Bell Foundation to focus more on adult ERM learners – and what this could mean for ERM teachers

The Bell Foundation recently published their 2025 to 2030 strategy. They are real leaders in the UK for ERM (English for Refugees and Migrants), so it’s heartening to see how they are widening their focus to include adult learners, the focus of the work we do at TERM.

Like us, the Foundation recognises the challenges in adult ERM - from the practical such as the many non-study commitments learners have, to the external policy environment and tighter budgets. We only need to look at the government’s recent somewhat depressing announcement of its intention to ensure higher levels of English among migrant communities without necessarily providing any additional funding to support them getting there.

The Foundation stresses the valuable skills and experience that many learners bring with them and the enormous contribution they can make – and how having the requisite English language skills will untap this incredible potential.

To do this however requires systemic change – predictable and better funding, a standardised approach to curriculum design and assessment, a strong learning materials base, and improved teacher training.  

ERM-specific teacher training

Teaching adult ERM learners is different to teaching refugee and migrant children or adult learners in EFL classrooms. Aside from the many practical challenges of low-paid shift work, childcare, and uncertain accommodation, the journeys they have made to be in the classroom are often harrowing. Your students may be experiencing profound culture shock and feelings of dislocation. Their circumstances may feel fragile and their new environment may seem hostile at times.

There are thousands of teachers providing ESOL classes in a wide variety of settings with no ERM-specific training. TERM’s courses aim to change this.

We see a future where all teachers working with adult learners have a solid grounding in core ERM skills – from trauma-informed pedagogy to creating safe learning spaces to developing ERM materials and learning programmes to working with learners who may not be literate in their own language let alone English.

With these core skills, ESOL teachers will deliver consistently effective courses which are incredibly rewarding for them and their learners.

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Find out more about The Bell Foundation Strategy, and why we use ERM and not ESOL. 

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