Citizenship materials for ESOL learners’ development project

Project Status: Completed

[Duration] [NIACE's Role] [NIACE Contacts] [ Key Partners ] [Project History]

Duration of project

Start: February 2004
End: March 2006

NIACE's Role

Project Leader

NIACE Contacts

Chris Taylor
Development Officer
0116 2044267 or chris.taylor@niace.org.uk

Key partners

LLU+, London South Bank University

Project History

The Citizenship Materials for ESOL learners project was led by NIACE and LLU+ at London South Bank University. The initiative is part of the new Government strategy to make becoming a UK citizen a more meaningful event. From November 2005, there are two routes to naturalisation. Applicants with sufficient English language skills can take an online, multiple choice citizenship test, Life in the UK, at any of the 90 Life in the UK Test centres. Applicants who need to improve their English language skills can follow an ESOL course, using the new Citizenship Materials for ESOL learners pack.

The pack was written in consultation with a very wide range of ESOL teachers and learners who were involved in every stage of the project. A draft pack of the learning materials was piloted from October 2004 with eighteen ESOL providers. The teachers’ feedback was overwhelming positive. One of the NIACE consultants reported: “I’ve observed some lessons where the materials have generated considerable interest and discussion…”. A Tower Hamlets College learner said: “it has been very useful and helpful and I would recommend it to other students”. Working with the ESOL teachers in the pilot organisations, NIACE and LLU+ selected further materials to add to the pack and improved the format. From January 2005, the draft Citizenship materials for ESOL learners pack was launched nationwide. The pack was introduced to ESOL teachers at familiarisation workshops, across England and in Glasgow. There was further consultation with ESOL teachers at these workshops. The feedback was positive from the workshops. Delegates commented on the “excellent materials” and said the Citizenship materials pack was very professionally produced.

The pilot project ended with a dissemination event in London in May 2005 with Sir Bernard Crick as the guest speaker. At the event, the ESOL providers and learners showcased their work in a range of workshops.

From October 2005, further familiarisation workshops were held in England and two in Wales. Two types of workshops were available: a half-day workshop for ESOL managers and a full day workshop for ESOL teachers. In all, nearly 2,000 ESOL teachers were trained to use the learning materials. 88% of the delegates said their assessment of the workshops was “very satisfied” and 97% of the delegates were “very satisfied” with the materials.

A further four workshops took place in Scotland in February 2006 and two workshops were held in Northern Ireland in September 2006.

Copies of the final pack, improved as a result of feedback from the pilot, are now available from the Citizenship materials for ESOL learners pack website. Set up in September 2005, the website allows ESOL teachers to download and order hard copies of the Citizenship materials for ESOL learners pack.

Visit the website at: www.esolcitizenship.org.uk .
There is currently an English, Scottish and Northern Ireland version of the pack available on this website.

National contacts:

Chris Taylor
Development Officer, NIACE
chris.taylor@niace.org.uk 
0116 204 4267

Helen Sunderland
Head of ESOL, LLU+
London South Bank University
helen.sunderland@lsbu.ac.uk
020 7815 6285

For further details regarding the project please contact: Chris Taylor, Development Officer, NIACE
chris.taylor@niace.org.uk 

Other documents you may find useful:

Delivering Skills for Life: FACT SHEET 7 (PDF file) – New regulations on the processes for confirming the English language ability of citizenship applicants: implications for LSC-funded providers, November 2005 (supersedes information in Fact Sheet 5 - New language requirements for naturalisation/citizenship: impact on LSC-funded provision, issued in September 2004).

The New & Old, the report of the “Life in the United Kingdom” Advisory Group is available from the Home Office Social Policy Unit, 6th Floor Apollo House, Croydon CR9 3RR. The Advisory Group was chaired by Sir Bernard Crick.
Email: imran.khan@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

The 'Life in the United Kingdom - A journey to Citizenship' is available from: TSO, PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Email book.orders@tso.co.uk at £9.99.

The Government White Paper: Secure Borders, Safe Haven (Integration with Diversity in Modern Britain)
To purchase this document please see the link below:
http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm53/5387/cm5387.htm

The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
Please see attached link: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20020041.htm

Please view this link for information relating to Citizenship materials for ESOL learners in the UK. The paper describes the regulations for would-be citizens and provides some background to current citizenship initiatives.
www.lsbu.ac.uk/lluplus/docs/Reports/Citizenship_materials_for_ESOL_learners_in_the_UK.pdf

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