English as a Second Language and English as a Second Dialect

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Services ESL programs in selected schools of the Department support ESL students to attain English language proficiency necessary for successful participation in mainstream schooling. ESL students are classified into stages which generally relate to program provision. Stage 1 Student a student who has recently arrived in Australia and is in the first twelve months of primary or secondary schooling in Australia; or a student who attends an Intensive English Centre (IEC), has a limited schooling back ground and is within the first two years of his/her schooling in Australia; or a student who is entering his/her first year of compulsory schooling with little or no English language proficiency, either born in Australia or overseas. Eligible Stage 1 students are entitled to about a year's full-time English language instruction at an Intensive English Centre. If ESL students need to travel from outside the host school’s intake area to attend an IEC, school bus services or public transport cards are provided Stage 2 Student a primary school age student who has been in Australia for less than two years of compulsory age schooling ( this does not include kindergarten or pre-primary) ; or a secondary school age student who has been in an Australian school for less than three years; or a student who has attended an IEC, is of a limited schooling background and has been in an Australian school for less than four years. Eligible Stage 2 students may attend an ESL Support or Cell program. Mainstream teachers in schools without an ESL program and with Stage 2 ESL students in their classes may contact an ESL Visiting Teacher for support. Stage 3 Student a primary school age student who has received more than two years specialist ESL assistance; or a secondary school age student who has received more than three years specialist ESL assistance; or a primary or secondary school age student, of limited schooling background, who has attended an IEC and has received more than four years specialist ESL assistance. Limited Schooling a student who has received less than three years of continuous schooling prior to his/her arrival in Australia.