Majella Catholic Primary School’s Intensive English Centre (IEC) provides specialised English language support for students who are in the Beginning or Emerging phases of English language acquisition.
The Centre supports students and families who are new to Australia or to Standard Australian English (SAE), providing students with the foundational English language skills they need to participate successfully in mainstream schooling.
Majella’s Intensive English Centre commenced in 2022 with a Years 1–2 class. In 2024, the Centre expanded with the addition of two further classes and now provides support for students from Years 1 to 6 across three classes:
The Intensive English Centre supports students in the Beginning or Emerging phases of the EAL/D Progress Maps who may include:
The Centre is available to eligible students from CEWA schools located within a 20 km radius of Majella Catholic Primary School, as well as eligible students enrolled at Majella.
Our IEC provides intensive English language instruction in small classes, creating an environment where students receive targeted support while also becoming familiar with the Australian school system.
English language proficiency is developed through Religious Education, English, Mathematics, HASS and Science, with learning carefully scaffolded to meet students at their individual level of English language development.
Importantly, students’ first languages and dialects are recognised and valued as an important resource for learning. Students are encouraged to continue using their first language while developing their proficiency in Standard Australian English.
While students receive specialised teaching within the IEC, they are very much part of the wider Majella school community.
Students have opportunities to learn alongside their mainstream peers in areas such as Sport, HASS and the Arts and participate in whole-school events, celebrations, excursions, assemblies, recess and lunch.
This combination of intensive English language teaching and participation in mainstream school life allows students to develop their language skills while building friendships, confidence and a strong sense of belonging within their school community.
Our IEC is supported by specialist EAL/D teachers and Education Assistants who understand the learning needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Our teachers have specialist EAL/D qualifications and experience in providing age-appropriate, scaffolded learning programs designed to develop students’ English language proficiency and support their successful participation in mainstream education.
The intensive nature of the program is designed to build students’ foundational English language proficiency and support their transition into mainstream schooling, generally within a period of 12 months.
Throughout their time in the IEC, students’ English language development is monitored using the EAL/D Progress Maps, helping teachers identify progress and determine the support each student needs as they move towards greater participation in mainstream learning.