English for speakers of other languages
We fund a number of organisations to deliver classes, programmes and other support for teaching English to speakers of other languages.
Organisations delivering English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) include colleges, community learning and development services in local authorities, and third sector organisations.
Education Scotland, our national agency for quality and improvement in education, holds policy responsibility for ESOL which includes providing support to the sector and leading work on implementing the national ESOL strategy.
ESOL Strategy for Scotland
In 2007 we published the first national ESOL Strategy for Scotland, which called for national coordination to improve the quality of learning and teaching in ESOL.
In 2015 Education Scotland revised the ESOL Strategy for Scotland and aligned its aims to national objectives for adult learning in Scotland, with a focus on the learner.
More information can be found on the Education Scotland website.
Support for refugees and asylum seekers
ESOL forms a vital part of our work to support refugees and asylum seekers through the New Scots refugee integration strategy.
We funded Sharing Lives, Sharing Languages; an English language community learning pilot. It tested a peer education approach to English language learning to complement formal ESOL classes and bring refugees and the local community together.