English as a Second Language (ESL) assistance
ESL students are students whose first language or dialect is not Standard Australian English and who require additional support to develop proficiency in English. These students need assistance with written and/or spoken English to fully access the curriculum.
Include an ESL student on the Census form if they have been assessed as requiring ESL assistance on or before Census Day and the assessment is no older than one year, regardless of whether they are currently receiving support. The principal is the final decision-maker in determining a student’s need for ESL assistance. However, any qualified person, such as a specialist ESL or learning support teacher, can conduct this assessment.
Schools must identify students requiring ESL support at least on an annual basis. This can be done through various methods, including:
- Observation and analysis of work samples by the classroom teacher.
- Observations of the student by the principal or other qualified teacher.
- Results of targeted assessment, such as National Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia ESL bandscales.
- Any other appropriate process specific for ESL.
Schools must retain documentation supporting the principal’s decision-making process, including the basis for identifying a student as needing ESL assistance. This documentation must be kept for at least five years from Census Day and stored securely to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the data and documents.
Many Indigenous students in Queensland have ESL learning needs. For some, their first language may be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language or Australian Kriol. Many of these students speak multiple languages or dialects before starting school.
Not all students whose first language is not English require ESL assistance. Schools must assess their proficiency in Standard Australian English at the local level to determine if support is needed for full participation in mainstream classroom activities. Further information is available in Appendix 3.
ESL is also known as EAL/D (English as an additional language or dialect).
Students to exclude
- students whose first language is English
- students whose English proficiency has improved to a level where they can fully participate in typical classroom activities
- students who primarily require remedial English tuition
- overseas students who require ESL assistance (refer to Overseas Students in these instructions)
- students on visitor visas, bridging visas with study limitations or no visa who require ESL assistance (refer to Students on visitor visas, bridging visas with study limitations or no visa in these instructions)
For further information, contact:
- Independent Schools Queensland
- Catholic Education Diocesan offices for Diocesan Catholic non-state schools
- Queensland Catholic Education Commission for other Catholic non-State schools (for example, RI/PJP schools), or
- the NSSAB Secretariat.
Last updated 20 January, 2026