We are delighted to publish our new Policy Brief, English language education needs to be more accessible for migrants.
Our research with 30 migrant families with a disability or care need in England has demonstrated the multiple barriers to learning English that migrants experience. Not being able to access English language teaching has major impacts on carers’ and other family members’ wellbeing, employment opportunities and social integration. It also increases the reliance on family members, including children, for interpreting in health, social care and school settings, despite safeguarding and confidentiality concerns. Our research recommends improving the coordination and accessibility of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision at local and regional levels. Improved information about available provision, addressing childcare, transport costs and other barriers would enable migrants to learn English to the required level for employment, for communication with services and for wider social integration.
Our key recommendations are to:
- Develop accessible, centralised information hubs on accredited and non-accredited ESOL provision in each region
- Provide flexible class timetables to enable migrant parents and other carers to attend
- Provide free creche and childcare facilities at ESOL centres and funding for after-school clubs for migrant parents
- Provide free public transport to attend ESOL classes and locate classes in more community settings.
The Policy Brief was co-developed with our research partners, Migrant English Support Hub (MESH), St. Vincent’s Leeds and Reading Community Learning Centre.
The Policy Brief will be launched and discussed with ESOL practitioners and providers and other partner organisations at the following event:
Leeds ESOL Forum meeting
Wednesday 25th March 2026, 2:30pm – 4:30pm (UK Time) – Hybrid event
Location: College House – Leeds City College, Park Lane House, Park Ln, Leeds LS3 1AA, UK
If you wish to join, please contact: Please email Angelap@yhmesh.org.uk to register and for the online link.
Further information and resources
We have co-produced a range of resources, based on the research findings, that are freely available online:
Free ESOL Learning resources
Two free ESOL Learning resources for ESOL teachers produced by MESH are available:
- Transnational Families: Family Challenges
- Support for Transnational Families: Caring from afar and Family Reunification
Training materials: free short participatory films on our YouTube channel: @CAREWELLTransnationalFamilies
- Addressing barriers to English Language for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes
- Language and Interpretation Needs in Accessing Healthcare.
Download the Report, Policy Briefs and other resources from our website: https://research.reading.ac.uk/transnational-families
For more information, contact:
Ruth Evans, University of Reading. Email: r.evans@reading.ac.uk
Rosa Mas Giralt, University of Leeds. Email: r.masgiralt@leeds.ac.uk