1. South-East Glasgow ESOL Advice, Support and Entry (EASE) Service Workshop Robin Ashton Kate Anderson

2. Purpose of workshop 1.Discuss and share knowledge of issues related to: a)the identification of barriers ESOL learners face in accessing ESOL b)actions which can help to remove these 2.Examine the South-East Glasgow ESOL Advice, Support and Entry (EASE) Service.

3. Activity 1 1.Describe your learner to your group. 2.Discuss: –What issues would you need to consider in placing that learner? –How you would deal with these issues at your organisation?

4. Activity 1: Feedback Possible Issues: –Learner availability –Cost of provision –Learner status (e.g. visa or asylum restrictions) –Location of provision –Non-ESOL support needs (e.g. childcare, literacy support, study support, etc.)

5. More complicated than... LearnerProvisionSuccess!

6. Activity 2 1.Create a list of things an ESOL learner might need to know before choosing an appropriate ESOL course. 2.Discuss how these needs might be met.

7. South-East Glasgow Context Learner needs: Information and advice on: –available ESOL provision –learners’ own ESOL levels Solution: ESOL Advice, Support and Entry (EASE) Service provided across the South-East Glasgow area.

8. EASE Service: Essentials 1. ESOL Providers’ Network to: a)Standardise level names b)Share provision information 2. EASE Service provided across the area giving new ESOL learners access to: a)An ESOL initial assessment undertaken by a qualified ESOL practitioner b)A formal record of a learner’s current ESOL level accepted as valid by all ESOL providers c)Information, advice and support to access appropriate local ESOL provision including maps and travel information

10. EASE Service: Headline Figures 1,370 new ESOL learners interviewed in first 11 months of service operation Of the 859 learners interviewed between 01/04/09 and 30/09/09 –77 nationalities were recorded. The largest group were those from Pakistan (21 %) –82% EASE Service users provided a recognisable Glasgow postcode. Of these 50% were resident in the SE Glasgow area –62% of all EASE Service users were offered a place on an ESOL course in the SE Glasgow area (80% of SE Glasgow only EASE Service users) –42% of all EASE Service users took up an ESOL place in SE Glasgow (54% of SE Glasgow only EASE Service users)

11. Ease Service: Place of Residence of Service Users

12. EASE Service: Prioritisation of Local Residents

13. EASE Service: Allowing Demand to Direct Supply

14. EASE Service: Benefits For learners: –On-demand access to advice and information on own ESOL level and relevant local provision enabling learners to make informed decisions about their own learning pathway For providers: –Accurate demand information allowing provision supply to be tailored to meet demand

15. EASE Service: Further Developments Additional Services: –EASE Service Study Support Packs –EASE Service website –EASE Service support worker City-wide expansion –CPP funded consultation exercise to scope out resource requirements for Glasgow-wide EASE Service

16. Standardised Assessment: Further Information What needs to be standardised? –level names –criteria of assessing learner output What resources exist? –www.learnesol.comwww.learnesol.com –Stevenson College report –Scottish Government developments (www.esolscotland.com)www.esolscotland.com

17. Robin Ashton Langside College 0141 272 3615 rashton@langside.ac.uk