Qualifications
There will be three nationally accredited qualifications:
| Qualifications | Funding |
| ESOL SfL | Funded as a load-banded qualification at a weighting of 1.4.
Not universally free from September 2007. |
| ESOL International (also known as EfL) | Not funded. |
| ESOL for Work (new) | Funded as a listed qualification (ie funding not weighted). |
Changes to funding for 2007, and provision the government will put in place to support those changes and their effects (in England)
- Removal of universal fee remission
- More support for spouses who do not have access to funding or to family benefit documentation to access full fee remission, by prioritising funding at local level through the LSC’s Learner Hardship Support Fund
- More help for workers on very low wages and not receiving Working Tax Credit, by agreeing with the LSC an approach to evidencing low pay for fee remission purposes. This enables flexible use of a raft of evidence, including wider benefits evidence.
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- Withdrawal of eligibility from asylum seekers; a measure designed on the basis that asylum seekers’ applications are processed quickly. Where claims are not resolved within the target period through no fault of their own, the government will reinstate eligibility for:
- those asylum seekers who are in the UK legally and whose claims are not resolved within 6 months
- those asylum seekers who are unable to return or be returned to their country of origin for circumstances beyond their control.
Note: Younger asylum seekers will be eligible for free classes if on a waiting list before their 19th birthday. |
ESOL pre-16
There are no nationally accredited ESOL qualifications available to learners pre-16. Some schools might want to enter some ESOL learners for Adult Literacy qualifications which are available pre-16. Edexcel also refers schools to the ESOL Core Curriculum and exemplar materials, which are available for free: order at www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus.
Life in the UK test (from April 2nd 2007)
Those who must take this test include:
- People who intend to stay permanently in the UK
- Would-be citizens, except EU nationals, unless they seek British citizenship.
The test covers everyday needs, migration, customs and traditions, employment and UK governance. The test is benchmarked at entry 3 / Level 1.
If learners are not at Entry 3 standard, they will be able successfully to meet the requirements by completing an ESOL course that has included 'language with citizenship' materials. The Speaking and Listening qualification alone will count.
For further information, see the Life in the UK test website.
ESOL teaching qualifications
To be available from September 2007.
ESOL and Functional Skills
ESOL is not part of the current Functional Skills developments.
