English as an Additional Language

The English as an Additional Language Service gives advice and information to schools on ways of helping children with EAL to acquire English, to integrate into school and to access the curriculum.

On referral by schools, the EAL Service offers additional short-term support to 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, and without anxiety or detriment to their education.

The EAL service can provide, (subject to negotiation):

• informal initial assessments.
• following assessment, when appropriate, an extra teacher, who is made available for a short time each week to help ease the integration process and to facilitate the early stages of acquisition of English as an Additional Language.
• advice to class teachers and schools on assessment practice, resources, differentiating activities to suit the EAL learner and on helping more advanced learners of EAL
• training for school staff on request .
• advice on appropriate assessment for pupils with EAL, who may have a Special Educational Need, including facilitating the arrangement of assessment in First/Home Language.

Contact Details

For more information please contact:

EAL Service
Craig Croft Centre
8 Craig Croft
Chelmsley Wood
Birmingham
B37 7TR
Telephone: 0121 788 4205
Fax: 0121 788 4224