The Golden Eagles- Building on funds of knowledge and reflecting on migration journeys By Zoë Welsh The Golden Eagles’ flight from Afghanistan was sudden, shocking and irreversible. The children had no agency in what was happening to them (Vervliet, 2015) and although they understood that it wasn’t safe to be in Read more…
Better Bilingual – EAL CELEBRATION EVENT – Monday 4th July 2022 Thank you to everyone who supported our Better Bilingual EAL Celebration Event this year. It was an amazing afternoon in which invited guests from our local area and across the UK showcased good practice and resources to promote high Read more…
A bespoke curriculum for newly arrived pupils By Zoë Welsh One of the most exciting things about having a whole class of new arrivals was that I have been able to design a bespoke curriculum that responds to the children’s specific needs rather than following a year group curriculum that Read more…
The Golden Eagles- a class of newly arrived Afghan primary school pupils By Zoë Welsh My background When I was asked if I would consider teaching a class of newly arrived Afghan children last October, I couldn’t have been more delighted. I’ve been a teacher for over thirty years Read more…
Catherine’s latest article for Across Cultures – ‘The Language of Online English’ The ‘new normal’ will continue to include remote learning. Read Catherine’s tips for how to make lessons more accessible for learners with EAL… To mute or unmute? To reply to one or everyone? To use gallery Read more…
Valuing Multilingualism at Gardners Lane Primary School (GLPS), Cheltenham At Gardners Lane there are 275 children on roll. 88 pupils (or 32%) are learning through EAL (English as an Additional Language). 24 languages, including English, are spoken by the children and families of the GLPS community; Bengali, Polish, Romanian and Read more…
As I write this, it is Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 (18-24 May) in the UK, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, with World Wellbeing Week fast approaching on 22-26 June 2020. During these strange COVID-19 times, my thoughts are turning to the power of nature to lift spirits, lighten moods Read more…
New-to-English secondary pupils – from learning in class to learning at home Kindly contributed by our guest author: Caroline Scott – Director, Across Cultures – June 2020 This upsetting case is highlighted by Kamil Trzebiatowski, former EAL Co-ordinator in a large secondary school in the UK. It’s a common story Read more…
Over in Cheltenham, Stephen has been busy in his school role as EAL Lead – setting up the fantastic Young Interpreters Scheme at Gardners Lane Primary School, Cheltenham This continues the school’s excellent work in valuing and promoting languages other than English in a school in which 33% of Read more…
Do you know how much government funding is being allocated to each primary and secondary pupil with English as an Additional Language in your Local Authority in 2021-22? Click here for general EAL funding information, with an option to look at your specific LA too. For help to explore your Read more…