Under the Commonwealth Government Targeted Programs assistance to independent schools is provided to improve the educational outcomes and opportunities for identified students. The Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW) has responsibility for administering the ESL – New Arrivals Program (ESL-NA Program) for independent schools in NSW. The ESL-NA Program provides funding to assist with the cost of delivering intensive English language tuition to eligible newly arrived migrant primary and secondary school students.

The main objective of this program is to improve the educational opportunities and outcomes of students who have recently arrived in Australia, whose first language is not English and whose proficiency in the English language is determined, at the local level, to require intensive assistance to enable them to participate fully in mainstream classroom activities.

Eligible students must be assessed as requiring education assistance through an intensive ESL course. At the time of enrolling in the initial course of intensive English language instruction must be undertaking primary or secondary education at a non-government school or have enrolled at a non-government school as a primary or secondary student.

If entering the first year of primary schooling, the student must have enrolled in an intensive English class funded under this Program within 18 months of either arriving in Australia or being issued with a temporary visa under the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Program.

If entering any other year of schooling (i.e. other than the first year of primary schooling), the student must have enrolled in an intensive English class funded under this Program within six months of arrival in Australia or within six months of being granted a temporary visa under the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Program.

Whilst undertaking an intensive English language course, an eligible student must hold a non-humanitarian visa or a humanitarian visa as specified by the Minister.

For primary students, the NSW Board of Studies English K-6 Syllabus indicates the ESL Scales’ levels students need to be operating at to achieve the outcomes at the bottom of each page of outcomes. Those students who are functioning two levels below the indicated levels will require intensive English support. 

For secondary students, any student who has not yet demonstrated an achievement at Level 4 of the ESL Scales in any mode of language is deemed to be in need of intensive ESL support.