UK Edition: Reading Household Bills: Energy, Water, Mobile, SEND, KS4 and Post-16

Three realistic UK household bills for KS4 and post 16 SEND learners: an electricity bill with a unit rate, a daily standing charge and 5% VAT; a water and sewerage bill with arrears; and a mobile phone bill with an extra data charge and a handset payment.

Why I made this

Every school leaver I have worked with ends up with bills, and most of them were never shown one at school. A bill has the same few parts every time: who it is from, how much is owed and when it is due. Once learners know where to look, the rest is reading. I added arrears and a late payment charge on purpose, because that is where young adults get caught.

What's included

• Teacher page with a short note on the UK details (standing charges, VAT, payment plans)

• Words to know: 10 key words with pictures (bill, amount due, due date, arrears, account number, standing charge, unit rate, kWh, Direct Debit, VAT)

• 3 practice bills, each with an account summary, a list of charges and a usage chart

• 12 Level A questions with pictures and three choices

• The same 12 questions at Level B, with open answers and room to show working

• A real life task: a bill tracker, a Monday start October calendar for due dates, and a payment slip

• Answer key that shows where to find every answer

Two levels, same questions

Level A suits learners who need visual support and choices. Level B suits learners ready to write and show working. Because the questions match, the whole group can work from the same bills and go over the answers together.

How I use it

Put one bill on the board and find the four things that matter first: who, how much, when, and what happens if it is late. Then let learners find the same four on the other two bills. The message I want them to leave with is simple: if you cannot pay, phone before the due date. The task works well as evidence towards an independent living outcome in an EHCP, or for an Entry Level or Functional Skills portfolio.

Who it is for

KS4, sixth form, FE college and post 16 SEND groups, learners on SEN Support, and supported internship or independent living programmes.

Please note

All companies, names and figures are made up. Rates are realistic for 2026 but are for teaching only.

What you download: one printable PDF, A4, answer key included. Licence: single teacher or setting.

Written by Jeremy D. Gooch, a teacher with 20+ years in education. Part of the Functional Life Skills UK series from The Transition Cliff.

Keywords: SEND, EHCP, Preparing for Adulthood, KS4, Post 16, household bills, energy bill, standing charge, water bill, mobile phone bill, Direct Debit, arrears, life skills, independent living, functional maths, Entry Level