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The Staffordshire Minority Ethnic Achievement Service (MEAS) aims to help schools:

• support the inclusion of minority ethnic pupils
• promote diversity
• prevent racism

Background

Staffordshire is a county of increasing diversity.  There are now over 120 languages spoken by pupils in Staffordshire schools. The most common, other than English, are Mirpuri Punjabi, Urdu and Polish. 

Most minority ethnic pupils are distributed thinly across a large number of schools. Burton on Trent is the area where most linguistic and cultural diversity is found, particularly  since it was designated a growth zone and welcomed newcomers from many parts of the globe.

What We Do

MEAS helps schools raise the achievement of all minority ethnic pupils, with particular support for underperforming minority ethnic groups. 

Further information about the work of MEAS and how to Contact Us (Word, 33.5KB) is available by following the link on the left of this page.

You have a New Arrival with EAL?

Staffordshire LA maintained schools and settings which are not in receipt of EMA grant funding can request help in supporting a new arrival with English as an Additional Language (EAL). If you are  not sure if this applies please get in touch with meas@staffordshire.gov.uk and we will advise you regarding your status.

Please complete a Notification of New Arrival Form (Word, 87KB) and a request for Funding Form (Word, 80.5KB) and return to meas@staffordshire.gov.uk

If the new arrival comes from an asylum seeking  or refugee background please complete this Funding Form (Word, 74KB) instead. Please also complete the Notification of New Arrival Form (Word, 87KB).

Non maintained schools can request support but should note that this will incur a charge (to be negotiated prior to visit/support)

Staffordshire Minority Ethnic Achievement Service (MEAS) has a team of Linguistic and Cultural Mediators (LCMs) who can assist schools in receipt of newly arrived families.

The LCMs can :

• Act as interpreter at admissions or other meetings with parents and staff
• Support child and family in the first few days at school helping them make sense of how schools work in Staffordshire - this is in a mentoring role rather than as a bilingual support assistant
• Support parent/staff at parents evening
• Attend meetings with parents and school staff and other professionals e.g. school nurse regarding health care matters
• Translate simple letters home for parents and from home to school.
• Provide support for linguistic and cultural diversity events

LCMs may also support MEAS Consultants in carrying out first language assessments of newly arrived pupils or any EAL pupil causing concerns.

The support package we offer for your New Arrival includes LCM support provided we have an LCM who speaks that particular language. 

If you require support over and above that offered in the New Arrivals support package

Please click here for an LCM Application Form (Word, 486KB) with the details of the charging rates . This might be for support at a parent's evening, various meetings etc when interpretation is required or when you need a letter or document translated for your EAL families.

Please note the rate of charging to LA maintained schools is  currently subsidised. Completed forms must be signed and  then returned either by email to meas@staffordshire.gov.uk or faxed  to 01785 256193  marked for the attention of MEAS.

If your school is an academy please get in touch with us for the relevant form and pricing structure.

You want to develop and extend cultural understanding in school?

MEAS can assist you with bespoke packages to underpin cultural and linguistic diversity using the LCMS Please get in touch for more details.

E-Updates from MEAS

If you would like to receive a regular electronic newsletter from MEAS find out how to sign up here E-Updates (Word, 24KB).

Page Last Modified: 16/04/2012 09:34:32

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