Sanctuary in Chichester ESOL Tutor Role Description

Background

Sanctuary in Chichester (SiC) came into existence in 2016.  ‘Sanctuary’ is a place of welcome and safety and our aim is to provide refugees and asylum seekers relocated to the Chichester area, with the best possible opportunity to settle, feel safe and become fully integrated into their new, adopted community. An important part of this process is becoming proficient in English. Refugees who are here as part of Government resettlement schemes (administered by WSCC) are entitled to English tuition in the form of courses offered by WSCC, Chichester College or other chosen providers.  SIC undertakes to offer ESOL support to all beneficiaries who request it through volunteer, qualified ESOL teachers.

 SiC ESOL provision

  • 1 to 1 tuition – usually conducted at the student’s home, typically once a week for about an hour at a mutually agreed time. This is the core of our ESOL provision.
  • Drop In –  some short 1 to 1 tuition and ‘conversation tables’ are available at the weekly social Drop In meetings on Monday afternoons. 
  • Women’s Group English classes – beginner and intermediate English classes as part of the Women’s Group on Friday mornings 09.30-11.30 (during term time). This is women only and those with young children and babies are especially welcome. There is a creche to help occupy the children. 
  • Asylum seekers’ ESOL Drop in – weekly conversation and ESOL games sessions at Chichester Park Hotel for all levels of English.
  • Occasional English courses – from time to time we put on specific courses -e.g. online business English course, Summer intensive course.

Who are our ESOL tutors?

  • All tutors recruited by SIC are volunteers who are keen to support refugees and asylum seekers in the Chichester area.
  • All SIC tutors are DBS checked and have had safeguarding training.
  • Tutors generally have ESOL or TEFL qualifications.
  • Tutors usually have ESOL teaching experience to either adults or children, or both.
  • Tutors generally provide 1 hour’s tuition per week for at least 6 months to individual students or are on a rota to provide group teaching.
  • Tutors are willing and able to travel to the student’s home.
  • In some cases, a tutor can also be a befriender for a student or a family.
  • Tutors subscribe to the SiC principles of equality, openness, collaboration and kindness to all.

Who are ESOL tutors responsible to? For day to day matters tutors are responsible to the ESOL Volunteer Lead. The Charity Manager has overall responsibility for all volunteers.

What do SiC tutors do?

In most cases SiC tutors provide additional English language support to students who are receiving formal teaching through local providers (such as WSCC and Chichester College); this additional support from SIC tutors enables students to practice between lessons to reinforce their learning, help with homework and work on specific language challenges. SIC tutors need to make themselves aware of what students are studying in any formal course tuition so that they can reinforce this learning. In most cases the students should be able to provide this information, and the Volunteer Lead for ESOL can also help with this. SIC tutors also offer important support to those not yet in receipt of formal learning, or those who cannot access tuition through Government resettlement schemes.

After successful recruitment and induction tutors can support in two ways; these are 1 to 1 in-home tuition and at the Weekly Drop ins:

1 to 1 In-home Tuition:

  •  Each tutor is assigned to an individual student or students.
  • Tutors generally work 1:1 with their student and lessons usually take place in the student’s home at a day and time arranged between the tutor and the student.
  • Lessons usually last between 1 and 2 hours and usually take place once each week (although tutors can offer more or less frequent lessons if they wish).
  • Tutors are responsible for creating the content of their lessons and for all aspects of teaching.
  • When students are not attending formal English lessons SiC tutors are often the only means of English language teaching, so in these cases tutors will need to assess the student’s language level and prepare appropriate material for that student. The Volunteer Lead for ESOL/Adult Education and other tutors can help with this.
  • Tutors fill in the activity log after each session with a record of the main topics covered, the time spent, and the progress made by the student. The Assistant Charity Manager will send the log details when tutors are assigned.

Weekly Drop Ins :

Some tutors prefer not to be assigned individual students and instead attend Drop In sessions to offer support to any students who come along: 

  • SIC offers a weekly Drop-In on Mondays which primarily aims to offer the opportunity for social contact.  This setting also provides the opportunity for beneficiaries to develop their English language capability; they can join a conversation table where SIC tutors lead English practice.
  • Friday Women’s Group has 2 classes each week and tutors are assigned to lead on a rota. Other tutors attend and support classes or help individuals.
  • Weekly ESOL drop in at Chichester Park Hotel. A rota of tutors provides small-group conversation and ESOL games.

What are ESOL tutors’ responsibilities?

  • Tutors have a responsibility to uphold the SiC Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and guidelines for engaging with beneficiaries. 
  • Tutors are required to report any safeguarding concerns or issues immediately to the Charity Manager or if unavailable, to a staff member.
  • Tutors must keep up-to-date, accurate records of their meetings with beneficiaries 
  • Tutors must attend mandatory safeguarding training at least once a year.
  • Tutors should let the ESOL Volunteer Lead or Assistant Charity Manager if they are unable to continue volunteering, or if they need to take a prolonged break.

What support do ESOL tutors receive?

  • After successfully completing the recruitment process and being assigned to a student, tutors will be put in touch with the ESOL Volunteer Lead who will contact them by Whatsapp and/or a phone call.
  • Tutors are added to the Sanctuary Tutors Whatsapp group where important information is shared, and support offered.
  • Tutors are given access to SiC online ESOL resources.
  • Tutors who attend the Drop Ins have access to the ESOL resources held there. 
  • Tutors become part of the support team for families or individuals; they will be added to the family Whatsapp group and put in touch with the rest of the team.
  • Tutors can see what is happening with the family through the Whatsapp group and through the family log sheet. 
  • Tutors’ meetings are held 3 times a year.
  • After 6 months (or earlier if the tuition ends before 6 months) tutors will have a meeting with the Charity Manager or their delegated representative to discuss student progress and evaluate the teaching experience.

Role description dated: November 2025

Review date: November 2026

Reviewer: ESOL Volunteer Lead