We recognise that language skills are crucial to help people integrate into life in England, as well as to break down barriers to work and career progression. That is why we want to support all adults in England to secure the English language skills they need.

The department funds English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision for eligible adults aged 19 and over through the Adult Education Budget (AEB).

All Afghan adults who are being resettled through the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), will be immediately eligible for Further Education 19+ funding (including ESOL), by virtue of having ‘indefinite leave to remain’ status, as per the current AEB funding rules.

In addition, the Home Office provides £850 to local authorities for each adult resettled to the UK under ARAP or ACRS so they can access additional English language tuition in their first year.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is funded within the adult education budget (AEB). We publish provider allocations for the AEB on gov.uk at 19+ funding allocations here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/19-funding-allocations#published-allocations. We do not allocate funding for ESOL separately within that budget.

From academic year 2019/20 part of the AEB was devolved to mayoral combined authorities and the Greater London Authority and so is not included in these published figures.

The government is also providing funding for those in the Homes for Ukraine Scheme at a rate of £10,500 per person to councils to enable them to provide support to Ukrainian families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities, which is unringfenced and therefore can also be spent on ESOL. The £10,500 for Ukrainian nationals is for the first year. We will review funding for future years in due course.

The department funds education and training, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for adults aged 19 and over, through the adult education budget (AEB). With effect from 1 August 2019, approximately half the AEB has been devolved to 6 mayoral combined authorities and delegated to the Mayor of London acting through the Greater London Authority (GLA). These authorities are now responsible for funding adult education provision, including ESOL, for learners who are resident in their areas.

As the London Borough of Hounslow is within the area of the GLA, they are now responsible for commissioning and funding ESOL provision for adults who are resident in their areas, rather than the department.