Integrating Immigrant Children into Schools in Europe

84Language-learning support measuresIntensive teaching of the language of instruction and/orbilingual tuition (the mother tongue and language of instruction)Educational support measuresAdditional support for learning and/oradaptation of assessmentSmaller class sizes /special normsgoverning the composition of classesPL At least two class periods a week. At least 15 pupils required to establish‘preparatory’ classes.Under 15 pupils for the provision ofadditional Polish-language classes.PTThe schedule is established by each individual school (in accordance with its strategyand resources).Schools are free to plan this type of support as they wish.SI 184 class periods a year (corresponding to four hours during the day twice a week). Compensating for linguistic and academic weaknesses.Special assessment plan.SKFIIntensive teaching is organised in courses with 184 teaching hours a year (four hoursthree times a week).The syllabus for Finnish (or Swedish) as a second language, as defined by thenational core curriculum, is based on an equal number of weekly lessons a year, asis the syllabus for the mother tongue. However, the scope of instruction isdetermined by the local curriculum.The Basic Education Act also authorises the provision of education , in whole or inpart, in the mother tongue of immigrants. Some municipalities have offered eitherbilingual or mother tongue provision in Arabic, Somali, Russian, Vietnamese andEstonian.Curriculum support in various subjects may also be offered toimmigrant pupils in their mother tongue.The background of pupils and their progress in Finnish/Swedish isalso taken into consideration when assessing them in othersubjects. To reduce the impact of possible weaknesses in thelanguage of instruction, versatile and flexible methods ofassessment are used.No more than 10 pupils (and a minimum of4) for Slovak-language classes.Integrating Immigrant Children into Schools in EuropeSEUK-ENG/WLS/NIRTuition is organised in special groups or during parts of the school day.Guided study (in Swedish or the pupil’s mother tongue).Individual schools/pre-school education centres and local authorities are free to decidehow best to meet the needs of the young people concerned.Guided study (in Swedish or the pupil’s mother tongue): extra helpgiven by a support teacher who often brings together a small group ofpupils in need of further assistance for special lessons, but the sameteacher may also help individual pupils during their mainstreamclasses.The support offered might be support for learning English orsupport for other curriculum subjects or both. There is now anemphasis on learning English ‘across the curriculum’.National tests and qualifications include special arrangements forchildren who, for example, have limited fluency in English.