Language and Cultural Support

 

Please also refer to Inclusion: Gypsies and Travellers

The Cultural Diversity team delivers Barnsley's Ethnic Minority Achievement Service and Traveller Education Service as a single, combined service. The Cultural Diversity service contributes to the strategic response of the Education Service to the changing profile of diversity across the Borough and responding to cultural needs and issues, the promotion of race equality, and in addressing and preventing racism and social exclusion.

The work of the service focuses on improving the capacity of schools, early years settings and other providers to better meet the needs and ensure equality of outcomes for minority ethnic children and young people across the 3-19 age range, narrowing attainment gaps and raising academic achievement. The work of the service includes: whole school improvement, securing improved access to education, securing improved access to education for particularly vulnerable groups of minority ethnic and Traveller children, meeting the needs of newly arrived bilingual children and those pupils who are learners of English as an additional language (EAL), promoting the welfare of children from these groups, building long-term liaison with Traveller and other vulnerable communities, and working with parents to help them in meeting the needs of vulnerable children, the loan of relevant resources, and the development and delivery of training/ Continuing Professional Development. Groups the service supports include asylum seekers, refugees, migrant workers, those groups who are (or are at risk of) underachieving, Gypsies, Irish Travellers, and other Traveller groups.

The Cultural Diversity team provides information, advice, guidance, and support to children, families, schools, early years settings and the range of Education and Childrens services and providers across the Borough, and has established networks of collaborative support.

 

Eligibility

 

The service is available to:

• Early Years settings
• Schools (Primary and Secondary)
• The range of Education Services and providers
• Community groups
• Children and young people
• Parents and Carers
• Individuals

 

Procedure

 

The service operates an open-referral system, and receives referrals and requests for information, advice, guidance, training and support from schools, early years settings, parents, community (and community support) groups, and a range of services and providers. The team can be contacted through the following:

Telephone: 01226 285174
E-Mail: angiemillsom@barnsley.gov.uk
Post: Cultural Diversity, Inclusion Services, Old Infant Block, Worsbrough Common Primary School Drive, Bruce Avenue, BARNSLEY S70 4EB

 

 

 

Charges/Fees

 

Ther service is free although there may be a charge for the cost of delivery of training to outside organisations (non-BMBC).

 

Legislation

 

Race Relations Act 1976 & Race Relations Amendments Act 2000
Data Protection Act, 1998
Childrens Bill and related legislation affecting children and young people - including Child Protection etc. and Education legislation

 

Response Times/Next Steps

 

Response times vary depending on the current level of demands on the service/ service capacity. It is anticipated that all referrals and requests will be responded to at the earliest opportunity.

 

Out of Hours Procedure

 

The service provides only partial delivery during school holidays.

 

 

 

Related Links:

• Barnsley Library and Mobile Service
• Barnsley Libraries Mobile Library Routes
• Barnsley Mobile Library Service

Last modified on 15/9/2008