Important Update on CEFR Recording in Bromcom
CEFR recording has moved from SIMS to Bromcom. On Bromcom, schools can continue to record each newcomer pupil’s overall CEFR level and their individual skill levels for listening, reading, spoken production, spoken interaction and writing.
The new Pupil Progress Record supports schools with progress tracking and planning. This should be completed once or twice per year, with information used to update CEFR levels in Bromcom. CEFR guidance resources can be found on the IES Resource Site.
IES works with schools to help them develop newcomer pupils’ ability to overcome their initial English language barriers, in order to help them fully engage in their curricular learning. The CEFR tool (Common European Framework of Reference for languages) is used by schools to assess newly arrived pupils, to help identify areas where more support is needed, and eventually used to withdraw their ‘newcomer’ status when their skills have reached the required level. Schools receive an additional annual premium for each newcomer while they remain at ‘newcomer’ status. Department of Education (DE) introduced the CEFR system as a mandatory assessment to help schools to manage that transition from ‘requiring support’ to ‘no longer requiring support. The assessment element includes a set of benchmarks for English language acquisition; used to identify what pupils can do, monitor progress and plan for language learning. CEFR has 4 levels; Pre-A1, A1, A2 and B1 in skill areas of Listening, Reading, Speaking & Writing.
When a pupil has achieved all the benchmarks at B1, across all skill areas, and the pupil is able to participate fully in class, then he/she is no longer considered a newcomer pupil. DE and EA (C2K/EdIS and IES) developed training and support for schools over many years, and this continues to be provided to staff who are new to this support function. On-line resources continue to assist them even after they have taken the initial online course.