Boost for language teaching

Language lessons in primary schools are to be boosted by funding worth £35 million this year, the government has announced.

The money will pay for specialist teachers, training and teaching resources, and represents an increase of £5 million on 2007 funding levels.

It will also cover joint working between schools to support the transition between primary and secondary school.

Languages will become a compulsory part of the curriculum for seven to 11-year-olds in 2010.