I was excited about visiting the Polish Saturday School at Dunraven School in Streatham this morning.  A year ago I met with Joanna Ostrowska, a Polish community leader.  She told me how a group of Polish parents were trying to set up a Saturday school to teach their children Polish language and culture so they didn’t lose contact with their heritage living so far from home.  Joanna told me about 100 children wanted to take part but they couldn’t find a local venue big enough.    I spoke to my friend Cllr Mark Bennett who’s a governor at Dunraven School, and the school agreed to host the Polish school. 

The school finally started at the end of last year.  I was delighted to finally see it in action.  Staffed by parents and trained teachers from Poland – many working in other jobs in the UK – the school was full of enthusiastic Polish children learning about Polish language, literature, music, history, dance and religion.   I was greeted with great warmth and hospitality, and was touched to be greeted in the Polish tradition manner with a loaf of bread and some salt by two Polish children. 

After a whistle-stop tour round the school I had a chance to sit down with Joanna and some of the teachers.  We talked through some of the issues facing the school and how the Council and our Labour councillors can help sort them out.  I left thinking feeling proud that I’d been able to help in some small way to get the school going, but also deeply impressed by the hard work and determination of the Polish teachers, parents and students I’d met at the school.  Initiatives like this where people come together to give children a better start in life while celebrating their own rich heritage deserve our support. 

Polish parents in the UK don't want their children to lose touch with their rich cultural heritage