BEACONSFIELD INTENSIVE ENGLISH CENTRE

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

·         Students newly arrived to Australia requiring an intensive English language course may enrol in the IEC, however students must be permanent residents of Australia. Most students on temporary visas are ineligible to enrol, however some temporary visa categories are eligible or may be able to enrol depending on space being available. Please contact the Beaconsfield IEC Office on (08) 9335 5806 or the Department of Education ESL ESD Branch regarding this.

 

·         Students born in Australia to parents of migrant and refugee backgrounds who enter school for the first time and do not speak English are also eligible to enrol in the IEC (this includes children who have attended pre-primary).

 

·         Students returning to Australia after living overseas for a period of time who have limited or no English language skills may be eligible to attend the IEC.

For further information regarding students’ visa eligibility please contact: Education and Training International on (08) 9320 3743

The school and the wider Fremantle community have a rich multicultural environment evident in the diversity of languages, culture and ethnic backgrounds within the community. Our school community values the uniqueness of our school and celebrates this annually on the school’s Community Day.    Community Day is held in Term 1 during the week 'National Harmony Day' occurs.

 ENROLLING STUDENTS

Students may enrol at the IEC (during school terms) as soon as they arrive in Australia. Once enrolled, students are entitled to approximately twelve months intensive English language instruction. Students may be given additional time in the IEC, however the need for an extended program will be determined by the class teacher and IEC Deputy Principal.  An appointment with the IEC Deputy Principal must be made when enrolling a student. Enrolments may take several hours and where necessary, interpreters are provided. Parents/caregivers should provide original passport documents or birth certificates (for students born in Australia) and if available, relevant child immunisation documents and previous school reports.

Students from Limited Schooling Backgrounds

Students who have received less than three years of continuous schooling prior to arrival in Australia are classified as having limited schooling. These students can be given additional time in the IEC if necessary. This will be determined by the IEC class teacher and IEC Deputy Principal.

CLASS STRUCTURE

IEC classes are organized into broad age groupings:

·         Junior              6 - 7 years

·         Middle             8 – 9 years

·         Senior             10 – 12 years

The level a student is placed in is determined by the student’s age, prior educational background, physical development, emotional and social maturity. Within each level there are two phases: Phase 1 and Phase 2. The student’s level of English language proficiency at time of enrolment, determines which phase a student will be placed in.

 Phase 1 Classes:  These classes provide programs for newly arrived students with limited or no English language skills who are in the very early stages of learning English. Students born in Australia and entering school for the first time with limited or no English language skills may also enrol in the junior phase 1 class.

The phase 1 teacher focuses mainly on the development of oral language skills across the curriculum and related literacy skills. Students are introduced to the Australian culture and environment along with the new environment and routines of the school. Students will experience new ways of learning and develop the appropriate language to assist them when socialising with peers, teachers and the wider community.

Phase 2 Classes:  These classes provide programs for students who have developed sufficient oral language skills to effectively communicate orally with their peers, school staff and wider community. The teacher focuses mainly on the development of English literacy skills across the curriculum, however extending the student’s oral language skills continues as an integral part of the program. Students will continue and expand their experiences with the Australian culture and environment while also developing knowledge of the local community and Australian society.

SPECIALIST TRAINED TEACHERS

Teachers at Beaconsfield IEC are trained primary teachers with qualifications in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). They are also registered with the Western Australian College of Teaching. Most teachers have had many years of teaching experience. They all enjoy their work and enjoy working with children from different backgrounds.

	SPECIALIST LEARNING AREAS   Specialist teachers at Beaconsfield IEC provide specialist programs for students in: Physical Education
	Music   Drama   Art

ADDITIONAL STAFF

IEC Deputy Principal: The IEC Deputy Principal manages the intensive English program and may be contacted on (08) 9335 5806.

IEC School Officer: The IEC School Officer provides administrative support to the IEC Deputy Principal and staff, while also providing advice and assistance to IEC students and families regarding general aspects of the IEC.  The IEC School Officer may be contacted on 9335 5806.

Ethnic Education Assistants (EEAs): The EEAs assist teachers in the teaching & learning program and may also provide translating and interpreting (some languages) for parents and students (when necessary). The ESL program is not a bilingual program and EEAs are not used to deliver the teaching and learning program bilingually to students.

IEC School Psychologist: The IEC School Psychologist works collaboratively with IEC staff to address the specific academic, social and emotional needs of IEC students identified as being at educational risk. The IEC school psychologist is also available to provide advice to parents regarding the academic, social and emotional development of students.

IEC Student Support Worker (SSW): The IEC SSW works collaboratively with IEC staff to implement programs that best support students’ settlement into the Western Australian education system. The SSW also provides a supportive link between the child, the family, the IEC and other appropriate agencies in the community.

STAGE ONE ESL PROGRAM

Beaconsfield IEC provides an English as a Second Language (ESL) program for Stage one ESL students. This program aims to provide students with the English language skills and cultural understandings necessary for them to begin to access mainstream curriculum.  We believe this is best achieved by:

A secure supportive learning environment

• Addressing students’ educational, linguistic and cognitive needs.
• Providing a range of teaching approaches that are flexible and best suit the needs of the students
• Assisting students to adjust to the environment of the Australian school and wider community
• Promoting understanding and respect among cultural groups within the school community

Stage One ESL students newly arrived to Australia are learning Standard Australian English (SAE) for the first time and many will therefore have limited ability to demonstrate skills, knowledge and understandings across the curriculum equivalent to students who have SAE as their first language. For these students, the curriculum emphasis will be on developing English language communication skills across and through the curriculum while also being provided with language learning opportunities that emphasise and support learners in developing socio-cultural understandings related to SAE.

Additional Programs: The IEC middle and senior classes attend school camps at least once a year during a school term (3 – 4 days in duration). These camps provide students with the opportunity to practice their English language skills while interacting in an informal social setting with their peers and teachers. In addition to this, they are involved in many interesting and exciting activities that provide an insight into aspects of Australian lifestyle and the local environment.

Integration with the mainstream school: Students in IEC classes attend their own classes (full time) for their English language program, however there are many opportunities for integration with the mainstream school at Beaconsfield. IEC students are involved in:

• junior and whole school assemblies
• middle/senior school and interschool sport
• school choir (optional)
• year seven graduation assembly and dinner dance (year 7 IEC students only)
• school counsellor positions (students are voted into these positions by their peers)
• recess and lunch play sessions
• P&C Disco evenings (optional)
• whole school incursions
• school community days and evenings (all families invited)
• ‘buddy classes’ – IEC and mainstream classes form a buddy class and engage in a weekly shared lesson
• excursions outside the school (often with mainstream classes)

STUDENTS AT EDUCATIONAL RISK (SaER)

Students in the IEC identified as being at educational risk are monitored and targeted through individual education plans. These plans are developed in collaboration with the class teacher, IEC Deputy Principal and School Psychologist and address the academic, social and emotional needs of students (depending on the student’s area of need).

Additionally specific programs are also provided for groups of students to address common areas of need. Some programs provided are:

The Rainbows Program: This program fosters connection between refugee families and acknowledges & provides an opportunity to discuss the losses inherent in the refugee experience. Students and their parents recognise the challenges of settlement & explore parent’s hopes for a positive future. It promotes communication between new arrival families and the school.

ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING

The ESL ESD Progress Map is the monitoring, assessment and reporting tool used by ESL teachers in IECs with Stage 1 ESL students. This Progress Map is the relevant monitoring tool to be used for ESL students who do not have the English language proficiency that allows them to fully demonstrate their skills, knowledge and understandings across a range of contexts in English as described in the Outcomes and Standards Framework (OSF).

IEC students are reported on six monthly (from their time of enrolment in the IEC) as per the requirements of the Department of Education’s ‘Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Policy (CAR) K –10: Policy and Guidelines’. Parent interviews are held when students exit the IEC and given their final report however an appointment for a parent interview may be requested at any by parents or teachers when necessary.

Beaconsfield IEC has two Open Days in a school year. These are held in terms 1 and 3 and parents are invited to visit their child’s classroom to view the teaching learning program as well as receive additional information from the class teacher.

 

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