English as a Second Language (ESL) assistance
ESL students are students whose first language is a language or dialect other than Standard Australian English and who require additional support to assist them to develop proficiency in English. These students need support with written and/or spoken English so they can access the curriculum.
You should include an ESL student on the Census form if they have been assessed as requiring assistance before Census Day, whether they are receiving support or not. The principal is the final decision-maker, but any qualified person can assess whether a student receives support. Usually a specialist ESL or learning support teacher will conduct this assessment.
Students needing support should be identified on at least an annual basis. The school may identify them through any one of a range of processes, for example, through observation and analysis of work samples by the classroom teacher, through observations of the student by the principal or other qualified teacher, through the results of targeted assessment (for example, National Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia ESL bandscales) or through any other appropriate process specific for ESL. Documentation supporting the principal's identification process (including, at a minimum, the basis for the decision) must be kept for a period of five years from Census Day, and in a way that ensures the integrity and security of the data and documents.
ESL students speak languages other than English as their first language(s). Many Indigenous students in Queensland have ESL learning needs. For many of these students, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language or Kriol is their first language. Many speak more than one of these languages or dialects before starting school.
Students whose first language is not English do not always require ESL assistance. Their proficiency in Standard English is determined at the local level to identify whether or not they require assistance so they can participate fully in mainstream classroom activities. Further information is available in Appendix 3.
ESL is also known as EAL/D (English as an additional language or dialect).
Students to exclude
- students whose first language is English
- students whose English proficiency has been improved to a typical classroom participation level
- students whose basic requirement is remedial English tuition
- overseas students who require ESL assistance (refer to Overseas Students in these instructions)
- students on visitor visas, bridging visas with study limitations or no visa who require ESL assistance (refer to Students on visitor visas, bridging visas with study limitations or no visa in these instructions)
For further information, contact:
- Independent Schools Queensland
- Catholic Education Diocesan offices for Diocesan Catholic non-state schools
- Queensland Catholic Education Commission for other Catholic non-State schools (for example, RI/PJP schools), or
- the NSSAB Secretariat.
Last updated 10 December, 2024