This study aims to describe the needs of Grade 1, 2 and 3 educators at government schools in the Cape Metropolitan area working with English-second (or other) language (ESOL) learners, in order to inform the practice of speech-language therapists in meeting these needs. It describes both the perceptions and experiences of educators regarding ESOL learners, as well as the educators’ strategies to overcome the challenges they faced when teaching ESOL learners