ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

29 April 2008

Commenting on the Governments latest figures on children with English as a second language, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said:

“All the evidence from international research* shows that any fears about the impact of children with English as an additional language on the education system are groundless. Children with English as an additional language both achieve and make a massive and positive contribution to our schools.

“The issues for schools about meeting the needs of the children of migrants are much more practical. Children need quick and easy access to language support.

“The Government needs to increase its dedicated grant - the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant  to meet the needs of the increased numbers of children entering the country, particularly  from Eastern Europe”.