English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Intent
EAL is defined as: ‘a child whose first language is not English’ encompassing children who are fully bilingual and all those at different stages of learning English.
EAL children may be:
- Newly arrived from a foreign country and school
- Newly arrived from a foreign country, but an English speaking school
- Born abroad, but moved to the UK at some point before starting school
- Born in the UK, but in a family where the main language is not English
- Seeking Asylum or have refugee status
EAL children will need varying levels of provision so that they can access all aspects of the curriculum. We will inspire our EAL children to learn to speak, read and write in English through immersion in a broad, rich curriculum.
We believe that:
- The school environment promotes language development through the rich use of language, IT and visual prompts.
- EAL learners make the best progress within a whole school context, where children are educated with their peers.
- The school structure, pastoral care and overall ethos help EAL children integrate into the school whilst valuing diversity.
- Bilingualism is viewed as a positive and life-enriching asset.
Implementation
Identification and assessment is carried out with the purpose of providing the most appropriate provision for each pupil.
Termly assessment of level of language acquisition will be carried out to ensure we create challenging bespoke targets to accelerate progress are in place. Interventions are personalised, time limited and are monitored to ensure accelerated progress. In assessment of EAL children, competence in English is categorised on a five point scale using the Department for Education’s EAL classification codes.
In our school all staff take action to help children who are learning English as an additional language in the following ways:
- ensuring that vocabulary work covers the technical as well as the everyday meaning of key words, metaphors and idioms;
- explaining how speaking and writing in English are structured for different purposes across a range of subjects;
- providing a range of reading materials that highlight the different ways in which English is used;
- ensuring that there are effective opportunities for talking, and that talking is used to support writing;
- endeavour to build on children’s experiences of language at home and in the wider community, so that their developing uses of English and other languages support one another; ensuring access to the curriculum and to assessment by using accessible texts and materials that suit children’s ages and levels of learning.
Impact
Every child, regardless of their EAL proficiency, will be able to achieve and access learning within the classroom alongside their peers and will be supported, along with their family, to extend their English knowledge. Staff have high expectations of pupils who have EAL and these pupils are monitored regularly both through summative and formative assessments.
Our pupils will progress to secondary school having experienced suitable EAL provision to enable them to feel welcome and valued within the community and able to communicate effectively in a range of situations.
Intent
EAL is defined as: ‘a child whose first language is not English’ encompassing children who are fully bilingual and all those at different stages of learning English.
EAL children may be:
- Newly arrived from a foreign country and school
- Newly arrived from a foreign country, but an English speaking school
- Born abroad, but moved to the UK at some point before starting school
- Born in the UK, but in a family where the main language is not English
- Seeking Asylum or have refugee status
EAL children will need varying levels of provision so that they can access all aspects of the curriculum. We will inspire our EAL children to learn to speak, read and write in English through immersion in a broad, rich curriculum.
We believe that:
- The school environment promotes language development through the rich use of language, IT and visual prompts.
- EAL learners make the best progress within a whole school context, where children are educated with their peers.
- The school structure, pastoral care and overall ethos help EAL children integrate into the school whilst valuing diversity.
- Bilingualism is viewed as a positive and life-enriching asset.
Implementation
Identification and assessment is carried out with the purpose of providing the most appropriate provision for each pupil.
Termly assessment of level of language acquisition will be carried out to ensure we create challenging bespoke targets to accelerate progress are in place. Interventions are personalised, time limited and are monitored to ensure accelerated progress. In assessment of EAL children, competence in English is categorised on a five point scale using the Department for Education’s EAL classification codes.
In our school all staff take action to help children who are learning English as an additional language in the following ways:
- ensuring that vocabulary work covers the technical as well as the everyday meaning of key words, metaphors and idioms;
- explaining how speaking and writing in English are structured for different purposes across a range of subjects;
- providing a range of reading materials that highlight the different ways in which English is used;
- ensuring that there are effective opportunities for talking, and that talking is used to support writing;
- endeavour to build on children’s experiences of language at home and in the wider community, so that their developing uses of English and other languages support one another; ensuring access to the curriculum and to assessment by using accessible texts and materials that suit children’s ages and levels of learning.
Impact
Every child, regardless of their EAL proficiency, will be able to achieve and access learning within the classroom alongside their peers and will be supported, along with their family, to extend their English knowledge. Staff have high expectations of pupils who have EAL and these pupils are monitored regularly both through summative and formative assessments.
Our pupils will progress to secondary school having experienced suitable EAL provision to enable them to feel welcome and valued within the community and able to communicate effectively in a range of situations.
English as an Addtional Language (EAL) Leader - Mrs Katie Thompson
Deputy English as an Addtional Language (EAL) Leader - Mrs Natasha Bennett
English as an Addtional Language (EAL) Link Governor - Mrs Kajal Allen