Assessing ESOL students

The purpose of the Assessment Form (ESOL/AF) is to:

• determine each student’s eligibility for ESOL funding;
• record the progress of each student during the funding period.

For ESOL funding purposes, the Ministry of Education requires schools to identify and assess students with high English language needs. The assessment criteria follow the developmental path in English in the New Zealand Curriculum and at the same time take into account the language needs across all curriculum areas. The assessment will enable schools to look at the student’s listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English.

The Assessment Form ESOL/AF

The assessment form has four steps that should be completed in sequence for all students.

1. Part 1: Individual profile
2. Part 2: Initial assessment
3. Part 3: Assessment of listening, speaking, reading, and writing
4. Part 4: Cumulative record of student assessment.

Instructions for completing the Assessment Form ESOL/AF

• Print multiple copies of the Assessment Form (ESOL/AF), from the download below, and use one copy for each student. Enter the student’s details into the ESOL/AF.
• A summary of the information will need to be transferred to the Application Form (ESOL/AP), for each new student.
• Retain the Assessment Form (ESOL/AF) as part of the student records. When a student transfers to another school please forward the assessment form to the new school.
• Note that the assessments should be reviewed every 6 months and more frequently for students at the Minimal English stage.
• From time to time verifiers will ensure that schools are targeting the most appropriate students by conducting an audit of assessment procedures and student records. This may take the form of a visit to the school or a postal or telephone verification.

Note: The Ministry has produced the ESOL Funding Assessment Guidelines to assist teachers with the assessment of students. They contain exemplars, including assessment models and examples of good practice.