KOSOVAR children who are still waiting to go home after the end of the conflict in war-torn Yugoslavia are catching up on some schoolwork in Blackburn.

The youngsters, who have been staying in Mill Hill and Shadsworth since coming to East Lancashire in June, have been placed in two schools in the town.

A handful of refugees have returned to their homeland, but many could stay until next summer.

Four boys and four girls, aged seven to 11, are being taught by an Albanian-speaking teacher at Hawthorns Primary School, St James's Road.

A further 10 youngsters have been placed at Beardwood High School and are being taught basic conversational English.

The scheme was organised by the Support for Ethnic Minority Achievement group, based at the education offices in Preston New Road and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Children in both schools are learning in separate classrooms to other pupils - but teachers hope they will join normal classes at a later date.

John Orgill, headteacher at Hawthorns, said: "The children are settling in really well.

"They are being taught by an American lady who speaks fluent Albanian. "I told our pupils before the Kosovars arrived that it might seem strange, but to smile if they stared at the other children.

"It seems to have worked, because they are making friends.

"We have had special assemblies about what it's like coming to a foreign country. It's important they get some education at this stage and they will be with us until Easter, unless they go home before that."

Roger Eckton, headteacher of Beardwood, said: "It took about 10 days for us to set up a spare classroom for the children and their teachers.

"They have all been given uniforms by our suppliers, Whittakers of Blackburn, and they look just like any Beardwood pupil.

"Some of them may join the year seven curriculum nearer Christmas if they are still here."

A council spokesman said: "Originally education experts went to see the children where they were staying, to give them self-confidence after what they had been through.

"But we decided to get them into schools and Hawthorns and Beardwood were chosen because of their good records in dealing with English as a second language.

"Many of the refugees are still here.

"They'd like to go home, as anyone would, but some don't have anywhere to go back to.

"Once they leave this country the rules state they can't come back.

"Some of the men have returned to Kosovo to check out the situation before their families follow them."

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