Skills minister John Hayes has pledged more effective, targeted help for people who face barriers to learn community-based English.

This week, the government introduced an equality impact assessment of provision for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training. Hays has also announced that BIS will work in partnership with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on developing new forms of support for those who need informal, community-based learning of English.

From August this year, ESOL courses will target those actively seeking work on Jobseekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance (Work Related Activity Group). As part of a broader move towards rebalancing the investment in skills between government, the employer and the learner, other eligible learners or their employers will be required to make a contribution towards the costs of their ESOL course.

The measures include:

·     BIS will work in partnership with DCLG on developing new forms of support for those who need informal, community-based learning of English

·     Reiterating the offer of fully funded ESOL training for jobseekers to help them gain the language skills they need to get into work.

·     For further education colleges and training organisations, a clearer remit to provide good quality English Language provision that employers are willing to pay for.

Over the summer, BIS and the DCLG will work together to establish criteria for targeted local projects that meet community needs.

Hayes said: “By targeting public funding on those in greatest need, and setting higher standards for providers, our reforms will make ESOL provision work better for learners, employers and taxpayers.”