The above implies that soft and short field techniques are not taught for ther UK PPL.
Is this true ?
There is no such thing as a UK PPL any more. The European JAA PPL does include them in the syllabus, but unless you operate from a grass aerodrome soft field is not really taught. The other issue is whether the technique appears in the approved Flight Manual; if it doesn't, you don't teach it in that aircraft.
From AMC-FCL 1.125
Exercise 12 Take-off and climb to downwind position
– pre-take-off checks
– into wind take-off
– safeguarding the nosewheel
– crosswind take-off
– drills during and after take-off
– short take-off and soft field procedure/techniques including performance calculations
– noise abatement procedures
– airmanship