If you check one of my other blogs, bert-blagger, you'll notice that I'm writing booklets on basic literacy and basic numeracy.
So far, I've completed 2 literacy booklets, and am nearing the end of the 3rd one.
I've been considering that I need to have a series of 5 booklets in each of literacy and numeracy before I can start actively marketing them. They are teaching resources for use in schools, colleges, prisons, where adults are struggling to learn those subjects.
However, I have many years' business experience in addition to my accounting work experience in large businesses and my consultancy, which was established in 1979. I have enjoyed teaching business in the prison teaching environment for some years.
With prisoners, their options on release are somewhat limited. Most employers will refuse their job applications. Sentences have to be declared. What is their choice then? A life of living at Public expense on unemployment and housing benefit? (I realise that the terminology and structure have slightly changed recently). Alternatively, should they start a business, and hopefully generate employment, and pay tax & insurance?
Which would YOU prefer they choose?
Now, there are many TV programmes that promote business activity, although few place any emphasis on the risks. Equally, there is much debate on whether banks are lending enough to business, but precious little on operating within a budget.
Therefore, perhaps there is a market for straight-forward information for people considering going into business. Much of the 'advice' out there is data on web-sites, or delivered by experts (x is an unknown quantity, and a spurt a drip under pressure). Most business teachers have never been in business themselves, so how can they teach it?
If I publish anything on business, I may start with my Discussion Sheets. At the start of each teaching session, I'd put a current business topic question up on the whiteboard (I'm not being 'PC', but few blackboards exist nowadays!)and jot down the students' comments. Believe it or not, they approached it very positively. Their suggestions were considered, sensible, and often innovative!
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Adjusting your UK online tax return
Don't forget that if you used estimates in order to meet the online filing latest date of 31st January (plus two days re strike), that you can still adjust your returns.
That's right! You can sign in, call up the return you submitted, and make changes.
Obviously, you should only do so if the changes needed are material, not just minor modifications.
This process does not trigger a penalty!
Hope you get on well with it.
That's right! You can sign in, call up the return you submitted, and make changes.
Obviously, you should only do so if the changes needed are material, not just minor modifications.
This process does not trigger a penalty!
Hope you get on well with it.
Friday, 20 January 2012
Tax Returns online filing
Be aware that not only must the tax return be filed online by 31st January, but HMRC also want the payment in before that date, preferably cleared to your account!
For anyone attending to it at the last minute (moi?) this means you lose some days, as you must calculate the tax before you can arrange the payment.
Obviously, you can pay (using a debit card)over the telephone, or internet.
The 'trick' is that the funds must be cleared. This implies that they must receive the payment 3 or 4 working days beforehand.
As 31st January falls on a Tuesday, I guess that means you should finalise both the return and payment by midnight Wednesday 25th to be safe?
We all accept that if the payment is made late, interest becomes payable. That's fair. But the above system also 'triggers' the £100 penalty!
For anyone attending to it at the last minute (moi?) this means you lose some days, as you must calculate the tax before you can arrange the payment.
Obviously, you can pay (using a debit card)over the telephone, or internet.
The 'trick' is that the funds must be cleared. This implies that they must receive the payment 3 or 4 working days beforehand.
As 31st January falls on a Tuesday, I guess that means you should finalise both the return and payment by midnight Wednesday 25th to be safe?
We all accept that if the payment is made late, interest becomes payable. That's fair. But the above system also 'triggers' the £100 penalty!
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Limited Company accounts
Many limited companies have to file their accounts, electronically, with Companies House by 31st December.
Beware the date is not missed! Fines can now be £370 etc, with precious few grounds for appeal!
Beware the date is not missed! Fines can now be £370 etc, with precious few grounds for appeal!
Monday, 19 December 2011
Tax time of year again!
In the UK, the deadline for online tax return filing is 31st January.
Therefore, it's panic time again, and it's urgent to get on with accounts and tax computations in good time (actually good timing is to meet the October deadline for filing paper returns, as it leaves lots of time to make any adjustments or to gather funds to pay before 31st January!)
Really, I want to make further progress with my 'Bert Blagger' basic literacy teaching material. I did some more illustrations during my recent 7 week absense to Bangkok, Australia and Hong Kong.
While I was away, I devised a new sport, for aircraft, train, bus and coach passengers, Sky Chi. This was because the exercise information available on the plane I was sitting in was boring! I thought about it, and decided a new sport, with every person the winner, and which would be fun to do, was needed. People can arrive refreshed, fit, relaxed.
Aside from those 2 things, I also did some more design details on a new boat I want to build. You know that wind-surfing is generally the sport for the younger, fitter people amoungst us? Well, why not have a boat suitable to be handled by the middle-aged, the not-so-fit, and the disabled? It's NOT a dinghy adapted for disabled, but and is very stable, easily steered, able to have an outboat motor to supplement the sails!
Hmmm, perhaps an other blog is called for? What do you think? Email me at ken.midas@gmail.com if you wish to communicate direct.
Therefore, it's panic time again, and it's urgent to get on with accounts and tax computations in good time (actually good timing is to meet the October deadline for filing paper returns, as it leaves lots of time to make any adjustments or to gather funds to pay before 31st January!)
Really, I want to make further progress with my 'Bert Blagger' basic literacy teaching material. I did some more illustrations during my recent 7 week absense to Bangkok, Australia and Hong Kong.
While I was away, I devised a new sport, for aircraft, train, bus and coach passengers, Sky Chi. This was because the exercise information available on the plane I was sitting in was boring! I thought about it, and decided a new sport, with every person the winner, and which would be fun to do, was needed. People can arrive refreshed, fit, relaxed.
Aside from those 2 things, I also did some more design details on a new boat I want to build. You know that wind-surfing is generally the sport for the younger, fitter people amoungst us? Well, why not have a boat suitable to be handled by the middle-aged, the not-so-fit, and the disabled? It's NOT a dinghy adapted for disabled, but and is very stable, easily steered, able to have an outboat motor to supplement the sails!
Hmmm, perhaps an other blog is called for? What do you think? Email me at ken.midas@gmail.com if you wish to communicate direct.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
"Bert Blagger" Adult Literacy teaching resources
At last, after another 2 months, I have drafted the first 2 booklets in a series of literacy teaching resources.
The beginning of all this was in 2003, when I was kept very busy teaching in prisons. I felt that the resources available were limited. Most seemed to me to be written for young children. Adult learners did not like them. In prison, they are not frightened to say so! Most teachers had to resort to downloading material at home, or search for suitable resources.
My material is called 'Starter Level'. This is intended for anyone over early childhood, say 11 onwards. It would cover National Curriculum Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1. I think it can be used for Key Skills 1 and 2, ESOL, and for many of those with learning or behaviour difficulties.
These resources are intended to be useful even in the most difficult teaching situations, where interactive whiteboards and rows of computers are not available for teaching. Do you teach one-to-one? In small groups? In informal surroundings? Are resources budgets restricted or non-existent? Are your teaching books 10 years old, or written for kiddies?
The topic of this first series is punctuation, helping the learner in making sense of the written word. There will be more series, hopefully, and to definetly also cover numeracy skills teaching resources.
Based on my prison teaching experience, I'm using a character I'm calling Bert Blagger to typify the sort of prisoner who is working very hard to catch up on his missed education. He's determined to achieve well.
Most of those working in education agree that poor literacy skills really do disadvantage people. In many cases, inadequate parenting and disruptive behaviour leads to poor school attendance. In turn, this impacts on the quality of education achieved by the child.
Without literacy skills, few subjects can be mastered. Poor education leads to a limited choice of work. A solution can be to turn to crime.
Bert wants a better life upon release and not fall into the re-offending and re-admission trap that befalls around 60% of released prisoners.
He knows he has an uphill struggle to get society to re-accept him after release. He has to admit the prison record, which will greatly restrict his employability.
With the resultant poor job prospects, it's all too easy to fall back into criminal life. Again, about 60% do and get caught.
He wants to 'catch back up' on literacy and numeracy, avoid falling back in with old associates and criminal underworld connections. He knows that if he does, he'll soon be back in prison.
If he does has difficulty in getting a job, he wants to be confident that he has enough knowledge to become self-employed.
As a teacher, would you wish to help him?
Any comment?
The beginning of all this was in 2003, when I was kept very busy teaching in prisons. I felt that the resources available were limited. Most seemed to me to be written for young children. Adult learners did not like them. In prison, they are not frightened to say so! Most teachers had to resort to downloading material at home, or search for suitable resources.
My material is called 'Starter Level'. This is intended for anyone over early childhood, say 11 onwards. It would cover National Curriculum Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1. I think it can be used for Key Skills 1 and 2, ESOL, and for many of those with learning or behaviour difficulties.
These resources are intended to be useful even in the most difficult teaching situations, where interactive whiteboards and rows of computers are not available for teaching. Do you teach one-to-one? In small groups? In informal surroundings? Are resources budgets restricted or non-existent? Are your teaching books 10 years old, or written for kiddies?
The topic of this first series is punctuation, helping the learner in making sense of the written word. There will be more series, hopefully, and to definetly also cover numeracy skills teaching resources.
Based on my prison teaching experience, I'm using a character I'm calling Bert Blagger to typify the sort of prisoner who is working very hard to catch up on his missed education. He's determined to achieve well.
Most of those working in education agree that poor literacy skills really do disadvantage people. In many cases, inadequate parenting and disruptive behaviour leads to poor school attendance. In turn, this impacts on the quality of education achieved by the child.
Without literacy skills, few subjects can be mastered. Poor education leads to a limited choice of work. A solution can be to turn to crime.
Bert wants a better life upon release and not fall into the re-offending and re-admission trap that befalls around 60% of released prisoners.
He knows he has an uphill struggle to get society to re-accept him after release. He has to admit the prison record, which will greatly restrict his employability.
With the resultant poor job prospects, it's all too easy to fall back into criminal life. Again, about 60% do and get caught.
He wants to 'catch back up' on literacy and numeracy, avoid falling back in with old associates and criminal underworld connections. He knows that if he does, he'll soon be back in prison.
If he does has difficulty in getting a job, he wants to be confident that he has enough knowledge to become self-employed.
As a teacher, would you wish to help him?
Any comment?
Monday, 13 June 2011
Teaching literacy to adults
For the past couple of months, I have been busy drafting the first of what I hope will be a series of literacy for adults teaching resources. I've taught in prisons for 8 years, and colleges before, so have some experience of teaching.
I don't claim to be an expert or specialist. Being a qualified accountant, and more recently a qualified teacher as well, I obviously started by teaching business, maths etc. However, because I'm reasonably helpful and versatile, I've also covered ESOL, Literacy, Key Skills, Cookery, Art etc.
Teaching in prison is difficult, and subject to prison regime, the usual college education provider's rules and with some of the most awkward students and situations you could imagine! Teaching resources are basic, because of security constraints. Unfortunately, many resources for teaching basic literacy are designed for younger children. Naturally, they embarass mature adults.
However, despite the challenges, the teachers do their best to enthuse students and give them a hope to achieve something worthwhile after release. The fact is more than 60% will re-offend and return to prison, and it's costly to keep them. Some estimates say £800 per week, and there's 80,000 people held in the UK prison system. How are your maths?
Students are often difficult to manage, too. Often, the students would prefer to be working in a workshop, as they get higher wages there than for attending education. Yes, they get paid for coming out of their cells! Many regard education just as a 'stepping stone' to getting better-paid workshop employment.
Many students are held back by a lack of literacy skills beyond signing their name. Most missed or got excluded from school, or had parents who didn't care. Generally they have a lack of self-esteem and have acheived nothing significant.
Therefore, when you have helped one to multiply or subtract numbers, to read a paragraph correctly, to write a story, or pass a Level 1 exam (which is actually only equilivent to an 11 year old) it can change their whole outlook!
Equally, when a student gets to understand how to calculate profit, forecast cashflow, work out a break-even point, and to put together a credible business plan, it can give them real hope for a future and to provde for their families.
When talking or writing about working in prisons, for obvious reasons we can't give any information that could jeapodise security, or use real names. Instead of using the traditional name 'Blogs' for a prisoner, I've invented and adopted another: Blagger. Blogging might be said to write or say things that may be of interest to others. Blagging is slang and may mean using speech or sometimes writing to simply get what you want. I assure you that prisoners are expert at this skill! Anyway, I've chosen the name Bert Blagger to typify the no-nonsense and street-wise prisoner who has worked hard in education, and is really trying to better himself.
If there's any interest, make a comment to contact me and I'll upload (or copy & paste if I can't work out how!) a copy of Bert Blagger: - Booklet 1: Writing.
Meanwhile, I'll crack on with Booklet 2, and amplify the rough draft I made some years ago on Punctuation!
I don't claim to be an expert or specialist. Being a qualified accountant, and more recently a qualified teacher as well, I obviously started by teaching business, maths etc. However, because I'm reasonably helpful and versatile, I've also covered ESOL, Literacy, Key Skills, Cookery, Art etc.
Teaching in prison is difficult, and subject to prison regime, the usual college education provider's rules and with some of the most awkward students and situations you could imagine! Teaching resources are basic, because of security constraints. Unfortunately, many resources for teaching basic literacy are designed for younger children. Naturally, they embarass mature adults.
However, despite the challenges, the teachers do their best to enthuse students and give them a hope to achieve something worthwhile after release. The fact is more than 60% will re-offend and return to prison, and it's costly to keep them. Some estimates say £800 per week, and there's 80,000 people held in the UK prison system. How are your maths?
Students are often difficult to manage, too. Often, the students would prefer to be working in a workshop, as they get higher wages there than for attending education. Yes, they get paid for coming out of their cells! Many regard education just as a 'stepping stone' to getting better-paid workshop employment.
Many students are held back by a lack of literacy skills beyond signing their name. Most missed or got excluded from school, or had parents who didn't care. Generally they have a lack of self-esteem and have acheived nothing significant.
Therefore, when you have helped one to multiply or subtract numbers, to read a paragraph correctly, to write a story, or pass a Level 1 exam (which is actually only equilivent to an 11 year old) it can change their whole outlook!
Equally, when a student gets to understand how to calculate profit, forecast cashflow, work out a break-even point, and to put together a credible business plan, it can give them real hope for a future and to provde for their families.
When talking or writing about working in prisons, for obvious reasons we can't give any information that could jeapodise security, or use real names. Instead of using the traditional name 'Blogs' for a prisoner, I've invented and adopted another: Blagger. Blogging might be said to write or say things that may be of interest to others. Blagging is slang and may mean using speech or sometimes writing to simply get what you want. I assure you that prisoners are expert at this skill! Anyway, I've chosen the name Bert Blagger to typify the no-nonsense and street-wise prisoner who has worked hard in education, and is really trying to better himself.
If there's any interest, make a comment to contact me and I'll upload (or copy & paste if I can't work out how!) a copy of Bert Blagger: - Booklet 1: Writing.
Meanwhile, I'll crack on with Booklet 2, and amplify the rough draft I made some years ago on Punctuation!
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