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FAQs

Why do I have to pay for an ESOL qualification and not a Literacy or Numeracy qualification?

Since August 2007 the automatic fee remission (which still applies to Numeracy and Literacy qualifications) was removed from ESOL due to the large demand it was placing upon the national Skills for Life budget. Free ESOL courses are available to priority groups (for eligibility guidance, click here), however it is now expected that employers should contribute towards the cost of ESOL fees for there employees.

Does Train to Gain fund part Skills for Life qualifications (e.g. Skills for Life ESOL- Speaking and Writing)?

No, Train to Gain will only fund a full Skills for Life Qualification or an ESOL for Work qualification.

If a learner has a Level 2 qualification in a foreign country but has a basic language need, can they access ESOL through Train to Gain?

Currently, no. Train to Gain is an initiative aimed to raise the skill level of the national workforce to a basic minimum of Level 2 and as such we will not fund an individual who already has a Level 2 qualification.