Adult ESOL core curriculum (DfES, 2001)

Since the demise of the Excellence Gateway (EG) on September 30 2023 there is no official Government backed website where the old Skills for Life core curricula are available. The EG has (partially) migrated to the Education & Training Foundation (ETF) at https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/ but there is no sign of these classic documents. 

The Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy curricula (Basic Skills Agency, 2001) were replaced more than decade ago by the Functional Skills Maths and English content. However, the ESOL curriculum is still a much used document and is used to catalogue all the ESOL resources on skillsworkshop.org. I've therefore decided to make it available here (the pre-Entry, Access for All, Adult literacy and Adult numeracy curricula may follow later).  

Each ESOL level (E1, E2, E3, L1, L2) is split into four skills sub-sections as below. The abbreviations tally with those used on skillsworkshop.org and are closely related to those in the Adult Literacy core curriculum. 

Skill Sub-section
Speaking S - Speak to communicate Sc, Engage in discussion Sd
Listening L - Listen and respond Lr
Reading R - Text focus: reading comprehension Rt | Sentence focus: grammar and punctuation Rs | Word focus: vocabulary, word recognition and phonics Rw
Writing W - Text focus: writing composition Wt | Sentence focus: grammar and punctuation Ws | Word focus: vocabulary, spelling and handwriting Ww 

In addition there is a list of key grammatical structures, ideas for integrated activities, a 16 page glossary (pp396-411), useful notes about formality and informality (p395), and much more.