Demos | Projects

“ Character is an essential ingredient of a good life and a good society ”

The Character Inquiry

“ Educational disengagement starts in primary school... ”

Earliest Intervention

“ It's not more education that children need, it's better character... ”

Characterising parenting

ESOL Provision in the UK

Overview
Publications
Bookmarks
Project Blog

English for Speakers of other languages sits at the heart of a number of heated – and crowded – debates. Questions around economic success, social inclusion, integration, citizenship and national identity all affect, and are affected by the availability, take-up and quality of ESOL provision.

Perhaps as a result of the number of issues and organisations involved in these overlapping debates, questions around ESOL provision are laden with complexity. Policy therefore requires a rationale for ESOL that makes sense across government – and arrangements for funding and providing opportunities to learn that reflect the everyday dynamics of people’s lives.

This project, running in parallel to wider Demos work on adult learning, will begin with first principles – why ESOL matters – and work through to a logical conclusion of how best it can be delivered in practice, within a coherent policy framework.

For more information please contact Duncan O'Leary.

This project is funded by the Association of Colleges.

Service Nation

Authors: Sonia Sodha, Dan Leighton
Publication Date: 2009-12-06
Publication Type: Pamphlet

Civic service comes from the idea that individuals have a duty to their fellow citizens. In this report Sonia Sodha and Dan Leighton set out a clear set of policy proposals for introducing civic service in the UK. It argues for bottom-up civic service that starts at an early age and continues throughout citizen's lives.

Society of equals

Authors: Graeme Cooke
Publication Date: 2010-02-09
Publication Type: Pamphlet

The quest for greater equality is a central mission in Labour politics, but the party needs a new egalitarian agenda to broaden and deepen its attack on inequality. The goal should be a Britain of powerful people in a reciprocal society – rooted in an understanding of shared fate and the ways a more equal society benefits us all.

Comment is free: Mind the language

Writes: 'Under the new arrangements, only those claiming income-related benefits can still access ESOL. Yet very few people with English language needs claim tax credits. Indeed, only 3% of workers from European Union Accession Countries who have signed up to the Worker Registration Scheme receive tax credits, even though four out of five earn less than £6 an hour and are therefore likely to be eligible. This is a classic Catch 22. Many of the most vulnerable will simply fall through the net.'

Comment is free: It doesn't make sense in any language

Writes: 'if the provision to learn English isn't widely available and affordable, then paying for lessons, will inevitably be lower down the list of priorities than covering food and housing costs.'

The unkindest cut | TEFL | EducationGuardian.co.uk

Writes: 'The government claims free Esol will still be available for people receiving means-tested or income-related benefits. In reality, very few people with Esol needs access these benefits, even if they are eligible. For example, only 3% of workers from EU accession states receive tax credits, although around 80% are earning between £4.50 and £5.99 an hour' 'government won't even accept proof through payslips...Instead a 20-page form must be completed - in English!'

Report of The Commission on Integration and Cohesion (pdf)

Describes language as 'fundamental to integration and cohesion – for settled communities, new communities, and future generations of immigrants.'

BBC Licence Fee Affordability document (pdf)

Explores the concept of 'affordability' and how it can be constructed/interpreted and used in different ways.

Report calls on employers to meet cost of migrant English lessons | Special reports | Guardian Unlim

The commission said ""Given the key role immigration now plays in the success of the UK economy, and the importance of interaction in reducing concerns about immigrants, we believe that Esol funding needs to be reconsidered; and that more innovative ways of providing Esol need to be looked at."

False claims make me snap, crackle and pop | Further | EducationGuardian.co.uk

Bill Rammell writes: 'A massive increase in demand for free Esol tuition is having an adverse impact on the overall skills budget, yet those in greatest need are the least likely to access the service.' 'with almost 80% of asylum claims now being settled in eight weeks, and well over half of these unsuccessful, is it really right that taxpayers' money should support the learning of English for people whom we expect to leave the country?'

House of Commons Hansard Debates for 14 Mar 2007 (pt 0023)

Bill Rammell: 'Since 2001, we have tripled funding of ESOL services, spending more than £1 billion. It is crucial to make it clear that the intention behind our changes is not to cut funding. We do, however, face a significant problem: demand is outstripping supply. In the past six years, ESOL student enrolments have risen from 158,000 to 538,000. Even with the growth in provision that we have delivered, the current situation is simply not sustainable.'

Opinions: 'Defending Hodge' by Julian Baggini | Prospect Magazine June 2007 issue 135

Julian Baggini looks at the 'priority principle' - whether services should be prioritised according to need or prior membership and contribution to a community

'Reply to Baggini' by Halima Begum | Prospect Magazine June 2007 issue 135

Halima Begum disputes the case for the priority principle: 'Does length of residence entitle you to a more durable stake in British society? Yes, it does, to a point but any well-meaning liberal country must also include some measures to support vulnerable groups and offer social protection to bring all its citizens to a level playing field.'

'Language games' by Bernard Crick | Prospect Magazine July 2006 issue 124

Whatever one means by Britishness, citizenship and integration, the language and some knowledge of the country are surely crucial. "The New and the Old" stressed the importance of language not just for work but to carry a culture. We saw Britishness, even before the Windrush, as an overarching political-legal culture...but a state that already had within it a diversity of national cultures and religious identities.'

Bill Rammell in the TES

'more than £3 billion through our adult Skills for Life Strategy since 2001 to support learners, including courses for 1.9 million Esol students. But demand for courses has tripled and continually increasing funding is unsustainable. In some parts of the country, there are waiting lists of 18 months to two years and this affects many of those in greatest need.'

Raising our game - LSC

Annual statement of priorities by the LSC. Sets out new funding arrangements and rationale.

NIACE ESOL final report

NIACE inquiry into ESOL.

2004 based national population projections (pdf)

Population predictions from the government's actuary dept.

Culture Clash or Culture Club? The Identity and Attitudes of Immigrants in Britain (pdf)

Really good paper from the Centre for Economic Performence. Looks at attitudes of different ethnic groups settling in Britain over time.

Employers should bear cost of immigration

Writes: 'Immigration creates winners and losers...Any sensible policy, whether it is to control pollution, traffic or immigration, must make those who create costs for society bear those costs. In the case of immigration, employers - what the Home Office identifies as "those who benefit from immigration" - should be required to reimburse society for the costs their decisions impose on it.' Concludes with plan for 'market-based' system where employers pay for work permits.

'Something for everyone' by Donald Hirsch | Prospect Magazine August 2007 issue 137

'"Progressive universalism," means "something for everyone, but more for the poor." This is being applied across the lifespan. Benefits and tax credits for children have both universal and targeted elements; the income thresholds for the child tax credit are very similar to the proposed student grant.'

A Common Language