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How schools support children to learn English
Students and their parents and carers with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are valued as part of the ACT’s culturally inclusive school environment. Our schools offer supports to promote inclusivity and intercultural understanding in responsive, culturally aware learning environments.
Schools provide support for English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) learners who are still developing proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. The ACT Education Directorate funds schools to support EAL/D learners so they can receive English language instruction from a qualified teacher. A needs-based model is used so a student’s English language proficiency determines eligibility and the level of support given at school. Levels of proficiency are guided by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Association (ACARA) EAL/D Learning Progression within the Australian Curriculum 
.
Students in Years 11 and 12 may study a Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) EAL course to develop academic English skills in order to prepare them for tertiary study.
Introductory English Centre locations
Introductory English Centres (IECs) are co-located in six mainstream schools across Canberra. IECs provide intensive English language support to newly arrived students in Kindergarten to Year 12 with little or no English. IECs are a safe and inviting place to introduce school life in Australia to students.
You will need to enrol your child in your local school. The school will complete an English language assessment and speak with you further before making a referral to an IEC near your home. The IEC will make contact and will arrange an IEC visit so that you can decide if you would like to accept an IEC placement for your child. Students in primary schools may access an IEC for 20 weeks and secondary students may access an IEC for 30 weeks. After this time, students will graduate and return to their local area school.
The six IEC locations:
- Belconnen Primary Introductory English Centre (BPIEC) at Charnwood Dunlop School – Phone: 6142 2685
- Northside Primary Introductory English Centre (NPIEC) at North Ainslie Primary School – Phone: 6142 0767
- Southside Primary Introductory English Centre (SPIEC) at Hughes Primary School – Phone: 6142 0731
- Tuggeranong Primary Introductory English Centre (TPIEC) at Wanniassa Hills Primary School – Phone: 6142 0616
- Gungahlin Primary Introductory English Centre (GPIEC) at Franklin School – Phone: 6142 1110
- Secondary Introductory English Centre (SIEC) at Dickson College – Phone: 6142 0149
Interpreter services at schools
If English is not your first language and you feel more comfortable speaking in your own language you can ask the school for an interpreter. This will not cost you any money. The interpreters generally provide their services over the phone and are organised through the National Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) .
You can attend parent-teacher interviews and meetings with an interpreter organised by the school. If you need to raise any issues about your child’s learning during the meeting, you are welcome to ask questions.
How to support your child’s learning at school
Advice for Parents provides CALD parents with strategies to engage with schools to support their children's educational needs. The advice has been translated into 12 high population languages: Arabic, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari, Farsi, Hindi, Karen, Korean, Mandarin, Mon, Urdu and Vietnamese.
- Advice for Parents
(1.1 MB) - Advice for Parents - Arabic (1.2 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Burmese (1.2 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Cantonese (1.3 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Dari (1.2 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Farsi (1.2 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Hindi (1.3 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Karen (1.2 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Korean (1.3 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Mandarin (1.3 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Mon (1.2 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Urdu (1.2 MB)
- Advice for Parents - Vietnamese (1.2 MB)
More information
Please email EALD@act.gov.au with your questions. Alternatively, you may view the EAL/D Learner Policy and associated EAL/D Learner School Procedures.