The NILE sector of INTO University Partnerships, which focuses on the education of teachers, is working in tandem with English UK to bring forth a new TEFL initiative.
Titled AccessTEFL, this programme is designed to offer a pathway into the field of English language teaching in the UK, integrating job-based training with a rigorous CPD framework.
AccessTEFL aims to serve as a gateway for those who have not yet obtained a TEFL qualification, providing them with TEFLi status and rendering them suitable for teaching roles that conform to Accreditation UK standards.
The scheme will be run by English UK, with day-to-day support, oversight and moderation from teacher training specialists from NILE – Norwich Institute for Language Education, part of the INTO University Partnerships group.
As a preeminent entity in the realm of English language teacher training, NILE has educated over 70,000 teachers from a plethora of more than 90 countries since its establishment in 1995.
This initiative was motivated by the regular evaluations from Accreditation UK, which underscored the value of an apprentice-based approach to teacher training.
In reaction, English UK developed an economical, in-service qualification route aimed at boosting the number of qualified ELT professionals, increasing the accessibility of the field, and strengthening the support network for new teachers. Under the tutelage of NILE’s seasoned educators, candidates will master crucial skills applicable to the UK ELT landscape, with their schools facilitating the required mentorship and professional development.
Thom Kiddle, NILE’s Director, looked forward to the collaboration: “We are excited to be working on a new project with the team at English UK – developing and managing a situated and supported CPD scheme, AccessTEFL, for new teachers joining English UK schools.”
“The scheme, to be launched later this year, will ensure new entrants to the profession are supported with structured, focused development activities, observation and feedback while they learn their craft and help accredited English UK members recruit teachers in combination with the traditional TEFLi routes.”
The AccessTEFL programme encompasses 40 hours of study and 80 hours of teaching practice, providing opportunities for mentorship and engagement with experienced educators. The curriculum includes vital subjects such as The English Language, The English Language Learner, The English Language Classroom, and Reflective Practice.
Jodie Gray, Chief Executive of English UK, reflected on the launch: “We are delighted to launch ATEFL after many months planning. Many ELT centres have been struggling to hire enough qualified teachers to meet increasing student demand, and that could impede the continuing growth of UK ELT.”
“We believe ATEFL is a great way for centres to grow and develop their own staff, supporting people who are keen to teach English in the UK but who do not have a conventional TEFLi qualification. This is an affordable and accessible way for centres to train high-quality staff as part of their staff CPD, and we hope that as many as possible will be able to take advantage of it.”
