English Language: Education

(asked on 23rd March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the sufficiency of teachers qualified to teach English as a second language to Ukrainian speakers.


Answered by
Robin Walker Portrait
Robin Walker
This question was answered on 28th March 2022

The department is preparing to make sure all school-age children who resettle from Ukraine are able to access education. We are working across government on this and will set out more details when available.

Just like any other children living in the UK, Ukrainian children have a right to attend school in England. Local authorities are obliged to offer suitable schooling. All school-age children arriving from Ukraine will be eligible.

Schools are responsible for ensuring that all their pupils, including those who have a first language other than English, develop the English language skills they require to access the curriculum and achieve their potential. Schools are experienced in supporting children with English as an additional language. The expectation that they should do so is set out in the Teachers’ Standards. It is also covered in initial teacher training (ITT) courses.

All ITT courses must be designed to allow trainees to meet the teachers’ standards, including standard 5. This states that teachers adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils. Standard 5 is clear that all teachers must have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with English as an additional language. The Teachers’ Standards are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-standards.

Ukrainians aged 19+ and their family members settled under the Ukraine Family Scheme, and the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) in the UK, can access training to gain the skills they need to move on with their lives. This includes provision funded through the Adult Education Budget, including ESOL, and level 3 free courses for job offer.

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