and Burgess. G, Gilbert. K, Hodson. R. Hudson. A, Woods. C & Ivanič. R (2005) Listening to learners: practitioner research on the Adult Learners' Lives project (PDF, 0.2MB)
• Brooks, G., Heath, K. & Pollard, A. (2005) Assessing adult literacy and numeracy: a review of assessment instruments (PDF, 0.5MB)
• Coben, D., Dawes, M. & Lee, N. (2005) Financial literacy education and Skills for Life (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Hamilton, M. & Wilson, A. (2005) New ways of engaging new learners : lessons from round one of the practitioner-led research initiative (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Hurry, J., Brazier, L., Snapes, K. & Wilson, A. (2005) Improving the literacy and numeracy of disaffected young people in custody and in the community: summary interim report of the first 18 months of the study (PDF, 0.2MB)
• Parsons, S. & Bynner, J. (2005) Does numeracy matter more? (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Parsons, S., Bynner, J. & Foudouli, V. (2005) Measuring basic skills for longitudinal study : the design and development of instruments for use with cohort members in the age 34 follow-up in the 1970 British Cohort Study (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Roz Ivanic and Ming-i Lydia Tseng (2005) Understanding the relationships between learning and teaching: an analysis of the contribution of applied linguistics (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Swain, J., Baker, E., Holder, D., Newmarch, B. & Coben. D (2005) 'Beyond the daily application': making numeracy teaching meaningful to adult learners (PDF, 0.5MB)
• (2005) Three years on: what the research is saying (PDF, 0.7MB)

2004

• Ananiadou, K., Emslie-Henry, R., Evans, K. & Wolf, Alison (2004) Identifying effective workplace basic skills strategies enhancing employee productivity and development (PDF, 0.4MB)
• Atkin, C. & Merchant, P. (2004) The impact of adult literacy and numeracy on small businesses in rural Lincolnshire and Rutland: a case study (PDF, 0.5MB)
• Barton, D. (2004) NRDC strategic plan: practitioner consultations 2002 (PDF, 0.2MB)
• Barton, D., Ivanic, R., Appleby, Y., Hodge, R. & Tusting, K.  (2004) Adult Learners Lives project : setting the scene (PDF, 2.7MB)
• Besser. S, Brooks. G, Burton. M, Parisella. M, Spare. Y, Stratford. S & Wainwright. J (2004) Adult literacy learners' difficulties in reading: an exploratory study. (PDF, 0.5MB)
• Cranmer, S., Kersh, N., Evans, K., Jupp, T., Casey, H. & Sagan, O. (2004) Putting good practice into practice: literacy, numeracy and key skills within apprenticeship Part 1 (PDF, 0.3MB)
• Kelly, S., Soundranayagam, L. & Grief, S. (2004) Teaching and learning writing: a review of research and practice (PDF, 0.5MB)
• Lucas, N., Casey, H. & Giannakaki, M. (2004) Skills for Life core curriculum training programmes 2001/03: characteristics of teacher participants (PDF, 0.6MB)
• Mellar, H., Kambouri, M., Sanderson, M. & Pavlou, V. (2004) ICT and adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL (PDF, 0.4MB)
• Norman Lucas, Helen Casey, Sai Loo, Jeremy McDonald and Marina Giannakaki. (2004) New initial teacher education programmes for teachers of literacy, numeracy and ESOL 2002/03 : an exploratory study (PDF, 2.8MB)
• Reiss, M. & Brooks, G. (2004) Developmental dyslexia in adults: a research review (PDF, 0.9MB)
• Roberts, C., Baynham, M, Shrubshall, P., Barton, D., Chopra, P., Cooke, M., Hodge, R., Pitt, K., Schellekens, P., Wallace, C. & Whitfield, S. (2004) English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): case studies of provision, learners' needs and resources (PDF, 0.7MB)
• Torgerson, C., Brooks, G., Porthouse, J., Burton, M., Robinson, A., Wright, K., & Watt, I. (2004) Adult literacy and numeracy interventions and outcomes : a review of controlled trials (PDF, 0.5MB)
• (2004) NRDC annual report 2003/2004: generating knowledge and transforming it into practice. (PDF, 0.7MB)
• Further Education National Training Organisation (FENTO) (2004) Including language, literacy and numeracy learning in all post-16 education: guidance on curriculum and methodology for generic initial teacher education programmes (PDF, 0.7MB) 

2003

• Ananiadou, K. Jenkins, A. & Wolf, A. (2003) The benefits to employers of raising workforce basic skills levels: a review of the literature (PDF, 0.9MB)
• Armstrong. D & Heathcote. V (2003) Literature review of ESOL for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Barton, D. & Pitt, K. (2003) Adult ESOL pedagogy : a review of research, an annotated bibliography and recommendations for future research (PDF, 0.7MB)
• David Barton, Dr. Karin Tusting. (2003) Models of adult learning: a literature review of models applicable to Skills for Life (PDF, 0.2MB)
• Brooks. G (2003) Literacy and numeracy for adults with disabilities and learning difficulties: a review and exploration (PDF, 0.2MB)
• Coben, D. (2003) Adult numeracy : review of research and related literature (PDF, 1.8MB)
• Hannon, P., Pahl, K., Bird, V., Taylor, C. & Birch, C. (2003) Community-focused provision in adult literacy, numeracy and language: an exploratory study (PDF, 0.6MB)
• (2003) Strategy 2003-2007: generating knowledge and transforming it into practice (PDF, 0.7MB)
• (2003) English to speakers of other languages (ESOL) in the workplace: review of research and related literature (PDF, 0.1MB)
• (2003) Using laptop computers to develop basic skills: a handbook for practitioners (PDF, 1.1MB)
• NRDC (2003) Annual report: April 2002 - March 2003 (PDF, 0.2MB)