South-East Glasgow ESOL Advice, Support and Entry (EASE) Service Workshop Robin Ashton Kate Anderson.

South-East Glasgow ESOL Advice, Support and Entry (EASE) Service Workshop

Robin AshtonKate Anderson

Purpose of workshop

1. Discuss and share knowledge of issues related to:

a) the identification of barriers ESOL learners face in accessing ESOL

b) actions which can help to remove these

2. Examine the South-East Glasgow ESOL Advice, Support and Entry (EASE) Service.

Activity 1

1. Describe your learner to your group.2. Discuss:

– What issues would you need to consider in placing that learner?

– How you would deal with these issues at your organisation?

Activity 1: Feedback

Possible Issues:– Learner availability– Cost of provision– Learner status (e.g. visa or asylum

restrictions)– Location of provision– Non-ESOL support needs (e.g.

childcare, literacy support, study support, etc.)

More complicated than...

Learner Provision Success!

Activity 2

1.Create a list of things an ESOL learner might need to know before choosing an appropriate ESOL course.

2.Discuss how these needs might be met.

South-East Glasgow Context

Learner needs:• Information and advice on:

– available ESOL provision– learners’ own ESOL levels

Solution:• ESOL Advice, Support and Entry (EASE)

Service provided across the South-East Glasgow area.

EASE Service: Essentials

1. ESOL Providers’ Network to:a) Standardise level namesb) Share provision information

2. EASE Service provided across the area giving new ESOL learners access to:a) An ESOL initial assessment undertaken by a qualified

ESOL practitionerb) A formal record of a learner’s current ESOL level

accepted as valid by all ESOL providersc) Information, advice and support to access

appropriate local ESOL provision including maps and travel information

EASE Service: Headline Figures

1,370 new ESOL learners interviewed in first 11 months of service operation

Of the 859 learners interviewed between 01/04/09 and

30/09/09– 77 nationalities were recorded. The largest group were

those from Pakistan (21 %)– 82% EASE Service users provided a recognisable Glasgow

postcode. Of these 50% were resident in the SE Glasgow area

– 62% of all EASE Service users were offered a place on an ESOL course in the SE Glasgow area (80% of SE Glasgow only EASE Service users)

– 42% of all EASE Service users took up an ESOL place in SE Glasgow (54% of SE Glasgow only EASE Service users)

Ease Service: Place of Residence of Service Users

EASE Service: Prioritisation of Local Residents

EASE Service: Allowing Demand to Direct Supply

EASE Service: Benefits

For learners:– On-demand access to advice and

information on own ESOL level and relevant local provision enabling learners to make informed decisions about their own learning pathway

For providers:– Accurate demand information allowing

provision supply to be tailored to meet demand

EASE Service: Further Developments

Additional Services:– EASE Service Study Support Packs– EASE Service website– EASE Service support worker

City-wide expansion– CPP funded consultation exercise to

scope out resource requirements for Glasgow-wide EASE Service

Standardised Assessment:Further Information

• What needs to be standardised?– level names – criteria of assessing learner output

• What resources exist?– www.learnesol.com– Stevenson College report– Scottish Government developments(www.esolscotland.com)

Robin AshtonLangside College0141 272 3615

[email protected]