The EAL department is an important part of the Primary School as over 75% of our current student roll have English as a second, third or even fourth language. These children are well supported by the EAL team, made up of experienced teachers and assistants, and an EAL coordinator. In addition to this team, all Class Teachers have taken a 30 hour course, English as a Second Language in the Mainstream, which has made them aware of the special challenges our multilingual children have when they arrive in an English speaking school and how best the teachers can adapt school resources to help them.
When children arrive in August with no English they immediately join the English Fun Club, which runs from the first day of term. The children are withdrawn in small groups for the first month for four to six times a week, and learn survival English through singing, chanting, arts and crafts and drama. After this initial intensive English course they will then be withdrawn several times a week so that the EAL teacher can support them in acquiring English so that they can access the curriculum as soon as possible.
If children arrive with some knowledge of English they will quickly be assessed and put into appropriate groups depending on their level of English. They will receive support in and out of class depending on their needs. The groups are regularly assessed and they can change during the year.
EAL staff are always available for consultations at the beginning and end of the school day and also at parent consultations. Our EAL team believes that a close working relationship with the parents can help the children learn English quickly and effectively.
