- Two form entry primary school
- Approximately 40% EAL pupils
- 33 different languages represented
- Well established buddy system and strong emphasis on quality first teaching driven by the senior leadership team
- EAL in West Midlands
The school serves an area of high deprivation in Oldbury, in The Black Country. Approximately 40% of pupils in this two form entry primary school use EAL with 33 different languages represented. EAL provision is led by Mr Shuttleworth, whose priority is to ensure that pupils are happy, confident and ready to learn, so one of the first things he does is to take specially trained ‘buddies’ to accompany him to admissions meetings. While the adults exchange the necessary information and prepare for the child’s start date, the children start to get to know each other. On the new child’s first day, he or she already has one or two friends to play with who can help them settle in.
There is a strong emphasis on quality first teaching that is driven by the senior leadership team. Research-based approaches such as ‘Talk for Writing’ and ‘Voice 21’ are used across the school to improve pupils’ self-expression and build their confidence. This has a clear benefit for pupils more experienced in EAL. It also benefits early stage learners, who may additionally attend a combination of small group pre-teaching sessions or one-to-one interventions, including the ‘The Learning Village’.
Progress is carefully tracked using NASSEA assessments and discussions with class teachers ensure that children’s developmental steps are catered for through mainstream provision. Class teachers’ confidence in monitoring and reporting on EAL progress has been boosted by the regular training sessions, which promote good practice from Across Cultures and from EAL specialists who work with the MAT the school has recently joined.
Pupils feel comfortable using their home languages to think and talk before attempting speaking or writing in English. This is so during activities both in and outside the classroom. Home languages feature in the labels on the tree house pupils are building as part of their Forest School Learning, as well as in the dual language texts in the library.
The atmosphere is happy and calm. The children talk enthusiastically about their school. “I have a lot more friends than in my last school” declared one Year 4 pupil. Another, excited about his science lessons said: “We added switches to make our circuits work.”
Chiaka Amadi
Rounds Green Primary School – https://www.roundsgreenprimary.co.uk/
EAL in West Midlands schools
The EAL Quality Mark is based on a school’s self-evaluation of its EAL provision. It is an award made to schools on their achievements in meeting the needs of pupils learning English as an additional language.
It is available as a bronze, silver or gold award, allowing schools the opportunity to re-visit the award and build on their practice over time. Any school with pupils on roll who are learning English as an additional language is eligible to apply.
Extended online EAL course
New cohorts launched every term
Requiring approximately 90 hours to complete over a six month period, our extended EAL online course provides the opportunity to examine a range of EAL issues in detail, studying at times that suit your schedule. With 4 core units and 2 electives, you can tailor the cross-phase course to suit your interests and the needs of your school.
Leading EAL in primary schools
Online course
This 12-hour course aims to develop the leadership of EAL in primary schools where there are increasing numbers of pupils learning English as an additional language. Focusing on a whole school approach, the course provides guidance on how to plan and prioritise provision for a range of EAL learners.