English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) support

The ETF is continuing to provide support to ESOL practitioners. Alongside the general resources, specific resources have been created to support practitioners who are working with ESOL learners. These resources can be used to support anybody who might be referred to as being at a ‘pre-Entry’ level. We refer to them as ‘New to ESOL’ learners, and we include specific resources to better meet the early integration needs of refugees who are new arrivals.

Our ESOL resources for teachers can be found on the ESOL Teachers section of our Learning Platform.

Modules for ESOL Learners

Our learning management system houses free, self-access modules for ESOL Learners mostly migrated over from the British Council’s Nexus website. These are online activities that learners can complete by themselves or with the support of their teacher. Access the modules on our learning platform.


In December 2020 the Education and Training Foundation commissioned NATECLA to investigate the participation of ESOL learners on Functional Skills (FS) English courses. While anecdotally we knew that the number of ESOL learners accessing Functional Skills has risen dramatically, we did not have information on numbers and needs. NATECLA created a survey, to which 110 providers responded; and conducted focus groups. The report provides a wealth of detail, with three stand-out findings:

  1. Over a quarter of providers reported that ESOL learners made up more than 60% of their learners on Functional Skills courses. This applied especially to 16-19 year-olds on study programmes
  2. There is major concern in the sector that Functional Skills English courses do not meet the needs of people whose first language is not English
  3. FS English teachers do not necessarily have the skills to teach learners of ESOL

 


Maths English and ESOL supplement cover page

inTuition maths, English and ESOL supplement – summer 2021

In 2021, we produced a supplement alongside inTuition, the Society for Education and Training (SET) quarterly professional journal. The supplement explores developments in maths, English and ESOL education and training and is free to read online.

Read Maths, English and ESOL supplement

The back-catalogue of inTuition journals is available to SET members and non-SET members. 

Sign-up for a SET membership to receive the journal and the supplements. 

If you would like hard copies of any of these publications, please email  Communications@etfoundation.co.uk