Objectives: Gardners Lane Children's Centre in Cheltenham developed a Social English Group after spotting a gap in support for parents with English as a second language. "Very often people with English as a second language came to a group but were quite isolated," explains community family worker Julie Clifton, who set up the group with her colleague Solja Sovali. "There wasn't really anything in the area apart from ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses, which can be hard to get into and take a year."
What was done: The centre began hosting two-hour weekly sessions on Tuesday mornings where parents could chat and improve their English. Sessions are limited to 10 people and are fairly informal. "It's very flexible so we tailor it to the needs of those attending," says Clifton. "People like talking about their families, so it's a good starting point. Some say the only time they get to speak English is when they come to the group."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
