ESOL

At St Clair School, many of our students were born in other countries or are children of migrant parents. Many of our students speak or understand another language, some more than one, and for many, English is not their primary language at home.

At St Clair School, we are committed to helping English language learners (ELL) develop the confidence and skills they need to participate fully in school life and achieve success in their learning.

Students who receive Ministry of Education ESOL funding are supported through our targeted ESOL support programme, delivered by two highly experienced ESOL Learning Assistants. Students typically receive support on a weekly basis, often through multiple sessions each week, depending on their individual needs.

International, fee paying students who are ELLs will also be supported by an ESOL learning programme, delivered as above.  This will enable them to engage in their authentic New Zealand class programme, with access to additional language support.

Support may be provided in small groups or through individual learning sessions and focuses on developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Our programme caters for learners at all stages of English language development, from foundation English through to more advanced language proficiency.

Teaching and learning are guided by English language assessments, ongoing progress monitoring, and close collaboration with classroom teachers. This ensures that support is tailored to each learner’s strengths, needs, and classroom programme.

Who Can Receive ESOL Funding?

Ministry of Education ESOL funding is available for eligible students who are learning English. It is not available for fee-paying international students.

Eligible students must be one of the following:

• Migrants to New Zealand
• Former refugees
• New Zealand-born students with at least one parent of migrant or refugee background, where a language other than English is usually spoken at home

Eligibility and funding are determined according to Ministry of Education criteria and English language assessment information.

Our goal at St Clair School is to help students build confidence, develop strong communication skills, and successfully engage with all areas of learning while celebrating the languages, cultures, and experiences they bring to our school community.