Joint work with EAL

“MCFB is so supportive of the school in the work they do with pupils”

Since 2003 the Changing Children's Services Fund (as it was then) has funded a highly successful partnership between MCFB and English as an Additional language services (EAL) within the City of Edinburgh, Children and families, education services. This funding provides resources for some staffing in both agencies and better targets support to vulnerable children who might be bilingual and from BME communities. The EAL service has developed support systems at key transition points, improved parent partnership and promoted the greater involvement of the minority ethnic community in the life of schools. The project has worked to identify and address the barriers to attainment and achievement for bilingual and minority ethnic children. The partnership promotes the shared assessment of children and a holistic understanding of the needs of children and families, promoting better use of resources and better outcomes for children.

The link between EAL and MCFB improves learning opportunities for student social workers and gives future social workers a better understanding of educational services. The EAL service identifies children / families from the minority communities for whom MCFB's expertise and experience are particularly relevant and to whom MCFB can offer particular support which might not be available in mainstream school.

Headteacher's comments

“"This was a really successful piece of work. The worker liaised well with the school & was very supportive of the boy's mother who has language difficulties. He did appropriate activities with the boys & helped them get into a better routine with their home work.”