English as a second language (ESL) program

The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program provides intensive English language support for new arrival students Kindergarten to grade 12.

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

The English as a Second Language Program Guidelines 2007 contains an overview the department's ESL Program funding and resources, models of ESL Program implementation and practical information for principals and teachers.

Guidelines are available in Word and pdf formats:
ESL Program Guidelines 2008 - PDF [449KB]
ESL Program Guidelines 2008 - Word [583KB]

ESL 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 ESL-New Arrivals Program guidelines.

Newly arrived students may be:

refugee students
migrant students
adopted children

New arrival support is also available to dependents of temporary provisional spousal and family reuniting visas.

The general principles on which ESL program support is based are outlined in Models of Implementation.

ESL 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

ESL Program support is not available to temporary residents including exchange students, full fee-paying students and children of visiting academics or professionals. 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.