Building Confidence in Communication
Building Confidence in Communication comprises of 14 Entry-Level qualifications which are designed to promote learners’ confidence, oracy and communication skills. They aim to remove barriers to learning by enabling access to a wide range of curricula, building relationships and a sense of belonging, and developing self-esteem and a positive self-identity.
ESB International Building Confidence in Communication products develop the oracy and communication of learners who do not have a qualification at Level 1 or above. These qualifications can be taught to learners who have special educational needs and disabilities, including those over 16 years of age. These learners may have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or receive Special Educational Needs (SEN) support and be based in either mainstream or specialist centres.
We offer three categories of qualifications; these qualifications run between Entry 1 and Entry 3, and are regulated by The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual):
Communication for Independent Living and Social Interaction
- ESB Entry Level Award in Developing Independent Communication Skills (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in First Steps in Communicating with Others (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Others (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Independent Communication Skills (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Communication with Others (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Communication in the Community (Entry 2)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Reading to a Child (Entry 3)
Communication via the Arts
- ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Art (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Music (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Drama (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Preparing for a Performance within a Team (Entry 2)
Communication for Interviews and the Workplace
- ESB Entry Level Award in Introducing Oral Skills for Interview (Entry 1)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Developing Oral Interview Skills (Entry 2)
- ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Interview Skills (Entry 3)
Skills
Our Building Confidence in Communication qualifications are designed to promote learners’ confidence, oracy and communication skills through a range of assessment activities across four sections. Here are a sample of these activities from across our portfolio.
Please see our qualification specifications, which are available on our resources pages, for more detail.
Section 1
- ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Art (Entry 1) – Indicate shapes and colours verbally or non-verbally.
- ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Communication in the Community (Entry 2) – Deliver a prepared presentation on how they are developing their independent living skills.
Section 2
- ESB Entry Level Award in Independent Communication Skills (Entry 1) – Take part in a discussion.
- ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Communication with Others (Entry 1) – Tell a group about something of personal interest.
Section 3
- ESB Entry Level Award for Performing within a Team (Entry 2) – Take part in a group performance.
- ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Interview Skills (Entry 3) – Interact appropriately in an interview situation.
Section 4
- ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Music (Entry 1) – Respond to a musical farewell.
- ESB Entry Level Award in Developing Oral Interview Skills (Entry 2) – Show support to their group members.
Experience
All the qualifications listed above are assessed via a 20-minute assessment taken in a group. Learners participate in a group with their classmates who may be taking the same qualification, another qualification from our Building Confidence in Communication Portfolio, or one of our ESB Graded Examinations in Speech.
When a learner has finished the assessment, the assessor will complete a report form in which a final grade will be awarded. A learner can achieve a Pass or an Unsuccessful result. If a learner is Unsuccessful in one section, they can still pass if they achieve higher grades across the remaining three sections. If a learner is Unsuccessful in more than one section, they cannot achieve a Pass. Learners who achieve to a high standard can receive a Certificate of Excellence with their Certificate. Learners who have tried hard but do not succeed in passing the assessment can receive a Certificate of Endeavour.
Outcomes
By developing oracy and communication skills, this suite of products can help remove barriers to learning by enabling access to a wide range of curricula, building relationships and a sense of belonging, and developing self-esteem and a positive self-identity.
It also encourages autonomy and self-advocacy, and facilitates the fulfilment of potential. We believe that developing oral communication strategies is one of the keys to living an independent life and that all learners should have access to courses that prepare them for independence in the real world.
What happens next?
Resources
Discover our teacher resources
- Browse our qualification specifications to find the right qualification for your learners.
- Look through our teacher materials to find out what support is available for your teachers.
Funding
Find out what funding may be available to you
- New and existing ESB centres may be available to apply to access our Christabel Burniston Fund. Find out if your centre meets our funding criteria.
Get a Quote
Browse our portfolio of Speech qualifications
- Centre registration is quick and easy. Becoming an ESB centre allows centres to book our qualifications.
- Use our ‘Get a Quote’ function to experiment with different qualifications and learner numbers.