I have produced ad on-line course for new arrivals (Refugee, Asylum Seekers, Travellers, Students who have recently arrived to the UK and are starting to learn English) to introduce them to Crofton, to the school system, to welcome them in different languages and to provide them with continuous support through a system I have set up of Buddies, EAL link Teachers and ICT.

This project has been developed as part of a Best Practice Research Scholarship.

Course title: Crofton Welcomes New Arrivals.

Aims of the course :

-Students will be able to understand the school system with the support of me, their on-line tutor, the EAL Co-ordinator, the Students-Buddies and the EAL-Link Teachers in every Curriculum Area and a series of pictures and exercise.

-To start learning the basics in English, Maths and Science in order to succeed in the Foundation subjects.

Objectives:

The course is suitable for new/mid-phase arrivals or students with little knowledge of English, who want to make use of the Internet for learning English independently at their own pace and from the comfort of a chosen place (eg. Library) to complement the work done in the classroom and before being fully integrated into the classroom.

The on-line course can lead to a Certificate, which can be given out in Assembly at the end of every half-term, to the students who have successfully completed all exercises set.

Structure of the course : Students will cover the following 2 Modules of 3 Units each on:

1A.The school

1B.The students who will act as Buddies

1C. The lessons and the teachers who will be the Link co-ordinators.

2A.English

2B.Maths

2C.Science

Every Unit has 3 to 5 activities/exercises that students need to complete in order to move to the next Unit.

LIST of ACTIVITIES to be completed

1 Quiz

2 Map filling

3 Forms filling

4 Grammar exercises

5 Vocabulary building

6 Mind-mapping

7 Framework to write essay/coursework

8 Tables to fill in

9. Target setting

10 Evaluation to complete

These exercises can be accessed through a password and must be sent to Mrs Jarrett.

The exercises are designed, so that they build up in difficulties.

Support: There will be 1 face-to-face meeting of 1 hour each, every week on Monday during school time, period 5 and 6 and then continuous support through e-mail. Students will be supported in lessons twice a week together with other EAL students, working in partnership with the 3 Curriculum Areas, 1 st term English, 2 nd term Science and 3 rd term Maths.

Additional Support: Students with no English or no previous schooling will need extra Induction time and help before accessing this course. A list of Buddies and teachers, who speak the same language as new arrivals will be available, so that if translation are required they can be called upon. Other students and teachers, who have experience and training of dealing with new arrivals will also be available for additional help.

Study time: The course will require a minimum of 10-20 hours work per Module and for the duration of 1 term.

Additional time: Students with little or no experience of computers/ Internet skills would need additional guided learning hours.

Pre-requisite knowledge and skills: Familiarity with ICT equipment and environments, with a competent working knowledge of applications software is very important.

Requirement: Internet connection with an e-mail address set-up for on-line communication are indispensable. Dictionaries and a printer are necessary. Opportunity to link video/webcamera to the computer is an advantage. Sound and microphone facilities are also an advantage to help with speaking skills.

Where the Course fits : This course will fit into the school network support system to help students, who arrive after the school year has started, to get to know the English school system, if they come from abroad and Crofton school system. It will help them and their Guardian/Parents understand the basic requirements at Crofton. The website will be advertised on the admission form and will feature on the leaflet that parents take home after they have filled in the admission form and it will be attached to Crofton main website.

Outline of the method of assessment : Students must satisfactorily complete all the activities/exercise for the 3 Units for the 2 Modules.

Final assessment: At the end they will have to do a formal assessment, choosing from 3 different type of test depending on their progress, KS2/KS3/GCSE papers for English/Maths and Science.

Future learning : Following the final assessment I will be able to provide teachers with detailed assessment data that will be included into Crofton data system and will help teacher inform their planning. Students will work full time in class and do the work all the other students do with less support available.

Work to complement website:

-Buddies booklet to support the work the Students in Crofton are doing and to reward them with a certificate to be awarded in assembly for the work they have done to help new arrivals.

-Teachers booklet, supporting the achievement of bilingual pupils, to give every teacher in Crofton ideas, strategies and activities to be used in the classroom to help them making curriculum accessible to new arrivals and bilingual students.

-a Reading test in 1 st language to assess the skills of students in their first language.

-Welcome booklet in different languages.

Evaluations