We would like to launch an online website to aid the efforts of school teachers to improve the academic performance of bilingual children (English as an additional language) in the UK.
Language barrier remains a key factor affecting the academic performance of bilingual children living in the UK.
This problem has its root in a number of causes including low literacy levels of their parents, low income parents working long hours, insufficient support from parents, poor command of their native mother tongue, low educational expectations etc.
This issue of a language barrier is particularly important given the growth of the bilingual (English as an additional language population in England over the last decade).
Demographics
Approximately 14% of the school population in England and Wales currently speak English as an additional (or 2nd) language.
The inequality of educational attainment is a key factor that places young people at increased risk of isolation, non-participation and a reduced likelihood of achieving their full potential in later life.
Studies have shown that an improvement in english fluency of bilingual children "levels the playing field" among all children. All other factors being equal, there is a significantly demonstrable improvement in their academic perfomance to the level of their
peers fluent in the english language.
The Solution
In line with this, our service offering entails the provision of a website with online educational material in line with National Curriculum requirements for Maths, English and Science.
This material is available in English as well as in their native language. There is therefore the opportunity to improve their command of either or both languages. Parents not necessarily fluent in english can participate as well in the learning outcomes
of their children through this website in their native language (as well as at times more conducive for them).
The provision of a voice recorder option permits a multi-sensory approach to learning for the children with the opportunity to hear the correct pronunciation of words in English.
We aim to commence with 8yr old children, old enough for their learning needs to be appropriately distinguished from neurodevelopmental disorders etc. They are also old enough to work independently on the website if necessary.
