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COVID 19 - Closing the increasing attainment gap between EAL learners and others

Upcoming courses from Inclusion Support Service Kent.

School closures have meant that EAL learners may not have had:

  • access to models of good English language
  • sufficient opportunities to rehearse and practise speaking in English, particularly academic English language.

As a result, these learners are likely to have made limited progress in the four domains of language knowledge and use (listening, speaking, reading and viewing, and writing).

Getting the right support in place, now schools are back, will not have been easy as staff and pupils will have had to adapt to the new norms and routines around social distancing. For learners who use EAL, the impact of these measures is likely to be greater than for their peers.

Collaborative activities conducted in pairs and small groups are particularly conducive to language development, yet they are precisely the type of activity the COVID context will preclude for the foreseeable future. Barrier games, and online games and activities where pupils work virtually rather than physically together may not fully compensate for that, but they will allow teaching and learning to continue apace.

ISSK are offering a suite of four EAL packages that will address this imbalance.

  1. Welcoming New Arrivals
  2. Assessment
  3. EAL and SEN
  4. Academic Literacy

These courses are available as a suite of four sessions. Schools purchasing all four will be only charged for three. All of the sessions are also available as stand alone units.

The fee for all four sessions is £180 per place or 18 SLA credits.

Individual sessions - the fee for one half day Zoom session per place is £60 or 6 SLA credits.

The first session will be taking place on Zoom on Thursday 19 November 2020 from 1:30pm to 4pm.

It is crucial to book on now to get full benefits of the course.

Training Objectives:

  1. Welcoming New Arrivals

    Many new arrivals will have missed out on the opportunity to socially mix with others, make friends and explore their new environment. Feeling part of the school is essential if children are to become confident learners willing to have a go and engage with their learning, peers and teachers. This session will enable schools to ensure that they:
    • develop a whole-school approach to the induction of newly arrived EAL pupils.
    • are aware of the challenges facing newly arrived EAL pupils,  particularly in this present climate and how     - they can be supported in their early days at school.
    • have the opportunity to discuss inclusive teaching strategies that will engage newly arrived EAL pupils in their learning of both the English language and curriculum content.
  2. Assessment

    Closing the attainment gaps for all EAL learners must start with an initial assessment (or re-assessment if they have missed schooling due to COVID 19) of individual learners’ English language proficiency in the four domains. During this session delegates will be:
    • introduced to a range of assessment tools that enable Teachers to effectively  monitor and evaluate the attainment of EAL learners
    • able to set appropriate targets for individual EAL learners
    • able to identify effective EAL strategies which will accelerate the progress of EAL learners enabling them to reach their targets and for teachers to plan next steps.
  3. EAL and SEN

    Many pupils with SEN have also been particularly vulnerable to falling behind their peers during these times. It remains vital that staff develop an understanding on how to identify whether a pupil’s lack of progress is due to SEN or EAL needs or both, in order to provide effective support and accelerate learning and attainment.

    This training will support staff in schools to ensure that they are able to comply with the SEND code of practice in regard to SEN and EAL pupils:

    "Identifying and assessing special educational needs for children or young people whose first language is not English requires particular care. Schools should look carefully at all aspects of a child or young person’s performance in different areas of learning and development or subjects to establish whether lack of progress is due to limitations in their command of English or if it arises from special educational needs or a Disability. Difficulties related solely to limitations in English as an additional language are not special educational needs"

    This training will enable delegates to:
    • explore the complexities surrounding effective identification of special educational needs in a child/young person with English as an additional language
    • become familiar with effective SEN identification procedures
  4. Academic Literacy

    During lockdown many pupils will have been unable to develop and practice the language of learning known as Academic literacy. Focusing on academic English will enable learners to fully access the curriculum as a whole and, as a result, fulfil their academic potential.

    This training will develop teachers’ knowledge of the pedagogy of language acquisition in order to move pupil’s use of language from basic interpersonal communicative skills (BICS) to cognitive and academic language proficiency (CALP) which is the key to cognitive development and realising educational potential.

    Through this structured, scaffolded approach pupils will develop their speaking and listening, reading and writing skills, identifying the language functions across different genres in all subject areas.

    This training will enable delegates to:
    • increase awareness of EAL pedagogy and key points around second language acquisition
    • develop an understanding of academic literacies
    • explore strategies to develop academic literacy in different subject areas

COVID 19 - Closing the increasing attainment gap between EAL learners and others (four sessions) - 19 November 2020, 3 December 2020, 28 January 2021 and 25 March 2021.

Supporting Newly Arrived Pupils with English as an Additional Language - 19 November 2020

Assessing Pupils with English as an Additional Language - 3 December 2020

English as an Additional Language/Special Educational Needs or both? - 28 January 2021

Accelerating the progress of advanced EAL Learners through development of Academic Literacy across the curriculum - 25 March 2021

Please book a place now so you can attend all four sessions of the course.