English language support

Specialist staff deliver individualised programs that cater for students who need additional support.

Intensive English centres

For students in the early stages of learning the English language, a number of Western Australian government schools provide a specialist English language program through intensive English centres.

These centres help students to acquire English and the skills and understandings they will need to be successful students. The centres are part of a school and deliver a specialised program to support students who are learning English as an additional language.

Intensive English centres deliver the whole Western Australian Curriculum, not just English classes, and teaching and learning is tailored to the needs of the students.

There is no set time a student must spend at an intensive English centre. They are assessed on an individual basis, ensuring each student receives the level of support they require. Typically, international students will attend an intensive English centre before commencing their mainstream education program.

English as an additional language or dialect

Selected schools provide specialist support through the English as an Additional Language or Dialect program. This is for students who have either moved from an intensive English centre to mainstream schooling or students who require specialist English language support to access the curriculum.

These schools have international language teachers and education assistants who work with students in a caring and supportive environment to help them in their transition into mainstream school.