Important Update on Accredited Courses at SS&L 

By Hayley Pittman-Thorn •

From the 2025/26 academic year, SS&L will no longer offer a number of accredited courses due to changes to national funding rules and a reduction in available funding for adult education. 

Recent updates to the Department for Education’s Adult Skills Fund (ASF) mean Somerset Council have decided not to fund certain qualifications through this stream. As a result, SS&L will no longer be offering: 

  • Functional Skills in Maths and English 
  • ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) 
  • Other standalone Level 2 qualifications 

We know this news may come as a disappointment, especially if you were planning to begin or continue your learning journey with us through one of these courses. Please be assured this decision is not a reflection of your commitment or the value of these qualifications; it’s simply the result of national and local changes to how adult learning is funded. 

What does this mean for you? 

If you’re a current learner on one of these courses, you will be fully supported to complete your qualification. 

If you’re a new applicant looking to study English, maths or ESOL, we can still help. Although we can’t offer these qualifications directly from next year, we’re here to advise and guide you toward other providers who do. Our team is happy to support you in finding the right local option. 

“These changes have meant we’ve had to make some difficult decisions,” said Kathryn Baker, Chief Executive of SS&L. 
“With less national funding available and no extra support for delivering beyond what we’re funded for, we’ve had to rethink how we use our resources. That’s meant scaling back in some areas, while continuing to invest in courses that meet Somerset’s current and future needs.” 

What SS&L still offers 

While our offer is changing, we remain fully committed to helping learners at every stage of life. SS&L continues to provide a wide range of free and funded opportunities, including: 

  • Apprenticeships – in sectors including Early Years, Business, Management and Education 
  • Skills Bootcamps – short, flexible training that supports progression into employment 
  • Community Learning – short courses to support confidence, wellbeing and employability 

We’re still here for you 

If you were planning to apply for one of the affected courses, or just aren’t sure what’s right for you next, our team is here to help. 

Whether you want to explore new options, talk through your goals, or find out more about our current courses, we’ll support you every step of the way. 

Call us on 0330 332 7997  
Email enquiries@sslcic.co.uk