Around 4,000 extra classroom places are to be created, mainly at colleges, to help migrant workers learn English. The Scottish Executive’s English for Speakers of Other Languages strategy, supported by funding of pound;5 million over the next year, aims to remove pressures built up in recent years, particularly by the enlargement of the European Union to include countries such as Poland and the Baltic states. Graeme Hyslop, principal of Langside College in Glasgow, described the move as “great news” that would allow more migrants and refugees to join learning and citizenship programmes.
Speakers of languages such as Chinese, Bengali and Polish are being sought for three new posts in Highland Council. The authority wants the community-based bilingual language assistants to support families unfamiliar with Scottish language and culture. Applicants should be fluent in English and at least one other language. Application packs T 01349 868640.
A new coaching programme has been launched to help keep young people out of the Neet group - those not in education, employment or training. The Certificate in Leaderful Youth Coaching targets a wide range of people who work with teenagers, including teachers, careers officers, social workers and carers. It is being delivered throughout Scotland by Edinburgh-based New-U Coach-ing. Gillian Brown T 0131 272 2722 or 0141 249 6579, E gillian@new-u-now.co.uk
There is huge variation among community planners in their inclusion of children, according to research by Children in Scotland. The research, carried out as part of the Scottish Executive’s Growing Up in Rural Scotland programme, was presented in Aberdeen last week. Bruce Robertson, Aberdeen-shire Council’s director of education and recreation, stressed that there was “real exclusion” in the early years because transport was not funded or available.
A website that encourages secondary pupils to eat more healthily has won a UK-wide award. Glasgow City Council’s Fuel Zone website and reward scheme won the Improving Public Services category at the eWell Being awards in London last week. Secondary pupils are rewarded with points that can be exchanged for iPods, computer consoles and cinema or book tokens.
Dyslexic students at Heriot-Watt University are to be given special tests to see if their learning difficulties are compounded by eye problems that make it harder to read. The tests aim to identify a range of visual problems called binocular instability.
