Learning English as an additional language

At Goldsworth we celebrate the huge range of languages the children bring to the school and the contribution this makes to our cultural diversity. About 34% of the school speak another language at home, with a further 15% of children who speak an additional language to English. The pupils speak over 36 different languages. We encourage children to speak their home language at home and to read and write in it as well. Please see our policy related to this on our Policies page.

At home you can:-

  • Count regularly – in different steps, count objects, by rote, groups objects, forwards and backwards, break the chain
  • Play lots of games with your child
  • Do cooking with your child
  • Go to the shops and count out the fruit, pay for small amounts etc.
  • Spot numbers out and about

At Goldsworth we:-

  • Have high expectation for EAL learners.
  • We help children to become more independent speakers and listeners through modelling and prompting specific language and structures.
  • Encourage collaborative and paired activities where talk is central to learning.
  • Ensure that the EAL child is placed where he/she will have clear access to visual aids.
  • Differentiate tasks according to cognitive rather than linguistic ability.
  • Provide some first language labelling around the classroom and school, where appropriate.
  • Ensure suitable context for all classroom activities.
  • Use illustrations, artefacts, demonstrations and first-hand experience to convey concepts.
  • Use story maps, writing-frames, sequencing sheets, Talk for Writing etc. to support learning.
  • Use suitable reading schemes/materials which relate to the everyday life of pupils and which do not introduce unfamiliar vocabulary too quickly.
  • Provide good language models. Visually model presentation and layout.
  • Use key visual aids (grids, charts surveys etc.) to present information.
  • Provide a list of key words for lesson/topic, start to use individual word books where applicable, and pre teach topic vocabulary.
  • Use appropriate questioning, taking into consideration the children’s experience of language and their comprehension skills.
  • Use practical activities to support learning.
  • Give regular and appropriate oral and written feedback on a child’s use of English including sensitive, positive correction.

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