ESOL: Summer school provision

Curriculum spotlight

ESOL: Summer school provision

Supporting newly arrived learners to build essential English skills.

For many newly arrived learners, the summer period is not a break – it is a critical window. A school or college place may be confirmed for September, but without sufficient English language skills, that transition can be overwhelming. The gap between arriving in the UK and being ready to engage in education is real, and for many young people it is the difference between settling in and falling behind from day one.

Tute’s ESOL curriculum is available as a structured summer provision, giving local authorities and educational settings a practical way to support learners between arrival and September enrolment.

With rolling entry and fast-track enrolment within 48 hours, it is designed to work within exactly this kind of transitional period.

What is Tute’s ESOL curriculum?

Tute’s ESOL curriculum delivers structured, live online lessons for secondary and adult learners. Lessons are taught by qualified teachers in small groups of up to 12 students. The curriculum is aligned with the ESOL Skills for Life framework and covers two levels for summer provision: Pre-entry and Entry Level 1.

Rather than a generic English curriculum, ESOL is designed specifically around the real-world language demands newly arrived learners face such as learning how to:

Communicate in spoken and written forms for everyday situations

Read and interpret information encountered in daily life in the UK

Build cultural understanding and confidence to engage with education and community

When to consider Summer ESOL provision

The right support at

the right time

Starting ESOL provision during the summer means that gap is used productively. By the time a September place becomes available, the learner arrives with a foundation in place, able to communicate with peers, follow instruction, and begin to engage with their new setting from the first week.

ESOL summer provision is the right route where a learner:

Has limited or no English on arrival into the UK
Is waiting for a school or college placement to become available
Needs to demonstrate a level of English readiness ahead of post-16 enrolment
Has been identified as needing language support before mainstream participation is viable

Summer ESOL courses

Two courses are available as summer provision. Both run for six weeks and are available for KS3, KS4, and post-16 learners.

Pre-entry

Pre-entry is the starting point for learners who are new to the English language. The course introduces spoken and written English through foundational vocabulary, letters, and phonics, giving learners the building blocks they need to begin engaging with language in a school or college setting.

By the end of the six weeks, learners are prepared to progress into the Pre-entry full programme in September.

Entry Level 1

Entry Level 1 is for learners who have some basic English already. The course focuses on spoken and written English for everyday use, with a particular emphasis on language for school and college. This includes communicating with teachers, understanding routines, and navigating the practical language demands of a new educational setting.

By the end of the six weeks, learners are better positioned to access mainstream or ESOL college provision from September.

Beyond summer ESOL provision

Pre-entry and Entry Level 1 are also available as part of Tute’s full ESOL programme throughout the academic year along with the following courses:

English Entry Level 2
English Entry Level 3
English Citizenship
Maths Entry Level 1
Maths Entry Level 2

English Entry Level 2

Duration: One half term

Content: Builds on Entry Level 1 with more varied reading, writing, and spoken English across everyday and work-related contexts. Topics include transport, shopping, looking for work, and understanding the UK education system.

English Entry Level 3

Duration: One half term

Content: Develops greater independence in spoken and written English, preparing learners for further education and employment. Topics include healthcare, technology, local communities, and working life.

English Citizenship

Duration: One lesson per week, full academic year

Content: A complementary strand running alongside ESOL provision. Introduces British culture, values, and civic life through topics including rights and responsibilities, government, diversity, and careers.

Maths Entry Level 1

Duration: Up to four half terms, starting half term three or four

Content: Foundational maths developed alongside English language skills. Covers whole numbers, basic calculations, measurement, and simple data handling in everyday contexts.

Maths Entry Level 2

Duration: Up to four half terms, starting half term three or four

Content: Builds on Entry Level 1 with fractions, decimals, percentages, shape, and data interpretation applied to practical, real-life situations.

English Entry Level 2

KS3 | KS4 | Post-16

English Entry Level 2

Duration: One half term

English Entry Level 3

KS4 | Post-16

English Entry Level 3

Duration: One half term

English Citizenship

KS4 | Post-16

English Citizenship

Duration: One lesson per week, full academic year

Maths Entry Level 1

KS3 | KS4 | Post-16

Maths Entry Level 1

Duration: Up to four half terms, starting half term three or four

Content: Foundational maths developed alongside English language skills. Covers whole numbers, basic calculations, measurement, and simple data handling in everyday contexts.

Maths Entry Level 2

KS3 | KS4 | Post-16

Maths Entry Level 2

Duration: Up to four half terms, starting half term three or four

Content: Builds on Entry Level 1 with fractions, decimals, percentages, shape, and data interpretation applied to practical, real-life situations.

Practical information

for partners

Provision is structured around individual need, making it suitable for local authorities managing varied and unpredictable new arrival caseloads.

Enrolment
Fast-track enrolment means learners can start within 48 hours of referral. With rolling entry, no student is left waiting, minimising disruption and getting learning started quickly.
Group size and structure
Groups are capped at 12 learners and taught live by qualified teachers. Students join fixed timetables alongside peers, creating consistency, structure, and a sense of community.
Platform access
Fully accessible on any device. The virtual classroom supports multiple languages for initial orientation, reducing barriers for learners with no English at the point of entry.
Reporting and oversight
Real-time attendance, engagement, and progress data available to partners throughout the provision period.

Planning your summer ESOL provision

If you have newly arrived learners who need English language support before a September start, speak with your account manager. We can discuss learner needs, confirm the right course, and have provision in place within 48 hours.