Save our English Language Service!

NEU, Unison, GMB and NASUWT members in the English as an Additional Language Service need your URGENT help!

East Sussex County Council is proposing to close down the English as an Additional Language Service entirely- with all of its specialist teachers and bi-lingual support officers facing redundancy, and losing this wealth of expertise and experience to local schools forever.

The decision has come following a decision from the Local Authority Secondary Schools not to continue 'de-delegating' a fixed amount from their budget to EALS. These schools would almost certainly continue to purchase some services from the EALS service on a "buy in" basis however, as Academy schools already do.

The Local Authority Primary Schools have committed to continue funding the service- that's more than three-quarters of the existing budget. However the County Council are claiming that, even with this and the expectation of a buy-in from the Secondaries, that the service will not be viable.

Our members actually working within the Service disagree, and have made clear financial proposals that would keep the service open, and keep this vital support available to some of our most vulnerable children.

Please take a couple of minutes to help our colleagues in three ways:

1) Make a submission to the County Council's online consultation about the closure of the service. This is a very short survey and will only take a few minutes- but it is vital that we get a good number of returns from education professionals such as yourselves.

2) Send a short email to your local County Councillor. This decision is being made "in their name" and they have the right and responsibility to hold the senior management at ESCC to account. You can find who your local County Councilllor is, and their email, by clicking and inputting your postcode here.

3) Spread the word! Let your colleagues know this is happening. Ask your Head Teacher to lobby ESCC to keep a service open. If you have friends and neighbours who share your concern then ask them to add their voice. If you would like printed materials for your staffroom or friends, please let us know.

We will continue putting information about this situation on our dedicated website for the campaign:

www.SaveEALS.com