IPPN

E-scéal 13: English Language Support Teachers

Published: 09 May 2003

In recent years, many schools around the country are enrolling children from various parts of the world, frequently without a command of the English language.

Currently, if a school has 14 or more such children, the DES will appoint a resource teacher to support their language learning needs (less than 14 are provided with a cash grant).

However, like resource teachers for special needs children initially, there has been no real support structure for English language support teachers and no platform to air their professional issues or share experiences.

A group of teachers providing English language support to overseas pupils in primary schools have recently formed an association, the English Language Support Teachers, (ELST) to:

provide support and information to fellow ELS teachers,
form an affiliation with other similar teachers around the country
present a unified lobby when dealing with the DES and other relevant associations.
raise awareness of the work of english language support; its aims and objectives within the primary school structure,

Regular meetings are held at St. Columba's N.S., Douglas in Cork. At present a website is being set up and it is hoped that more meetings, a Newsletter and guest speakers can be organised for the future.

If you have an English language support teacher, please pass this information to her/him whereuon (s)he can network with similar colleagues throughout the country.