October saw the Launch of the High Ridge Diversity Base which supports Polish families settle into their new community through: 

• Providing an Induction Programme for Polish students who have newly arrived to England.
• Providing parents with a social network of mutual support.

The Induction Programme is available for polish new arrivals from schools across North Lincolnshire (key stage 1-4). Students will complete the programme over one school term attending sessions for half a day per week.

Working in partnership with North Lincolnshire Councils Diversity Service we aim to provide good practice around supporting new arrivals. The pilot will concentrate on Polish families this year but if successful we would like to widen the range of ethnic minority new arrivals to meet as many needs as possible.

We are offering CPD to all staff accompanying students and are providing schools with an assessment of students; English, Maths & Mother Tongue ability. Schools currently benefiting from our induction programme include:

• Brumby Junior School
• Bushfield Infant School
• Crosby Primary School
• Priory Lane Junior School
• Brumby Engineering College
• Berkeley Infant School
• Berkeley Junior School
• St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School
• Henderson Avenue Primary School

51 Polish students began the 12 week induction programme this term. Feedback from the students and the staff from these schools so far has reinforced the need to offer this type of induction support for new arrivals. Comments from schools include:

"It is useful that the subjects lead on from each other, pupils have more understanding of tasks when back in school"

"We have observed that some students are more able than we realised, this programme outlines students’ true abilities"

"The students are more confident using words that they had practised and now speak more freely"

We are also working with a number of community groups and organisations to provide information for the whole family to help them to settle into the area and raise awareness of local support available.

Parents can pop along to information sessions and book onto training courses/workshops (e.g. ESOL, Understanding the British Education System workshops, Basic Computers) on Thursdays from 1pm. We are expanding our community links in line with the needs of our Polish Parents; speakers currently available include:

• Community Policing Team
• Humberside Fire Service
• Community Nutrition & Dietetic Service
• Crosby Community Association
• 20-21 Visual Arts Centre
• Practical Family Support Service
• Crosby Community Association – Debt & Benefits Advice
• Street Sports Workers
• Study United – SUFC
• Crosby Pathfinder
• Safer Neighbourhoods
• VANL – Volunteer Bureau
• Connexions
• John Leggott College
• North Lincolnshire Council’s Adult Education

If you would like to find out more about this exciting project you can contact Helen Parker (Diversity Project Co-ordinator) 01724 332069 or email hparker@highridge.lincs.sch.uk.