Skills for Work: Overcoming Barriers
Overcoming barriers is an Entry 1 to Level 2 Skills for Work unit in which learners explore barriers at work, communicate choices, preferences and points of view, and practise strategies to challenge others constructively and build resilience. It is one 10 hour unit that learners combine with other 10 or 20 hour units into a Skills for Work, or Skills for Life and Work, Award, Certificate or Diploma. Literacy is mostly spoken: describing barriers, giving a point of view with suitable language and tone, listening to other views, challenging respectfully and reflecting on outcomes. Numeracy is light and sits only in managing time, tasks and priorities, which no criterion assesses.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Entry Level 1 to Level 2
- Guided learning hours
- 10
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
How this unit is assessed
- Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): Three learning outcomes (barriers in a work context, choices, preferences and points of view, and simple strategies to respond to barriers), each with separate Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3 assessment criteria. Evidence goes in a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC. 10 guided learning hours.
- Level 1 and Level 2: Three learning outcomes (barriers to participation and progression, choices, preferences and points of view, and strategies to challenge others and overcome barriers), each with separate Level 1 and Level 2 assessment criteria. Evidence goes in a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC. 10 guided learning hours.
Skills that use Strategic competence
-
Managing time, tasks and priorities
The pack says numeracy is supported through managing time, tasks and priorities, and lists timekeeping, travel and time pressure as barriers learners may explore. No assessment criterion asks for a calculation, so this is taught content only, for example planning a journey to a placement or ordering tasks to meet a deadline. Numeracy demand is low.
Numeracy: Measurement, Strategic competence
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils use a bus timetable to work out which bus gets them to a 9.00 am work experience start on time and how long they would wait.
- Year 8
- Pupils list five jobs for a busy café shift, estimate how long each takes and put them in order so everything is done in two hours.
- Year 9
- Pupils plan a journey to a placement using two connecting train timetables, allowing time for a possible delay, and write a back up plan if they miss the first train.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Curriculum for Wales, page 4; amplification of LO1, page 8
“Numeracy is supported through managing time, tasks and priorities”
Progression step 3
I can use and interpret calendars, timetables and schedules to plan events and activities, and make calculations as part of the planning journey.
I can estimate how long a journey takes.
I can prioritise and organise the relevant steps needed to complete the task or reach a solution.
Progression step 4
I can use timetables and time zones to calculate travel time.
I can prioritise and organise the relevant steps needed to complete the task or reach a solution.
Good to know
- The unit codes are S661E1, S661E2, S661E3, S661L1 and S661L2, one for each level, and the unit is 10 guided learning hours: "GLH 10" (Unit overview, page 3).
- Spoken evidence counts and long writing is not expected: "extended written work is not required unless appropriate" and judgements should not focus on "spelling or presentation unless specifically assessed" (Sources of evidence, page 10).
- Evidence can include "audio or video recordings of role play or discussions" and "question-and-answer records (oral or written)" (Sources of evidence, page 10), and Entry 1 learners may need "use of symbols, or assistive technology" (specification Section 4.2, page 19).
- Support depends on level: Entry 2 learners "may require prompts, guided questioning or scaffolded templates" (specification Section 4.2, page 19).
- AI use is allowed only when acknowledged: "When properly referenced, this can be acceptable", but misuse includes "Failing to acknowledge use of AI tools when they have been used as a source of information." (specification Section 4.6, page 21).
- Suggested assessment tasks "are not mandatory". Teachers "may choose to use these suggestions, adapt them, or develop their own alternatives" (specification Section 4.1, page 18).
- Appendix A of the specification (page 29) ticks Numeracy, Digital Competence and Planning and organisation for this unit but not Literacy, even though the pack says learners "practise Literacy through discussion, role play and reflection" (Curriculum for Wales, page 4).
Links with other qualifications
The pack names GCSE Social Studies as a linked WJEC qualification (it also names Sociology AS/A Level, which is not on this page). Within the Skills Suite it lists Personal development planning, Interview and confidence techniques, Rights and responsibilities in the workplace, Fairness and inclusion in the workplace, Building a growth mindset, Wellbeing and work, Customer service, Teamwork, Understanding self and others, Equality, diversity and inclusion and Community participation as closely related units. Interview and confidence techniques shares speaking with suitable language and tone, Teamwork shares listening and communicating effectively with others, and Personal development planning shares written reflection and action planning.
Source: WJEC Overcoming barriers unit delivery and assessment pack, read with the WJEC Entry 1 to Level 2 Skills for Life and Skills for Work specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).