EAL – English as an Additional Language

At Boothferry Primary School we have children from many different countries and backgrounds. In addition to English, there are over 20 different languages spoken by children in our school and currently nearly 50 % of our children speak a language other than English at home.

We celebrate the fact that many of our children speak more than one language and acknowledge their ability to use a variety of community languages. In our school the teaching and learning, achievements, attitudes and well-being of all children are important. We encourage all children to achieve the highest possible standards. We do this through taking account of each child’s life experiences and needs.

At Boothferry Primary School teachers take action to help children who are learning English as an additional language by various means.

All members of staff have responsibility to support and encourage children to become fluent English speakers by modelling good use of English by extending sentences and encouraging children to do the same. Teaching staff encourage children to speak clearly and audibly using more that single words where appropriate. We communicate to the pupils that children are expected to listen and respond when someone speaks to them. We strive to develop children’s confidence in speaking English and to encourage patience and tolerance from children whose skills are more developed. We withdraw children from lessons to receive EAL provision in order to support those children who are targeted and in need of additional small group work, in addition to those children who are new to English.

“Pupils who speak English as an additional language make good progress.”

Ofsted 2019