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    1. Home
    2. Education
    3. Schools, learning and development
    4. School life

    If your child’s first language isn’t English or Irish

    If your child is enrolled in a school but doesn't have satisfactory language skills to take part fully in the school curriculum and does not have a language in common with the teacher, they are called a “newcomer” pupil.

    Newcomer pupils

    Newcomer pupils in schools speak about 80 different languages representing a variety of cultures. The most popular languages spoken  are Polish, Lithuanian, Portuguese and Romanian.  To read more information about newcomers, go to:

    • Newcomers

    Intercultural Education Service

    The Intercultural Education Service (IES) supports newcomer children in the classroom. To read more about IES, go to:

    • Intercultural Education Service: Newcomer Provision

    Guidelines

    The Department of Education published guidelines in association with the policy 'Supporting Newcomer Pupils 2009'. These guidelines are about criteria for identifying a pupil as a newcomer and sharing good practice and can be viewed at:

    • Newcomer Guidelines for Schools
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    School life

    • Children from the Traveller community
    • Greener schools: what parents can do
    • Home to school transport
    • If your child’s first language isn’t English or Irish
    • Nutrition and school lunches
    • School terms and school closures
    • School uniform and uniform grants

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    Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

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