MESSAGE TO ESOL STAKEHOLDERS:ESOL and Functional Skills

Department for Business Innovation and Skills

MESSAGE TO ESOL STAKEHOLDERS The current ESOL Skills for Life qualifications, like Functional Skills qualifications, are based on the National Standards for Literacy and Numeracy and have been extended in their current form until 2012. ESOL qualifications and assessment methods can be improved. However, after consultation with stakeholders, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills believes it would be inappropriate, without more research and testing, to replace ESOL Skills for Life qualifications with Functional English qualifications from 2012. This research will take place in early 2010 and involve consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. The research will look at the needs of ESOL learners, the fitness for purpose of ESOL qualifications in relation to Functional Skills and enable us to take a view on the best way forward. November 2009 John Mackie Policy Adviser, ESOL Policy Team Department for Business, Innovation and Skills