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Award in ESOL (Reading and Writing)

Must have English language skills for life long success.

Please note: Assessment dates will be available in January 2026, to start the course in February. Complete an enquiry form to be added to the waiting list.

Accredited by City and Guilds.

The course will equip you with the confidence to use written English language effectively in a variety of contexts.

Your course content will include:

Reading examples

  • Read and understand simple texts, such as advertisements, notices or short articles.
  • Answer questions about the text.
  • Follow written instructions to complete a task.

Writing examples

  • Write short messages, postcards or notes.
  • Construct simple sentences to communicate basic information.

Enquire about this course

Course level

Entry Level

Entry 1 to 3 recognise basic knowledge and skills used in everyday life or in the workplace. They also help to build confidence.

Who this course is for

  • Residents of Calderdale aged 19 plus;
  • whose first language is not English:
    • and who may be new to the UK;
    • or have lived in the UK for a while, but never had the chance to learn English.

To attend this course:

  • You may already have some basic grammar skills, read short words and small sentences;
  • You will also be able to write very basic words in English, fill in simple forms, such as:
    • name;
    • address;
    • nationality;
    • and email address.

You will be ready to sit an exam to achieve a nationally recognised qualification.

What you need to bring

  • A black or blue pen.
  • Highlighter pens.

You will use Google Classroom throughout your course to:

  • view work from your lessons;
  • receive messages from your tutor;
  • and access online resources.

You can get this on your smartphone, tablet or laptop/computer.

Your tutor will support you to log-in during your first lesson.

The Learner Support team is always on hand to help with any issues.

Assessment process

We want you to build on the skills you already use.

  • During the assessment process you will complete a paper-based initial and diagnostic assessment.
  • This will inform you about your level of grammar and vocabulary and the areas you need to strengthen.

Your teacher will use the assessment results to plan lessons to support your progress.

Qualification-based learning

Course information

Start date: Various.
Time: Various.
Day: Various.
Venue: Various.

Course length: 18 weeks.
Course code: Various.
Course level: Entry 1/Entry 2.

Fees

Full fee: £495.
Fee waiver available: Yes.
Additional costs: No.

Enquire

Course dates and times

Venue Course code Level Start date Day and time How to enrol
Halifax Academy ESL01/RW/1 Entry 1 11th February 2026 Wednesday
9.30am to 12.30pm		 Enquire
King Cross Library ESL02/RW/1 Entry 2 10th February 2026 Tuesday
12noon to 3pm		 Enquire

Additional information

Learning delivery method

We have the skills, resources and dedication to help you access the learning you need to enrich your life.

Your course will be delivered by a highly qualified, experienced and knowledgeable tutor via:

  • The classroom, face-to-face teaching at Heath Campus or other venues in Calderdale.
  • Also, Google Classroom will be used to access:
    • electronic learning resources;
    • coursework set by your tutor;
    • collaborative work;
    • and online sessions, if needed.

What we expect from you

You must do various learning activities so we can make sure you are making the expected progress. This is because:

  • your course is funded in full or part by the Government via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority;
  • and all Calderdale Adult Learning (CAL) learning is subject to Ofsted inspection.

You may need to do extra work outside of session times to extend your learning or comprehension, where needed. Also, you are expected to be:

  • punctual;
  • attend regularly;
  • and show commitment to achieve successful completion of the course.

Important: You may lose your place, if:

  • your attendance drops below 88%;
  • or you do not attend three classes in a row and have not informed CAL.

How you will know if you are making progress

An Initial Assessment activity at the start of the course will enable your tutor to assess your starting point.

  • For non-accredited learning this will be completed using a set tutor assessment relevant to the subject area.
  • For accredited courses this requires learners to complete an assessment on the BKSB learning platform.

In every class we acknowledge and accommodate for different levels of skill and experience. This is so learners will be encouraged to identify and work on their own areas for improvement.

You will have a 'Learner Journey' with your tutor. Here, you will set the learning targets that you want to meet.

During the course, you will have the chance to:

  • discuss your progress with your tutor;
  • complete regular assessments;
  • and be given feedback, both verbal and written, on work that you produce.

Support for your progression and next steps

Please refer to:

  • the advice given to you by your course tutor towards the end of your course;
  • or speak to CAL's IAG Officer for information on how you can progress.

For our latest courses, see: Adult Learning.

If you need support in literacy, numeracy, IT or employability skills, please speak to your tutor in the first instance.

Information, advice and guidance

CAL Service has been awarded the matrix Standard, the national quality standard for organisations delivering IAG on learning and work.

We aim to help learners progress through their chosen course of study. Tutors, learning support staff and our IAG Officer can help you decide if a course is right for you. If it is not, we will aim to put you in touch with another provider.

For more detailed and specific careers advice, we work in partnership with the Education Development Trust.

You can also contact the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900. Their website is also an excellent source of information on careers, finding a job, courses and learning: National Careers Service.

Contact us

Calderdale Adult Learning:

Address:

  • Heath Campus, Unit 4, Free School Lane, Halifax. HX1 2PS.

Phone:

Email:

Office hours:

  • Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4pm.
  • Fridays from 9am to 1pm.

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