Infant and Junior EAL Policy

This policy applies to all children in the Infant and Junior School, including the EYFS; our curriculum and provision takes into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all our children.

Rationale

At Sheffield Girls’ Infant and Junior School we encourage and expect all our children to achieve the highest possible standards and to fulfil their potential. We aim to do this by treating each child as an individual, taking account of their life experiences and their particular needs. Some of our children have particular learning requirements which are linked to their progress in learning English as an Additional Language (EAL). It is important that we remember that children who are learning English as an additional language have skills and knowledge about language similar to monolingual English speaking children and that their ability to participate in the full curriculum may be in advance of their communicative skills in English

Definition

An EAL child is a child whose first language is not English. This encompasses children who are fully bilingual and all those at different stages of learning English. EAL children may be:

• Newly arrived from a foreign country and school;

• Newly arrived from a foreign country but an English speaking school;

• Born abroad, but moved to England at some point earlier in their childhood;

• Born in the UK, but in a family where the main language is not English.

EAL children will need varying levels of provision.

The School Context

The majority of bilingual children at Sheffield Girls’ Infant and Juniors School are fluent in English when they join, have been deliberately brought up as bilingual by their parents, or in fact count English as their first language whilst being fluent or semi fluent in another family language. Staff are aware that EAL needs may ‘surface’ as more competent pupils progress in their education. Often this is related to cultural understanding. In some cases, children will have no language support needs during their time at the school. However, the staff realise that EAL provision is still relevant in terms of celebrating these children's abilities. In the instances when children join the school as non-English speakers or with a beginning level of EAL the school will provide EAL provision as it seems best to support the child to achieve their individual fullest potential.

Aims

The aims of this EAL policy are:

• To define the school’s procedures regarding identifying EAL and providing support;

• To define the nature and level of school support for EAL children, including pastoral support, and the relationship with parents;

• To define the overall organisation and management of EAL provision in the school.

EAL Key Objectives

The first step in providing the appropriate level of support for EAL children is to identify the EAL cohort. At Sheffield Girls’ Infant and Junior School we use a number of approaches to identification.

Identification on Entry - this information can in some cases be limited, however it will provide a starting point from which the class teacher can seek further information from the parents, the child, or via monitoring. This information will be available from a number of sources:

• From the registrar via conversations with parents or the application form;

• From previous schools;

• From the child and/or the parents.

Identification Post-entry - This approach can also help to identify bilingual children whose first language is English. The school’s MFL teacher carries out a language audit across the school, where children are asked what other languages they speak. Any relevant information is followed up by the class teacher with the child and/or parents.

Assessment - In order to determine the most relevant level of support, the school assesses EAL children's language and other competencies. The assessment method used is guided by the information gathered from the identification procedures and teacher’s observations. Children who are fully literate in English tend not to require specific assessment and are assessed with their cohort. If aspects do emerge from these assessments, this will be highlighted by the class teacher in the termly pupil progress meetings, or beforehand to the Head of Infant and Junior School and the SENCO / EAL Specialist. The progress of such children is kept under review as the school realises that as the cognitive demand of the curriculum increases, issues may arise and provision may be required at this later stage.

Children who are identified as needing EAL support will be assessed using the PIRA reading test used by the school as a termly assessment of reading. A writing assessment is also used as a norm by the school, and is assessed using a set criteria which generates a level. These tests are used as a comparative against the standard of a native English speaking child. Speaking and Listening are assessed by the class teacher, who will look for the level of vocabulary, grammar and syntax used by the child again in comparison with that expected from a native English speaking child. From this data, the SENCO / EAL Specialist in conjunction with the Head of Infant and Junior School, Class Teacher, child (if appropriate) and parents will put into place a programme of support individualised towards the pupil and targeted to their specific needs.

Identifying SEN in EAL Pupils – As with all of our children who do not make anticipated progress or show gaps in areas of their learning, the school will explore the possibilities of learning difficulties. The class teacher, along with the SENCO, will observe and look for evidence of SEN, and then if found, will engage with the parents to prepare a support plan. This will work in conjunction with the EAL plan. Possible triggers in EAL children which might cause for SEN concern are:

• Language acquisition progress below the expected norm;

• An unusually slow rate of work compared to peers;

• Little response to teacher or peer intervention;

• Poor listening and attention skills;

• A gap between cognitive ability tests and reading age;

• An inability to acquire basic number concepts;

• Parents expressing concern over progress;

• Difficulty in subjects that are less language dependent;

• Processing speed concerns;

• Emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Identifying More Able and Talent (MAT) in EAL Pupils – Identification of MAT children can be affected and possibly overlooked by the language barrier. The school is committed to providing enrichment and extension activities for all of its MAT children. Teacher observations will often highlight actual or potential ability in EAL children, and a referral will be made for entry on the MAT register. This is held by the Head of Infant and Junior School. An action plan which looks to provide targeted extension and enrichment for MAT children is then put into place.

EAL Provision – The school recognises that language support is best provided within the classroom wherever possible, as time out of subject lessons may cause children to fall behind in the curriculum. More importantly, we acknowledge that the curriculum offers an ideal platform for language learning, as it provides children the chance to practise all four language skills with peers and adults, using the curriculum to provide a meaningful context and cognitive challenge. Work as a norm is differentiated and all children will access challenge levels of their choice; with EAL children having differentiated works suitable to their needs. They will also have a variety of resources available in the classroom, including dictionaries, electronic devices for translation and native language access, as well as specific resources.

Teachers recognise that children’s thinking and speaking in their home language can be a positive part of the learning process. In particular, we encourage the use of home language for content learning, preparatory discussion and the development of new concepts. The classroom environment will seek to provide ample opportunities for pupils to hear, read and access good models of a range of styles and registers of English.

For many of our EAL children a language enriched classroom with personalised support will allow them to thrive, without further intervention. Others however we recognise may require additional help. This might take the form of additional language learning sessions, enrichment activities or academic mentoring incorporating target setting. Regardless, all support is logged by the teacher or learning assistant, and when specific intervention is necessary this is in conjunction with a targeted learning action plan overseen by the SENCO.

Record Keeping and Monitoring – The school SENCO keeps an EAL register with key information about the children. There is also a flag attached to children's individual SIMs record which alerts members of staff that the child has EAL, but does not specify the level of provision or specific interventions. Each child receiving specialised EAL support with the EAL specialist teacher will have their own ‘EAL profile’, which will list any important background information and also give suggested strategies for teaching staff to adopt in the classroom. The EAL specialist teacher liaises directly with the class teacher to set targets and follows the curriculum jigsaws, to ensure that her work with the child mirrors and supports what they are learning in class. The SENCO then meets with the EAL specialist teacher prior to Pupil Progress Meetings so that feedback on progress can be given and recorded. Regular contact occurs between the class teacher and EAL specialist teacher in between times to ensure that targets are still appropriate.

An Individual Intervention Record is completed after each support session by the EAL specialist teacher, this electronic log shows the support given against the targets, and is used to monitor progress and inform future strategies and targets, ensuring key information transfers at transition points.

Pastoral Support – Pastoral support is a priority for all members of staff in the school. The school recognises that EAL children have pastoral as well as academic needs, and aims to support their wellbeing and social integration alongside their linguistic and academic progress. The nature of support will naturally depend on the individual, but strategies used might include providing a buddy who speaks the same language, increasing staff awareness of culturally specific influences and traditions (through training), nominating a specific staff member for pastoral support, and encouraging the child to join in clubs and activities.

Creating an Inclusive Ethos – Sheffield Girls’ Infant and Junior School celebrates the cultural diversity of our community and strives to create opportunities for this to shine. Through assemblies, our enrichment programme and curriculum we highlight aspects of culturally diversity and inclusion. Teachers take the opportunity to integrate other cultures and languages into their schemes of work such as use of instruments from different cultures in music, stories from around the world in English, or examining different cultures’ histories. We strive to create opportunities for bilingual children to show what they can do and use this is a positive way – such as during our International Culture Day. School assemblies highlight global events, religious and cultural festivals (such as Chinese New Year, International Mother Language Day) and the creative arts to enhance awareness of other cultures and how they have enriched our own.

Engaging Parents

The school acknowledges the importance of parental consultation and engagement in providing EAL support for children. At all levels of intervention, we will strive to involve parents as well as keep them informed of strategies, set targets and progress. We will look to provide resources so that support can take place at home, but also acknowledge that parental EAL needs might necessitate that translators are present in meetings, or that written communications are in the native language, or at least help is sought in making certain parents fully understand the interventions.

Roles and Responsibilities for Management of Provision

Michelle Bates and Zoe Holmes are jointly responsible as the whole school SENCO, however, Michelle has direct line management responsibility for the EAL specialist teacher (Emily Meadows), and meets regularly with Miss Meadows to discuss matters surrounding EAL across the school. While Mrs Bates has overall responsibility for the EAL register, EAL is regarded as a whole school responsibility, with all staff having a part to play in making provision for the children.

Policy Review

This policy is regarded as a working document and kept under constant review by the Head of Infant and Junior School and EAL Specialist. All staff are aware of this and information and updates are shared. Our whole school approach to EAL implies that this policy is read in conjunction with the policies and procedures contained in:

• GDST Inclusion Policy;
• GDST Equal Opportunities Policy;
• Anti-bullying policy.