This is the English Second Additional Language CAPS Document (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) for the Intermediate Phase, Grades 4-6, issued by the South African Department of Basic Education. It sets out what must be taught, learnt and assessed in English Second Additional Language across Grades 4, 5 and 6, and is relevant for the 2026 and 2027 school years. The document focuses on building listening and speaking, reading and viewing, and writing and presenting skills for learners acquiring English as an additional language.
The following document, English Second Additional Language CAPS Document Grades 4-6.pdf, is the full document.
CAPS Document Brief
English Second Additional Language CAPS Document Grades 4-6 kavo-090
The document organises English Second Additional Language teaching around the skill areas of Listening and Speaking, Reading and Viewing, and Writing and Presenting, each broken down into specific content, strategies and sub-skills such as listening comprehension, text features, and the writing process. These terms describe the graded language skills learners must acquire in each grade.
The document runs to 102 pages and is divided into four sections plus a glossary. Section 1 introduces the national Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement and time allocations, Section 2 introduces the Second Additional Language in the Intermediate Phase and its language levels, Section 3 gives an overview of skills, content and strategies together with detailed teaching plans and the spread of texts across Grades 4 to 6, and Section 4 covers assessment requirements, recording, reporting and moderation.
The subject aims to enable learners who do not speak English at home to develop functional communication skills in listening, speaking, reading, viewing, writing and presenting. It also aims to build learners’ vocabulary and grammatical knowledge progressively so they can use English confidently for everyday communication and further learning, since English is widely used as a language of learning and teaching.
Grade
4-6
Subject
English Second Additional Language
Phase
Intermediate Phase
Curriculum
South African (CAPS)
School Years
2026 and 2027