The Primary National Strategy (PNS), working in partnership with the Ethnic Minority Achievement Project Team of the DfES, is developing a pilot project in 21 LEAs which aims to increase the confidence and expertise of mainstream primary teachers in meeting the needs of advanced bilingual learners. Advanced bilingual learners have been defined by Ofsted as those who have had considerable exposure to an educational environment within which English is the first language and thus are no longer in the early stages of English language acquisition. It is intended that the work of the pilot project will support improvement in the standards of attainment in Literacy and Numeracy by bilingual learners through using and developing the existing knowledge and understanding of bilingualism and EAL pedagogy.
Pilot LEAs have received funding to appoint one EAL consultant. The consultant will work in 10 schools in partnership with PNS consultants and link advisers/inspectors as well as the school leadership team. Many LEAs are currently recruiting for the post. Contact individual LEAs for details of vacancies
Other LEAs have been invited to join the pilot as associate LEAs.
The key strands for school based work will be :
Leadership and Management;
Teaching and Learning : Language Development
Teaching and Learning : Curriculum Access
Teaching and Learning : Assessment for Learning
Conditions for Learning
Partnership beyond the Classroom
For further information, please contact the two Regional Directors for the pilot: Latika Davis (North and Central) latika.davis@cfbt.com or Tel 01926 634882 Jill Catlow (South ) : jcatlow@cfbt.com or Tel 020 8525 4028
