Solihull English as an Additional Language Service (EAL Service)

The English as an Additional Language Service (EAL Service) works with schools and families to help children using English as an Additional Language (EAL) to acquire English.  It helps international new arrivals to integrate into school and to access the curriculum.  Support for children is accessed through schools and with parents' permission.

The EAL Service can offer additional short-term support to international new arrivals at all Key Stages, who are unable to benefit fully and immediately from the curriculum offered, because their first or home language is not English.  Support is aimed at equipping them to become part of the school academically and socially, as quickly as possible.  It aims to avoid anxiety or disruption to their education.

What the EAL Service can provide:

• initial assessment profiles in school;
• following assessment, if appropriate, an additional teacher or bilingual support assistant, who is made available to school for a short time.  The teacher or support assistant will help ease the integration of new arrivals.  They can support the school to facilitate the early stages of acquisition of EAL;
• advice to class teachers and schools on assessment practice, resources and differentiated activities;
• recommendations for supporting more advanced learners who use EAL;
• advice on appropriate assessment for pupils using EAL, who may have a Special Educational Need (SEN).  This can include facilitating the arrangement of assessment in First/Home Language;
• training for school staff.

The EAL Service seeks feedback from parents/carers, children and schools through evaluation forms at the end of direct support.

The EAL Service is staffed by a manager, advisory teachers and bilingual support assistants and can call on additional qualified teachers at exceptionally busy times.