English language supports ‘haphazard’

ENGLISH language supports for students in second level schools are haphazard but could get even worse, experts have warned.

Research by Trinity College Dublin’s English Language Support Programme (ELSP) found that one teacher in many schools had entire responsibility for integrating newcomer children.

Less than 50 of the 85 language support teachers at 70 schools interviewed by the research team, headed by Professor David Little and Dr Zachary Lyons, said they were happy with the progress of their own newcomer students.