English as an additional language (EAL)

Children who speak English as an additional language are entitled to equal access to the whole curriculum and to assessment procedures.  Suttons Primary School is happy to welcome many children from around the world. A range of languages is spoken and some of our children are bi-lingual.  The school aims to integrate all new children into the school and the customs of their country with sensitivity, care and consideration.  It is recognised by the school that the children whose mother tongue is not English help provide a diversity of cultures and customs that are of benefit to all in the school.  The school is aware that many of our EAL children come from countries where there is conflict and are very traumatised by the upheaval in their lives.

EAL support

Suttons Primary School has an English as an Additional Language Teaching Assistant who provides school-based support for children with EAL.  If, after a settling in period of a few weeks, it is decided that involvement is needed, the EAL teaching assistant will liaise with the class teacher to assess, support and monitor the progress of the child, suggest activities and resources when necessary.

"The school caters well for pupils who speak English as an additional language.  Their progress is good in all year groups."

OfSTED 2014

Integrating new EAL children

Staff employ a variety of strategies to help settle newcomers to the school, including:

• Welcome packs are translated to the home language, giving the pupil and parents/carers information about the school and daily routines.

• A ‘buddy’ system whereby a group of children are chosen to show the newcomer around the class and the school and help them whenever possible.

• Initially, the child is allowed to settle and get accustomed to being in a new school and home, perhaps even a new country.

• An induction programme to introduce basic vocabulary including names of children, numbers and colours.

• Multi-lingual signs are displayed around the school, indicating important areas for the pupil and parents/carers.

Parents/carers of existing pupils volunteer to act as translators to new parents/carers who speak the same language.