ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL) - AT OAK GREEN SCHOOL

Why do we teach what we teach? (Our intent)

At Oak Green we know that language cannot be separated from identity and that it is important that the first language of every child and their culture is acknowledged and recognised. We believe that pupils need to feel safe, accepted and valued in order to learn.  We are aware that bilingualism is a strength and that EAL pupils have a valuable contribution to make. We have responsibility for supporting and encouraging children to become fluent English speakers and for communicating school expectations for writing, reading and speaking.

How do we teach it? (Our implementation)

We are committed to making appropriate provision of teaching and resources for pupils for whom English is an additional language and for raising the achievement of these pupils. We support EAL children to strengthen their English, giving them the confidence they need at school and creating the same opportunities as English speaking pupils. We do this by using lots of visuals, bilingual books and dictionaries, and through an active approach that is tailored to each individual pupil and their needs. We model good use of English, in extending sentences and encourage children to do the same, communicating to children that they are expected to speak clearly and audibly. At Oak Green, teachers plan learning in the context of each individual child’s stage of fluency, translating key vocabulary when appropriate, and assessing and tracking progress in reading, writing, speaking and listening. We include a wide range of talk throughout our lessons which allows children to be exposed to a wide range of English language and this helps to build on our bilingual children’s confidence to join in.

What is the difference that this makes? (Our impact)

By strengthening and developing English language skills, EAL children have the confidence to take on different challenges at school, creating strong foundations for developing other skills which are critical for their learning. Gaining English language skills gives the children the ability to express themselves, giving them confidence and independence in their development. Gaining these skills at a young age helps build a solid base for all future learning.