Immersive English Language Training (IELT)

Description

UK Home Office's International Directorate is currently engaged, to provide and manage English language (EL) training to specified police and law enforcement sectors. EL training will initially comprise two phases: • Overseas testing and general EL training • Immersive general EL training in UK Below sets out the requirements for UK-based EL suppliers, tendering to provide immersive general EL training to learners. Overseas training partner British Council (BC) has been selected as the overseas training partner for this programme and a contract is in place. By overseas we mean training in the end clients’ home country – the immersive training which forms this procurement is conducting in the UK. This PIN relates exclusively to UK based immersive language training courses conducted in UK language schools in the UK. Tendering EL suppliers are required to be willing and able to work with BC and other training partners where necessary, to provide a strongly aligned learning experience to learners. Overseas EL testing and training Learners selected to undergo EL training will be tested using APTIS, a BC-developed English language proficiency test. The test comprises 5 components (grammar and vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, speaking) with results based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Once tested, learners will undergo up to 6 months’ fulltime general EL training in home country, and on completion of the programme be retested using APTIS. Immersive general EL training in UK On completion of overseas EL training, selected learners who have a reached a minimum of CEFR level A2 in final testing, will undergo a period of IELT in UK. Following IELT in UK, returning learners may be retested using APTIS, for benchmarking purposes and evaluation of learner progression. Outcomes On completion of 3 months’ IELT: • Learners at CEFR A2 level on entry, are expected to have progressed to CEFR B1 level (minimum) on completion of studies • Learners at CEFR B1 level on entry, are expected to have progressed to CEFR B1+ level (minimum) on completion of studies Accreditation Tendering EL suppliers are required to hold British Council accreditation (Accreditation UK) or equivalent for running EL courses in UK, and provide details of their most recent inspection report. British Council (BC) accreditation, otherwise referred to as Accreditation UK, is a quality assurance scheme for the English language teaching industry in the UK and is managed by the British Council in association with English UK. Accreditation under the scheme demonstrates that a provider has achieved professional standards in its internal management, teaching, resources, environment, student welfare and safeguarding of under 18s. The scheme's requirements are among the most rigorous in the world and also one of the Home Office approved inspection schemes. Our requirements necessitate a very high standard and adopting an assurance scheme such as this, helps to ensure the delivery quality of any successful providers who wish to supply the services to us. Interested organisations will be required to hold this BC accreditation or equivalent. All bidding suppliers’ instructors must hold the following accreditations: • ADVANCED - Cambridge DELTA or Trinity Diploma (These are called TEFL-Q qualifications)