About the EAL Service
English as an additional language (EAL) means that a language other than English is spoken at home.
We help children and young people learning English as an additional language gain better access to their education by offering specialist support.
We help schools meet the needs of EAL learners effectively by:
- assessing pupils' English language development
- providing advice and support
We encourage early identification and personalised support to help learners settle into school and achieve their potential.
Our aim is to enable and empower school staff to meet the learning needs of pupils with EAL.
Getting support for your child at school
Talk to your child's teacher or school if you're worried about their language skills, learning or progress at school. They may provide additional phonics or reading support to help your child if needed.
Request a referral for an assessment
You can also ask your child’s teacher to submit an EAL referral. A specialist teacher will visit the school to assess your child.
The school will ask you to sign a consent form for this assessment. They might want to get more information from you.
This information may include:
- when your child arrived in the UK
- previous educational history, for example:
- what age they began school
- what subjects they studied
- what subjects they find easy or difficult
- any other needs that you feel are important to mention
During the assessment
During the assessment, there will be a short:
- observation of how your child is managing in class
- one-to-one assessment to check their:
- speaking and listening skills in English
- literacy skills in English
- literacy skills in the first language
- their numeracy skills
After the assessment
A short time later, the specialist teacher will write a report. It will give recommendations on how your child can be supported both at home and at school
They will re-visit the child at school around 8 weeks later. One-on-one teaching from the EAL specialist teacher may be provided if there is capacity and if the child needs it.
Support at home
We encourage families to continue speaking and using their home language. Talking about school, learning and everyday experiences in your first language supports your child's:
- communication skills
- cognitive development
- overall learning
Maintaining and developing your child's first language is beneficial both at home and in school. It also supports their future learning.
Information and resources
The following resources provide information and practical support for parents and carers of children with English as an additional language: