Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Education on why kindergarten and pre-primary students aren't funded for English as a Second Language (ESL)/English Language Development (ELD) in the same way as Years 1-12 under the new funding model. The Minister clarifies existing EAL funding and support mechanisms.

AnsweredQoN 1042Legislative Council
Asked
24 September 2014
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

STUDENT-CENTRED
FUNDING MODEL — KINDERGARTEN AND PREPRIMARY
1042. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
Why has the government not used the rollout of the new
funding model to fund kindergarten and compulsory preprimary students in the
same way as it has funded students in years 1–12 for English as a
second language/English language development?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
English as an additional language, or EAL, has always been
funded from years 1–12. This has not changed under the new model.
Kindergarten and preprimary settings provide stimulating, interactive learning
environments that support the language development of EAL students. In these
settings, children use and practise the skills of language and literacy that
have been systematically taught. Teachers can also access a wide variety of
support to meet the learning needs of EAL students. Support includes a team of
EAL consultants, teacher development schools, professional learning, and
materials available from the EAL resource and information centre. There are
three preprimary intensive English programs at existing Intensive English
Centres located at Koondoola, Nollamara and Eddystone Primary Schools that are
an exception. These centres provide support to meet the specific needs of
humanitarian entrants who have experienced significant trauma.

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