ESOL Funding Policy

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Funding Policy

In the 2004 budget the government increased the level of ESOL funding for students from migrant and refugee backgrounds who have English as an additional language. These changes are being phased in over three years.
The table below shows the staged increase which will bring the total to approximately $24 million by 2007-8.

These increased funding levels reflect the more intensive provision required for migrant and refugee students in their first years in New Zealand schools. The longer period of eligibility recognises research findings that consolidating the language for learning in school may take at least five years.
The additional funding required for supporting 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.
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

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

• $800 a year at primary level (Years 0 - 6), - i.e. 4 terms at $200
• $1,100 at intermediate level (Years 7 and 8) - i.e. 4 terms at $275
• $1,400 a year at secondary level (Years 9 -14) - i.e. 4 terms at $350

2. Students in their second and third years of ESOL funding will be funded at:

• $600 a year at primary and intermediate level.
• $800 a year at secondary level.

3. Students from refugee backgrounds will receive funding as follows:

• $1,200 a year - i.e. 8 terms at $300 a term in their first two years at primary or intermediate level..
• $1,800 a year - i.e. 8 terms at $450 in their first two years at secondary level.
• $600 a year in their third, fourth and fifth years at primary and intermediate level.
• $800 a year in their third, fourth and fifth years at secondary level.

4. A five year entitlement to ESOL support has been phased in for all migrant (excluding New Zealand born) students. All migrant, as well as refugee background students, who score below the benchmark on the ESOL/AF will be entitled to receive ESOL funding support for up to 5 years (20 terms).

5. New Zealand born students (of migrant or refugee parents) are eligible for 3 years (12 terms) funding after their first 2 terms in school. They will be funded at $600 a year.

Making 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.

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 NZ 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 Maori 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.
• 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.
• Photocopies of the appropriate documentation from Immigration must be attached for refugee students.

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