About the Intensive English Centre

The new Intensive English Centre at Ellenbrook Primary School opened in February 2025 and offers a specialised intensive English language program for newly arrived Year 1-6 students with limited or no English skills. The program focuses on developing students' communication skills in English to help them integrate into mainstream schooling. The centre supports students in becoming fully integrated into the school community through participation in school-wide events such as assemblies and faction carnivals, as well as educational activities and social interactions.

Educational Program Details

The centre provides intensive English tuition for primary school students who come to Western Australia with limited English language capability. Participants may also be students who were born in Australia but have grown up speaking the home language until such time as they begin to participate in formalised schooling. Students typically spend one or two years in the Intensive English Centre, with funding allocated for each enrolled student and specialist staff enabling smaller class sizes.

Program Benefits

The Intensive English Centre offers:

• Specialised intensive English language teaching support.
• Smaller class sizes (up to 15/16 students) supporting individualised learning.
• Cultural support in a nurturing environment.
• Free daily bus service for primary school-aged children.

Curriculum and Transition

The centre provides differentiated oral and written English learning programs based on the Western Australian Curriculum, targeting individual students' English language learning needs. Subjects studied with specialist teachers include Physical Education, Mathematics, Science, and the Arts. Teachers and IEC administration also work with students’ schools of origin to support a smooth transition to mainstream classes.

Eligibility for IEC

Students are eligible if they:

• are in the Beginning or Emerging Phase of learning Standard Australian English (SAE) in all language modes, as assessed using the English as an Additional Language/Dialect  (EAL/D) Progress Map
• hold an eligible visa category or hold Australian citizenship • are in Years 1–6
• are assessed as Stage 1*

Stage 1:

• Students born in Australia and enrolled in Year 1; or
• Students who have been in Australia no longer than a year, enrolled within six months of arrival, and are in their first year of schooling in Australia; or
• Students who have had limited schooling (less than three years of continuous schooling prior to arrival in Australia) and who are within the first two years of schooling in Australia.

Ellenbrook IEC’s Foundation Year and Our Classes

The IEC began in early 2025 with eleven students in two Year 1/2 classes, one Phase 1 and one Phase 2. We are now running three classes and 32 students, from 18 distinct language groups are enrolled in our IEC.

Phase 1 Classes: The focus of Phase 1 is the development of students’ English oral language skills. Students also learn to read and write in English at this phase.

Phase 2 Classes: Phase 2 continues to develop and extend students’ English oral language skills along with reading and writing skills.

The preferred ratio is 1 teacher to 16 students; however, fluctuations occur throughout the school year due to enrolments and transitions to mainstream schooling, which may result in numbers being lower or higher than 16 in a class.

Enrolments in the IEC Program

Ellenbrook Intensive English Centre (IEC) conducts continuous enrolments throughout the 4 school terms. Students can be enrolled at the IEC soon after arriving in Australia. The program runs for 12 months; however, it can be extended by an additional 12 months for students holding humanitarian visa subclasses. An appointment to determine eligibility with the IEC Deputy Principal must be made prior to a student commencing. Enrolments can take up to 2 hours, and when necessary, interpreters are provided.

IMPORTANT: Under almost all circumstances, newly arrived students may be enrolled directly in the IEC rather than going through an enrolment process at another school first. Parents or schools may contact Mr Matt Bennett, IEC Deputy Principal or Mrs Tracie Douglas, IEC School Officer on 08 9297 7300 to make an appointment.

Ethnic Education Assistants

Since late 2024, the IEC has employed three Ethnic Education Assistants (EEAs) who are multilingual and speak second (and often third, fourth and fifth) languages as well as English. The EEAs assist teachers in the teaching and learning program and, when required, assist students and parents with interpreting. If EEAs are unable to speak a required language or are unavailable, the IEC utilises external interpreting services.

Assessment and Reporting

Ellenbrook Intensive English Centre teachers use the English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) Progress Map to monitor, assess and report on students. The EAL/D Progress Map is a Western Australian planning, monitoring and assessment tool for students requiring support in developing Standard Australian English (SAE) who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, whether arriving from overseas or born in Australia. The EAL/D Progress Map is aligned to the Western Australian Curriculum and applies to all learning areas.

Reporting Cycle

Students at Ellenbrook IEC are reported on each semester (at the end of Term 2 and Term 4) as per the requirements of the Department of Education’s ‘Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Policy (CAR) K–10: Policy and Guidelines’. Parent interviews are held with the student’s classroom teacher to discuss the student’s final report when they are due to transition from the IEC into mainstream schooling. Parents may request an interview with their child’s classroom teacher at any time, but an appointment must be made. When necessary, an interpreter is provided.

Ellenbrook IEC Bus Transport

The Education Department of Western Australia provides a designated bus service for students attending Intensive English Centre (IEC) programs. Access to the bus service depends on the student’s visa category, distance from the IEC, and seat availability. Ellenbrook IEC buses transport students living within the Ellenbrook IEC catchment area. All IEC buses have Bus Aides who supervise students. Students are picked up at their home in the morning and brought to Ellenbrook Primary School, then taken home in the afternoon. Parents who prefer to drive their child can park on the street outside the school or at the shopping centre that backs onto the school.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Mr Matt Bennett, IEC Deputy Principal or Mrs Tracie Douglas, IEC School Officer, on 08 9297 7300.