Children in the spotlight – scoping the future for multilingual education policy
In this presentation I aim to look back at the shaping of European primary and pre-primary language policies during the 21st century and consider how these experiences might shape future policy developments in the many contexts where we are increasingly experiencing a heightened awareness of multilingualism. Future gazing in the field of languages and politics is notoriously a risky venture – at the start of 2022 few would have anticipated the need for primary teachers in Poland to rapidly become familiar with Ukrainian as the war has caused huge populations shifts with people fleeing for their lives. The ramifications of such tragedy will have unimagined consequences for the future of Europe and calls for stronger multilingual policies in education are already escalating. In this presentation I will draw on recent theoretical perspectives (Heugh 2021, Spolsky 2021, van Avemaet 2018). To consider how they might provide some guidance on ways forward at policy level, dipping into classroom evidence to review their potential for contributing to establishing an inclusive and sustainable learning context for all young children.