Adult Education and Community Learning, including the Multiply Numeracy Programme

Adult Learning opportunities can:

Increase your skills to support you into work
Enable you to gain qualifications
Help you to meet new friends
Enable you to find new hobbies or interests
Help you learn English
Improve your reading and writing
Improve your numbers

Multiply Numeracy Project

Multiply is a government-funded programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills.

If you’re aged 19 and over and don’t have a maths GCSE at grade C (or equivalent), you can access free numeracy courses through Multiply to build your confidence with numbers and gain a qualification.

Good numeracy skills may unlock job opportunities and lead to higher wages or prepare you for further study. They also help in everyday life, such as helping children with homework and budgeting money.

There are courses for beginners as well as more advanced courses such as GCSE Maths, Functional Skills Qualifications, or equivalent. Online tutorials and content are also available, so you will be able to learn at a pace that suits you.

The local providers below all have Multiply courses available so you can see what is accessible nearby to you:

Alternatively, if you know what course you are looking for you can search for providers that offer that course, or just find out more information about Multiply, at Multiply - Skills for Life.

I need English and maths help

The following organisations can help you improve your English and maths:

LearnDirect – for help with basic English and maths
City College Southampton – provides courses for adult learners with learning difficulties
Itchen College – provides courses for adult learners
Chris Polatch - The Language Specialists – provides private English lessons in Southampton
First Tutors – find an English home tutor
GOV.UK – find a course on the National Careers Service course finder

How much does it cost?

If you are receiving a benefit your course may be free, available to you at a discounted price or you may be able to get Learner Support. You will need to contact the course providers to find out how much the course may cost and how to apply for Learner Support.

Document	Type	Size
Sub-contracting Delivery Policy 2022-23	pdf	256.4 KB
Adult Education Role and Purpose Statement 2022-23	pdf	254.0 KB
Adult Learning Pound Plus Policy 2022-23	pdf	143.9 KB
Adult Learning Fees Policy 2022-23	pdf	164.5 KB
Community Learning Ofsted inspection 2017	pdf	199.4 KB
Adult Learning Privacy Notice	pdf	72.3 KB
Adult Learner Handbook 2022-23	pdf	2.1 MB

Contact: community.learning@southampton.gov.uk

Where can I access courses?

Adult education classes are held in places such as schools and colleges and community centres. The courses on offer are designed to help people build on their academic progress. They are also there to help you develop essential life skills and build confidence.

We support a wide range of community partners to deliver hundreds of adult learning courses across the City. More information about our service are in the documents listed at the bottom of the page.

More information about our partners, the types of learning activities they offer and how to contact them can be found in Adult Education Delivery Partners.

Many of our funded courses are targeted at specific learners. You can find out about other part-time and leisure courses available locally through:

Visit Southampton – lists a wide variety of courses and classes
Local colleges usually run adult education classes and leisure courses, for example Southampton City College, Richard Taunton College, Itchen College and Eastleigh College
The National Careers Service has a course search option for courses funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency
Find Courses is a national website where you can search for courses by subject and location
Noticeboards in libraries, community centres and shops often have details of local courses