NI children to get Polish lessons

Primary school pupils in Northern Ireland will be offered lessons in Polish from September.

The Department of Education said 25 schools have already opted to provide lessons for children up to Primary 4.

A spokesman said children are "already learning and playing with classmates from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds".

Extra lessons in Spanish and Irish provided by 300 schools have been hailed as a success by the Department.

The government already pays for language tutors in Spanish and Irish for children up to Primary 4, while children in 600 schools get weekly coaching in Gaelic sports or soccer.

Polish children make up the largest number of school pupils whose first language is not English.

Up to 13,000 pupils are taking part in the Primary Languages Programme.