Award is a success in any language

3:13pm Saturday 10th May 2008

CHEERING a special success are these pupils at a school in Bolton which introduces foreign children to the English way of life.

Starting Point, in Selkirk Road, Sharples, won a regional diversity award from the North West Employers Association for its work in helping youngsters who have just arrived in the country to integrate in English schools. The school is now proudly displaying the glass trophy after staff collected the prize in a ceremony at the Lowry Hotel, Salford.

About 120 pupils, aged five to 16, attend the school, which caters for more than 30 nationalities.

Pupils are usually at Starting Point for five to six weeks, learning about how the English education system works before transferring into mainstream schools.

School head, Katy Kellet, said she was delighted that Starting Point had won the award.

She said: "I think it's nice for the staff to see that their diversity and their contribution is recognised.

"The kids love it as well. They like to come and look at the trophy." She added: "We don't have racism here. The kids get on, and the one thing they understand is that we're all different.

"Five and fifteen-year-olds kick footballs together. Some of the kids don't have their families with them, so it's nice for them to mingle with people of different ages."

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