The New Arrivals Excellence Programme was announced in October 2006, with resources to be launched in July 2007. The programme does not devolve funding to local authorities but is a central resource, which local authorities, schools, specialist and mainstream teachers can look to for advice, guidance and ‘signposting’ towards the best training opportunities.
The programme will have a clear focus on helping local authorities and schools who have received a large number of new arrivals and where local authorities have little experience of working with those with little or no English. Outreach workers will be available as part of the programme, to provide additional focused support within those local authorities.
Materials available to local authorities will include a DVD of effective practice, a website and on-line forum and a training module. The programme will link securely with the work of the National Strategies, whose primary and secondary programmes are now expanding to include work on new arrivals.