Language policy in multilingual UK

Abstract

Abstract As recent reports have confirmed, the UK is becoming more and more linguistically diverse, especially in urban areas. This article explores ways in which educational policy might respond to these changes. It begins by reporting on a small-scale research project designed to find out from a number of community language teachers in Nottingham what they consider to be the linguistic needs of their children and how these might be fulfilled in both mainstream and supplementary schools. Having identified these needs, the article then turns to a description of the Sheffield Multilingual City Project. An analysis of this project serves to identify some useful principles for the development of a coherent policy which would include the voices of the various community language speakers. The article concludes by arguing that there is a need for a national policy framework designed to promote appropriate language policies in all areas, and that this should ensure that the linguistic needs of all of our children are met, regardless of where they live.