Although cryptic crosswords are traditionally pitched at the highly literate, I have successfully used them for remedial literacy students at junior primary level. As long as the clues are of an appropriate difficulty, cryptics provide more stimulation and extra levels of corroboration compared to regular crosswords.
A puzzle such as the one below could be worked through with a group of students with limited English.
Across
3. Mostly stable thing to put dinner on (5)
5. Put lock on first letter from China: this will tell us the time (5)
Down
1. Attach piece of tree (5)
2. Decks changed a bit for students to write on (5)
4. You can read it with half of the boys, OK? (4)
5: "lock" after "C" (first letter from "China")
= CLOCK