EAL (English as an Additional Language) Archives

What the New Ofsted Toolkit Means for EAL Pupils

Ofsted’s new State-Funded School Inspection Toolkit (coming into effect in November 2025), alongside guidance from organisations such as The Bell Foundation, sets out clearer expectations for how schools support pupils who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL). Here’s what you need to know: Recognise Every Language Counts: Inspectors expect leaders and teachers to value…

Valuing home languages at school

A language learned in childhood at home is called home language, also referred to as mother tongue, first language or native language. Home language plays a significant role in learning and acquiring a second language. English should not replace the home language; it should develop alongside it. There are many reasons to maintain the home…

The benefits of being bilingual

Bilingualism is defined as fluency in or use of two languages. Being bilingual, or even multilingual, has many health, social, and cultural benefits. Cognitive Benefits Bilingual learners often present better cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving skills, attention control, multitasking, switching between tasks and thus contributing to improved academic performance. Language and Communication Skills Language…