English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Cambridge is a proud city of sanctuary and as the local Council we want to ensure that all residents have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations. We know that many refugees are likely to have had their education or employment disrupted due to displacement caused by war and/or persecution.

Refugees may face additional challenges to restarting education or employment due to having a low-level English and a lack of available English classes. This can lead to refugees relying on low-skilled or temporary employment. This contract aims to reduce this disadvantage by providing quick access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. The successful supplier will:

• Be an experienced and accredited ESOL provider with a pool of qualified teachers

• Recognise the intrinsic link between English skills and being able to navigate life in the UK, such as finding employment

• Provide all clients with access to an ESOL classes within 1-month of arriving in Cambridge for a minimum of 8-hours per week, including an initial assessment to gage individual ESOL levels across reading, writing, speaking and listening.

• Enrol clients for ESOL exams when ready

The service will be primarily aimed at those who have travelled on the following Government schemes:

o Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP)

o UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)

o Homes for Ukraine (HfU) and Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE)

Regional and local authority data on some of these groups can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-regional-and-local-authority-data

However, needs may change overtime and therefore it is important that the supplier is able to work with any refugee or asylum-seeking group. The supplier will recognise that world events can quickly influence what is required and who may need to access a service. The service must be flexible to needs and demonstrate a sound understanding of different customs and cultures and delivering a service to people who have experienced trauma.