English classes set up for Wiltshire's Ukrainian refugees

Wiltshire Council's putting together the lessons

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 26th May 2022

Ukrainian refugees settling in Wiltshire are to be given English as a Second Language lessons, by Wiltshire Council.

Their Family and Community Learning team is aiming to help improve their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills - to help them communicate with their host families, support children attending local schools and eventually help them into employment.

It's a two week, face to face course, with classes starting in Salisbury at the end of June.

They've already begun in other parts of the county.

Wiltshire College is also setting up follow up courses for Ukrainian refugees aged from 16, as well as adults, focussing on employability and citizenship.

HOW MANY REFUGEES ARE HERE?

Latest figures from the Home Office show there are 2,830 households across Wiltshire registered with the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

447 households have so far been matched with 1,181 individuals.

A number of Ukrainian children have also started attending school in Wiltshire - the authority say they've had a total of 143 school applications from refugees being hosted here.

92 of those are primary age, and 51 for secondary schools.

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