This report, by The Institute for Learning (IfL), forms the second phase of a consultative process originally commissioned to work alongside the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) to inform the independent Commission on Adult for Vocational Teaching and Learning, set up by the government following the publication of the skills strategy, New Challenges, New Chances (BIS, December 2011)

From The Institute for Learning's (IfL) first phase of research came a preliminary report – published in June 2012. As a result, the IfL was asked to carry out further work in two specific areas:

• the effective delivery of functional skills in English and maths in vocational programme
• effective practice in partnerships between employers and vocational learning providers

This second report is the result of the above investigations.