Out of school language classes

The Community Languages team provides support for out of school languages and cultural learning and citizenship education. In partnership with schools and voluntary organisations, the provisions made available are as follows:

These classes are open to children aged five to 16 who live in Tower Hamlets.  The classes are held in 90 venues across the borough including primary and secondary schools, Idea Stores, local community centres, churches and mosques.  The following language classes are available: Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, French, Lithuanian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese.

If you want to attend these classes or would like more information, for example venues, times and dates, please contact us on 020 7364 6373.

Early GCSEs in languages

The team supports 11 to 14 year olds in taking early GCSEs in languages. Early GCSE is now available in Bengali, Urdu, Arabic and Chinese and classes are held on Sundays from 10.00am to 1.00pm at the centres below:

LAP 1 Classes: Bengali, Arabic
Venue : Darul Hadis Centre, 1 Cornwall Avenue E2 0HW

LAP 3 Classes: Bengali, Arabic
Venue : Whitechapel Idea Store, 321 Whitechapel Road E11BU

LAP 4 Classes: Bengali, Urdu
Venue : Shadwell Centre, School House Lane,  455 The Highway E1W 3HP

LAP 5 Classes: Bengali
Venue : Bow Idea Store,  1 Gladstone Place, Roman Road E3 5ES

LAP 6 Classes: Bengali
Venue : Idea Store Chrisp Street, 1 Vesey Path, East India Dock Road  E14 6BT

LAP 7 Classes: Bengali, Chinese
Venue : Idea Store Chrisp Street, 1 Vesey Path, East India Dock Road E14 6BT

LAP 8 Classes: Bengali
Venue : Island House, Isle of Dogs, Roserton Street E14 3PG

Classes are also held at the Alpha Grove Community Centre, Alpha Grove, Millwall E14 8LH.

To enrol in these classes please contact us on 020 7364 6373.

Primary modern languages

When the new primary curriculum is launched in September 2011, modern languages will become a statutory requirement for seven to eleven year olds. Tower Hamlets primary schools are offering languages as diverse as French, Spanish, Bengali, Russian, Arabic and Mandarin. These are taught at the schools listed below:

• Arnhem Wharf : French 9.00am – 2.45pm on Fridays
• Columbia: Spanish 1.30pm – 3.30pm Wednesdays & Thursdays
• Cyril Jackson: French and Spanish –  2.30pm - 3.15pm Mondays
• English Martyrs: Spanish 1.15pm – 3.15pm on Thursdays
• Hague: Spanish 1.30pm – 3.30pm on Thursdays
• Holy Family: French 10.00am – 12.15pm on Thursdays
• Lansbury Lawrence: French 9.40am – 12.00pm on Wednesdays
• Mowlem: French 1.30pm – 3.30pm on Tuesdays
• Seven Mills: French 9.30am – 12.00pm on Tuesdays
• St Agnes: Spanish 10.30am – 12.30pm Wednesdays

Classes do also take place in many other schools. Please contact us on 020 7364 6373.

First language assessment for newly arrived and under achieving children

The team offers this service to schools for all newly arrived and underachieving children and young people, across the four key stages. The assessment measures the four key skills: reading, writing, speaking/listening and numeracy, as well as basic linguistic skills.

Parents are also involved during assessments, to help identify children’s learning needs so that schools can set suitable learning challenges and targets.

Community cohesion and citizenship education

A pilot project for 2009/10, Islam and Citizenship Education (ICE) will develop children’s understanding of Islamic and British values. Supporting 11 to 18 year olds in partnership with mosques, madrasas and schools, the team will help promote citizenship among Muslim and non-Muslim communities to encourage greater community cohesion. We are currently working with 11 organisation as stated below.

Jamiatul Ummah Muslim Boys Secondary School, Baitul Mamur Academy, Poplar Mosque & Community Centre, Mazahirul Uloom London, Redcoat Community Centre, Stepney Shahjalal Mosque & Cultural  Centre, Esha Atul Islam, Darul Hadis Latifiah, Al – Majidiah Trust, Darul Ummah Maktab and East London Mosque.

For further information regarding any of our services please contact us on the details below:

Community Languages Services
Town Hall
^4th floor, Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 6373
Email: jamal.uddin@towerhamlets.gov.uk or asmas.begum@towerhamlets.gov.uk

For more information about detailed programme of the provisions, training, curriculum and advisory support please click here http://cls.tower-hamlets.lgfl.net/