EAL
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
At Inglehurst Infant School, we warmly welcome children who join us with little or no English and ensure they feel safe, valued and included from their first day. Our aim is for all pupils, regardless of language background, to have full access to our curriculum and the wider opportunities our school offers.
Admission and Induction
When a new pupil joins us, including mid‑year arrivals and new‑to‑country pupils, we begin with a friendly, low‑demand induction process. Families meet with the office and teaching team, complete admission information, and enjoy a tour of the school. This helps us gather important details about the child’s previous education, home language, strengths and interests so that we can plan effectively for their transition.
From day one, teachers complete gentle, informal assessments to understand:
- the child’s early language proficiency
- prior learning
- any additional needs
This ensures that teaching is matched appropriately to each pupil’s starting point.
Every new pupil is paired with a class buddy who helps them navigate routines, make friends and feel part of our community straight away.
Inclusive Classroom Practice
Our classrooms are intentionally designed to be inclusive by design, benefiting EAL learners and all pupils. Features include:
- Clear visual timetables to support understanding of routines
- Pictorially labelled resources to enable independence
- Rich use of visuals in teaching
- Structured opportunities for talk
- Consistent routines and language that help children feel secure
Inclusive‑by‑design lessons
Lessons are intentionally structured, so every child feels welcomed, represented, and able to access learning in ways that meet their individual needs.
- Diverse representation in stories, examples, and classroom resources, ensuring all children see themselves reflected.
- Clear visual supports (symbols, images, objects) to aid understanding
- Minimal, uncluttered information on slides to prevent cognitive overload
- Explicit adult modelling, scaffolded support, and regular repetition to build confidence
- Tasks chunked into small, manageable steps to support skill development and maintain engagement.
- Activities designed with multiple ways to participate, such as drawing, talking, hands‑on materials, gestures or communication boards.
- Consistent lesson structure, offering predictability while intentionally supporting the development of core skills and foundational knowledge
- Praise that prioritises effort, perseverance, and growth, over outcome
- Activities designed to create opportunities for success, helping children see themselves as capable learners.
All EAL pupils are included in daily classroom learning from day one to ensure full curriculum access, in line with Ofsted’s expectations for inclusive practice.
Language Development and Support
We know that some children experience a short “silent period” as they build confidence, get used to English, and form new relationships. During this time, staff provide high‑quality modelling of English and encourage pupils to listen, rehearse and gradually begin using new vocabulary.
We support language development through:
- modelling rich, accurate language
- pre‑teaching and revisiting key vocabulary
- peer support, including same‑language peers where available
- visual aids and scaffolded materials
- sentence stems and writing frames
- talk partners and structured discussion
- hands‑on, practical learning that reduces cognitive load
Where helpful, some pupils benefit from short‑term speaking and listening activities focused on basic language structures, role play, games and purposeful interaction. Any additional provision is recorded and monitored to ensure it strengthens class learning rather than replacing it.
Distinguishing EAL from SEND
Pupils learning English as an Additional Language do not have SEND unless an underlying difficulty is present. Our teachers assess carefully to understand whether a need relates to:
- English language acquisition
- gaps in prior schooling
- or a potential special educational need
Where pupils have both EAL and SEND, provision is coordinated to ensure language development and SEND support work together effectively.
Our Commitment
Our goal is for every pupil learning English as an additional language to:
- feel a strong sense of belonging
- make rapid progress in communication and language
- access the full curriculum confidently
- have the same high expectations and opportunities as all learners
At Inglehurst Infant School, language is not a barrier to success — it is a starting point for growth, confidence and connection.