At Priorslee, 23.72% of pupils have English as an additional language or are exposed to an additional language at home.
EAL
At Priorslee Academy, we are committed to celebrating and valuing our richly multilingual, multicultural and multi-faith community. We recognise that the diverse backgrounds, languages and experiences of our pupils and families are a significant strength, and we actively promote an inclusive environment where every child feels respected, represented and able to thrive. Our school community plays a vital role in reinforcing our shared values and key messages, and we see it as one of our most powerful and authentic educational resources.
The EAL (English as an Additional Language) and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) teams work closely together to ensure that pupils’ needs are accurately identified and supported. We are careful to distinguish between language acquisition needs and additional learning needs, ensuring that pupils are not misidentified and receive the most appropriate provision and support.
The induction of new arrivals is led by our EAL Subject Lead, Mrs Emery, and is carefully designed to support pupils’ social, emotional and academic needs. We understand that starting a new school, often in a new country, can be a significant challenge, and our induction process aims to make this transition as smooth and welcoming as possible.
Induction arrangements are flexible and tailored to each individual pupil. While the length of the induction period varies depending on need, all new arrivals are given at least one week to settle into their class, build relationships, and begin to feel part of the school community. Following this initial period, pupils gradually begin a more structured programme of support. This programme is designed to:
- Reinforce and develop social English, supported through interaction with peers
- Build confidence in communication
- Provide explicit teaching of academic English, enabling access to the full primary curriculum
- Support integration into all aspects of school life
We are committed to ensuring that all pupils, regardless of their starting point, are supported to achieve their full potential.
Department for Education Definition
The Department for Education defines a pupil’s first language as:
“A pupil’s first language is defined as any language other than English that a child was exposed to during early development and continues to be exposed to in the home or community. If a child was exposed to more than one language (which may include English) during early development, a language other than English should be recorded, irrespective of the child’s proficiency in English.”
The Ofsted definition English as an additional language (EAL) refers to learners whose first language is not English.
These definitions therefore cover the following:
– Pupils arriving from other countries and whose first language is not English
– Pupils who have lived in the UK for a long time and may appear to be fluent, but who also speak another language at home.
These pupils are often not entirely fluent in terms of their literacy levels.
If you feel your child is exposed to any other languages at home from any member of their family, please let our administrative team in the office know.
