Wales makes its own ESOL policy
Wales publishes its own policy for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The English position is explained in Free ESOL Classes in England: How Government-Funded Adult English Provision Works. This article summarises the Welsh Government’s “English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) policy for Wales” (first published 19 June 2014, updated in November 2019) and “A review of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) policy for Wales”, published on 20 July 2023 with an executive summary. The review reports fieldwork carried out between February and July 2022. It covers Wales only.
What the policy says ESOL is
The 2019 policy defines ESOL as provision for learners whose first language is neither English nor Welsh and who have come to live in the UK. It separates ESOL from English as a Foreign Language (for people in the UK temporarily to study), English for Academic Purposes (support for international students) and English as an Additional Language (support for young people, available only in schools). It states that ESOL has parity with other essential skills, including literacy, numeracy and digital literacy, and calls it essential for integration. The policy links ESOL to Wales’s aim to be a Nation of Sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers.
Who delivers it
The policy says ESOL in Wales is delivered by a number of organisations in the public, private and third sectors, and that the Welsh Government provides funding to local authorities and further education institutions to deliver mainstream provision, which it calls “funded providers”. Mainstream provision includes full-time and part-time classes at a range of levels, mostly accredited, alongside a significant amount of informal provision that the government also supports. The policy adds that it does not specify the qualifications needed by tutors but that the sector generally expects ESOL tutors to hold at least a Level 5 equivalent qualification.
How long progress takes
The policy cites a 2011 review by ESOL consultant Dr Philida Schellekens, which established that it would take an average of 1,765 guided learning hours for learners to progress from pure beginner level to a point where they could study another subject or take on a job with routine communication requirements. On that basis, the policy estimates that a full-time further education student at 450 guided learning hours a year would need almost four years to reach Level 1, an adult learning English ten hours a week over 30 weeks a year would need five years and seven months, and an adult learning four hours a week over 30 weeks would need 14 and a half years. These are estimates derived from that 2011 review, not guarantees for any individual.
Assessment and the REACH pilot
The policy highlights the Regional ESOL Assessment Central Hub, or REACH, a pilot run by Cardiff and Vale College and Adult Learning Wales. It acts as a referral point across Cardiff for organisations and ESOL delivery partners, assesses people who want to enrol and assigns them to suitable provision, with the aim of reducing waiting lists and improving progression. The policy says there were plans to roll the project out to other parts of Wales.
What the 2023 review found
The review examined how well formal ESOL in Wales offers adequate and timely support, using a survey sent to more than 150 organisations, forums, interviews and focus groups. It grouped findings around funding and infrastructure, awareness and access, online and blended learning, curriculum and quality, workforce development, Welsh-language provision and employment. Its main points include:
- Funding. Providers reported that the funding mechanism lacks flexibility, that tying funding to a prescribed syllabus and assessments contributes to waiting lists for new arrivals, and that non-completion, which is more common among ESOL learners partly because moving into work interrupts study, reduces funding.
- Awareness and access. Respondents reported a lack of communication and co-ordination between providers, called for a Wales-wide platform listing provision, and identified lack of crèche and childcare facilities as a major barrier. The review also noted a need for more clarity on eligibility for funding and what provision is free to access.
- Online learning. Remote and blended provision has potential for higher-level learners, but the review found face-to-face teaching essential for learners who are not literate in their first language.
- Workforce. It found a lack of a suitably trained ESOL workforce.
- Employment. Providers reported a wish for more vocational ESOL, and colleges said small cohorts made ESOL+ courses hard to develop.
The report’s recommendations include a task group to review the funding model, funding for non-accredited conversation-led and intensive courses, ESOL co-ordinating groups aligned with Adult Community Learning Partnerships, a national platform for ESOL and Welsh for speakers of other languages, and a review of crèche facilities at formal providers.
Welsh language options
The review reports some progress on Welsh for speakers of other languages (WSOL), with some providers offering it or embedding Welsh in provision. It says the National Centre for Learning Welsh created a “Croeso i Bawb” taster course and adopted a policy that every Learn Welsh taster course is free for all learners, which allows Croeso i Bawb to be offered free of charge to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Learning Welsh more generally is covered in Learning Welsh: Cymraeg i Oedolion and the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.
What a learner can do
- Contact a local college, adult learning provider or local authority to ask about ESOL classes and assessment.
- Ask which classes are accredited and which are informal, since both exist.
- Ask about childcare and any waiting list before enrolling.
The bottom line
ESOL in Wales is delivered by funded colleges and local authorities alongside third-sector and informal providers, under a policy that treats English for adult migrants as an essential skill. The Welsh Government’s own 2023 review found strong dedication among educators but weaknesses in funding flexibility, co-ordination, childcare, workforce training and vocational pathways, and recommended a national platform to make provision easier to find.
Sources
- Welsh Government, “English for speakers of other languages (ESOL): policy statement” (gov.wales)
- Welsh Government, “English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) policy for Wales” (PDF, updated November 2019) (gov.wales)
- Welsh Government, “A review of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) policy for Wales: executive summary” (gov.wales)
- Welsh Government, “English for speakers of other languages (ESOL): policy review” (published 20 July 2023) (gov.wales)