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English as an Additional Language

At Sladefield, we recognise that bilingualism is a useful learning tool and that all English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils make a valuable contribution to our school community. We take a whole school approach to meeting the needs of our EAL learners. It is vital that all pupils feel safe, accepted and valued in order to learn effectively and develop as individuals. For children who may be newly arrived to the UK or who are developing their competencies in English, this is particularly important. This includes recognising and valuing their home language and background.  We take a whole school approach to meeting the needs of our EAL learners and use signs and symbols, combined with a language rich environment to support their acquisition of English. 

 The DFE defines English as an Additional Language as follows:

'A pupil’s first language is defined as any language other than English that a child was exposed to during early development and continues to be exposed to in the home or community. If a child was exposed to more than one language (which may include English) during early development, a language other than English should be recorded, irrespective of the child’s proficiency in English.'

OFSTED define English as an Additional Language as follows:

'English as an additional language (EAL) refers to learners whose first language is not English.

These definitions therefore cover the following:

  • Pupils arriving from other countries and whose first language is not English
  • Pupils who have lived in the UK for a long time and may appear to be fluent, but who also speak another language at home. These pupils are often not entirely fluent in terms of their literacy levels.
  • Pupils who have been born in the UK, but for whom the home language is not English (e.g. Bengali children who are born in the UK, but arrive at school with very little English due to having spoken only Bengali at home and within the community)
  • Pupils who have a parent who speaks a language other than English and the child communicates with in that language (ie. bilingual children)'

 

 

Using these criteria, in the Academic Year 20/21 80% of our pupils can be identified as having English as an Additional Language.

The home languages spoken by the children and parents at Sladefield are:

Arabic

Bengali

Bengali (Sylheti)

Kurdish

Panjabi

Panjabi (Mirpuri)

Pashto/Pakhto

Romany/English Romanes

Somali

Urdu

Other

(Correct as of September 2022)

 

Please read our EAL Policy for more information.