Welcome to Warwickshire County Council

Community Information	School Resources
Tackling Harassment	Strategic Information

The LA already has a number of services which work with schools and community groups to build an awareness of the richesof living in a diverse society. The benefits of a diverse society are explored through the work of:

Intercultural Curriculum Support Services (ICSS) The ICSS provides and supports equal access to the National Curriculum and prepares all children for life in a multicultural society. Particular projects include: · home school liaison links to involve ethnic minority parents in school life; · language assessment of newly arrived children and mother tongue teaching; · offering bilingual support in classrooms and supporting community language classes (e.g. Punjabi); · translation and interpretation; · Making multicultural teaching resources available. The Intercultural Curriculum Support Services is managed by James Shera who is based at the Benn Education Centre, Claremont Road, Rugby. Tel (01788) 562841 There are also Intercultural Curriculum Support Service offices in the Northern, Central and Southern areas.

County Music Service (CMS)

2. County Music Service CMS has a thriving and developing work music section, which offers all schools and pupils the chance to share in and perform music from other cultures. At present there are over 40 steel pan groups in the County and a growing number of African drumming and Samba groups. Our advisor for intercultural music and the arts is heavily involved in a variety of arts projects in schools, exposing pupils to the artistic and cultural traditions of other people and enabling them to understand the many connections which their own cultures have with other those of other lands and traditions. CMS is collecting data on its provision so appropriate targets can be set. We hope to ensure that young people from other cultures are fairly represented in CMS activities.

Artszone

3. Arts Zone is managed by Leslie Hampson High profile, arts-for-all celebration events aim to represent the diversity of cultures in the county. Warwickshire, the Bear Essentials – Warwickshire performance in the Millennium Dome in January 2000. Performers represented Sikh and Hindu communities, including those of Egyptian, African-Caribbean and Polish decent and disability arts. Millennium Meltdown, a Festival of Disability and Minority Culture Arts – organised by the Warwickshire Council for Disabled People, was supported by Arts Zone and Artists in Warwickshire Education: workshops in schools by artists performing at the festival. Intercultural Support Service Festivals – in each area of the county each year: close links between ICSS, Arts Zone, AWE and the County Music Service. Racial and religious understanding are key aims for the festivals. Arts Zone Dance Festivals: the successful Bhangra groups (especially in Bedworth where there is a long history of successful mixed race Bhangra with clear purpose of social harmony as well as art). We have more plans: South Warwickshire rural digital-art project – specifically designed to meet intergenerational and inter-community tensions through shared activity. Bhangra – gradual extension of the programme countywide. Drama and Dance Festivals 2002 based on the Year of Diversity and Commonwealth Spirit of Friendship Festival Mystery Tour 2002 – Mystery Plays in Coventry Cathedral, based on biblical stories, but also on the themes on international reconciliation and understanding associated with the cathedral's re-build.

Early Years Education

Early Years ran their Making Choices course for Nepalese women at Gurkha army training camps. The course enables women to decide whether they want to train to work in early years by providing them with a chance to meet people working in the field.The Early Years team are so committed to embracing diversity and widening access that they arranged for all course materials to be sent to Nepal for translation! What's more they are now planning to sell this unique resource to other Gurkha training camps..........top marks for initiative!