ESOL funding

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) funding

The differentiated funding levels described below reflect the more intensive provision required for migrant and refugee students in their first years in New Zealand schools and recognise research findings that consolidating the language for learning in school may take at least five years.

The additional level of support for those who are beginning to learn English as older learners at intermediate and secondary levels, and the challenge of providing for learning new skills across a range of curriculum areas in a new language, is acknowledged in the higher rate of funding for students from year 7 onwards.

The funding levels also reflect the more intensive support students from refugee backgrounds may require due to limited prior schooling or interruptions to their education.

New Zealand born students are eligible, providing at least one of their parents is a migrant to New Zealand and a language other than English is usually spoken in the home. In accordance with best practice these students will not be eligible for ESOL funding until after 2 terms in school. This will enable schools, after this initial period of applying good first literacy practice (as described in Effective Literacy Practice in Years 1 to 4) to accurately identify significant English language learning needs.

ESOL funding levels

Note: ESOL funding levels have previously been stated as GST inclusive amounts.
They are now stated below as GST exclusive amounts.

Newly arrived migrant students (in their first year in a New Zealand school) will be funded at:

• $712 GST exclusive a year at primary level (years 0 - 6)
• $978 GST exclusive a year at intermediate level (years 7 and 8)
• $1,245 GST exclusive a year at secondary level (years 9 -14)

Students in their second and subsequent years of ESOL funding will be funded at:

• $534 GST exclusive a year at primary and intermediate level
• $712 GST exclusive a year at secondary level.

Students from refugee backgrounds will receive funding as follows:

• $1,067 GST exclusive a year in their first two years at primary or intermediate level
• $1,600 GST exclusive a year in their first two years at secondary level
• $534 GST exclusive a year in their third, fourth and fifth years at primary and intermediate level
• $712 GST exclusive a year in their third, fourth and fifth years at secondary level.

New Zealand born students (of migrant or refugee parents) are eligible in Years 0 -4. They will be funded at:

• $534 GST exclusive a year after their first 2 terms in school.

Period of entitlement

All migrant and refugee background students, who score below the benchmark on the ESOL/AF, are entitled to ESOL funding for up to five years (20 terms).

New Zealand born students (of migrant or refugee background parents), who score below the benchmark on the ESOL/AF, are entitled to ESOL funding for up to three years (12 terms).

Making an application for ESOL funding

The following action sheet details how to make application for funding for using your ESOL Status List.

In the weeks prior to the closing date update the information on the Status List.

• Check the accuracy of the information and make any corrections.
• Enter the revised assessment scores.
• Identify students who have left the school, exceeded the benchmark or, if New Zealand born, have had more than four years in a New Zealand school.

then...

Complete the ESOL/AP forms for any new students using the three different forms (available below as downloads) as appropriate:

• ESOL/AP - NZ New Zealand born students of migrant parents. Schools must be able to verify that these students are children of migrant parents
• ESOL/AP - M NESB students from a migrant background
• ESOL/AP - R students from a refugee background

Please ensure the following considerations are made:

• All information must be provided including dates of entry to New Zealand (except for New Zealand born students). The applications cannot be processed if the information is not provided.
• Please carefully check the eligibility of the students. Students whose first language is Māori or English are not eligible.
• If the student has transferred from another school contact the school to get their ESOL reference number and include this on the application form.
• Ensure the National Student Number is entered.
• Take care that names are spelled correctly and the information is accurate.
• An assessment score of 0 should only be entered if the student is at the `minimal English' stage as described in Part 2 of the ESOL/AF.
• Photocopies of the appropriate documentation from Immigration must be attached for refugee students.

then...

Post the Status List application forms for new students and the documentation for refugee students to reach the Ministry of Education by the closing date to:
National Migrant, Refugee and International ESOL Team, Ministry of Education
Private Bag 92644, Symonds Street, Auckland 1150