English & ESOL Courses

You can boost your skills, CV, and job prospects with our Functional Skills courses in English or GCSE English Language. Our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses are for anyone whose first language is not English and wants to develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

English Functional Skills

All our Functional Skills English courses are designed for those working at Entry Level 3-Level 2 and will include a final assessment that can lead to certification and a City and Guilds qualification. We offer these courses both online and in a number of our libraries across the county.

If you are new to learning English as a second language, an ESOL course will be more suitable for you, and these are also listed below.

First Steps – Reading and Writing

Our First Steps courses are for adults who want to learn basic English skills. They are perfect for people who need extra support with their reading and writing and are intended for adults with additional learning needs, learning difficulties and/or low-level literacy skills.

You will learn in a small, friendly group. There are no tests or exams.

These will take place at various times during the year and be held at Arnold, Mansfield and Beeston libraries as well as at Newark Butter market.

Full details about the course and how to apply can be found in the course listings below.

If you are new to learning English as a second language, an ESOL course will be more suitable for you, and these are also listed below.

ESOL courses

Our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses are for anyone whose first language is not English and wants help to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

All our ESOL courses are delivered in a supportive and friendly environment with a focus on developing language, speaking skills, English grammar and developing confidence while socialising with others in a similar situation and working at a similar level.

We offer accredited ESOL courses which will include assessments throughout the course and will result in certification and a City and Guilds ESOL qualification at Entry Level 1- Entry Level 3.

We also offer a range of ESOL enrichment courses which will help develop particular skills as well as allowing for a time to join together with others in a relaxed learning environment.

Take a look at our FREE courses below thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the East Midlands Combined County Authority and the UK Government.

For those learning English as a second language, we also host weekly ESOL Conversation Cafes in some of our libraries, which are friendly, informal and completely free drop-in sessions! Anyone hoping to improve their English speaking skills is more than welcome to come along - no booking required. Find out more.

GCSE English Language

 Our GCSE English Language course starts in September and runs through until June when you will sit exams in line with the national GCSE exam dates.

Our GCSE course is delivered mostly online on a Tuesday but you will also need to be available on the first Tuesday of the month to come and meet your tutor at Stapleford Library and Learning Centre in order to complete written and work and take part in tutorials.

Full details about how to apply and entry requirements can be found in the full course information below. NB We will only be enrolling learners on this course in August and September each year.

Can't see the course you're looking for? Keep checking back on this page, and sign up for our emails to be notified when more courses are added!

Some of our English and ESOL courses are Online courses

Inspire's online courses are taught live, with a tutor and other learners in the call with you. 

Just as in a traditional classroom, learners will complete a range of learning tasks during the lesson, for example group work and quizzes.

You will use your computer's camera and microphone to communicate with your tutor throughout the lesson. 

In maths, English and ESOL courses where an external exam is taken, learners will be required to travel to one of Inspire's Nottinghamshire libraries in order to sit their exam.