The ESOL Programme
In the last census it was reported that over 850,000 people in the UK “do not speak English well or at all” (ONS Census 2011) and this holds many people back from accessing employment, educational or social opportunities. It is estimated that £3 of social value is created for every £1 invested in ESOL teaching. (Demos, 2011).
Early research from the Learning and Work Institute has shown that young people are among the groups most at risk of economic exclusion as a result of the pandemic. Young people and migrants with low levels of proficiency in English could face additional barriers and be more at risk of exploitation or not going into employment. The Foundation’s new ESOL Programme seeks to find out what the levels of need are for ESOL learning among young people and migrants.
The Bell Foundation has commissioned the Institute of Education to conduct a literature review to understand gaps in evidence, and to conduct extensive quantitative analysis of the retention and attainment of young people (16-25) with ESOL needs in college and post-compulsory educational environments. The literature review will be published at the end of October 2020.
The ESOL Programme seeks to address the gaps in this evidence by trialling and evaluating new ways to teach ESOL to young people and migrant workers in collaboration with partners.
