Department of Education

Schools

English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program

The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program provides intensive English language support for new arrival students Kindergarten to grade 12.

The Principal Education Officer EAL co-ordinates and manages the provision of English language support in Tasmanian schools.

The English as an Additional Language Program Guidelines 2012 (Word 784KB) contains an overview the department's EAL Program funding and resources, models of EAL Program implementation and practical information for principals and teachers.

If a student wants to enrol and English may not be their first language s/he may be eligible for EAL Program support. Below are two documents that can provide information to the school on how to proceed with the enrolment that will ensure that s/he receives appropriate support if deemed eligible.

If, after reading these documents, and are still unsure please contact Principal Education Officer EAL, on 6233 7719 or email.

EAL program eligible visas

EAL enrolment steps for EAL students

EAL Program New Arrival Support:

New arrival support is available to permanent residents and temporary (provisional) residents eligible for funding under the Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training EAL-New Arrivals Program guidelines. New arrival support is also available to dependents of temporary provisional spousal and family reuniting visas.

Newly arrived students may be:

refugee students
migrant students
adopted children

The general principles on which EAL program support is based are outlined in EAL Program Guidelines 2012 (Word 784KB).

EAL Program Ongoing Support

Ongoing support is available for students whose English is progressing but is still limited to a range of familiar social and educational settings. Ongoing support levels are determined according to individual needs.

Ongoing students may be:

refugee students
migrant students
children born in Australia but living in a family where a language other than English is spoken
children whose parents speak a restricted English at home, with this being the only language they have in common
children who have lived in Australia for several years but are experiencing difficulties with literacy due to limited experiences and insufficiently developed first language.

Temporary Residents

Children of families holding temporary residency visas (i.e., not permanent residents or Australian citizens) should not be enrolled in schools unless they are holding an Authority to Enrol issued by International Services.

EAL Program support is not available to some temporary residents including exchange students, full fee-paying students and children of visiting academics or professionals. These temporary residents are required to pay annual tuition fees to offset the costs of general education expenses and any additional support required. Enrolment of temporary residents and the collection of fees are coordinated through the Manager, International Services Office.