STEP Ahead pilot evaluation report
This report presents evaluation findings from the STEP Ahead pilot.
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The STEP Ahead pilot was a 12-week digital programme providing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and employment support for eligible refugees across the UK. The pilot tested the viability of intensive digital support for refugees in mitigating or overcoming known barriers to access English language lessons and employability support.
Online delivery worked well for both ESOL classes and employment support with high programme completion rates and positive satisfaction rates among refugees. Refugees across all English levels reported increased confidence in using English for both daily and work-related tasks, especially for conversational English. Refugees with lower English and digital literacy skills faced higher barriers to online participation.
Online delivery provided refugee’s additional flexibility to plan their learning around other integration ambitions and overcame barriers typically associated with attending in-person lessons, including travel and childcare costs. Equally, availability of Employment Advisor via phone was highlighted as positive.