Understanding a new arrival
Familiarise yourself with the English as an additional language (EAL) guidance (September 2023).
This contains:
- checklists for new arrivals
- information on what topics to discuss in the welcome meeting
- advice on EAL proficiency assessments
- information on attendance, safeguarding and the ‘silent’ period
- strategies for the classroom
- how to access support, including the bilingual support programme for new arrivals.
Registering new arrivals
It is important to inform us of a new arrival, as this helps us to direct resources and provide support.
Accessing support
- Completing a Bilingual support and interpreter booking form, if support is needed.
You only need to complete one of the above.
We can support schools with new arrivals by providing:
- an interpreter for your initial meeting with the family
- a bilingual support worker for an induction
- teacher training and advice
- support in using the EAL assessment
- bilingual resources
Welcoming new arrivals
In the early years
To welcome new arrivals you should:
- arrange a short meeting with the parents and an interpreter (if necessary) before the child joins your setting
- reassure parents that maintaining and developing the home language will support learning English and enable the child to communicate with their extended family
- check the pronunciation of children’s names
- find out about the child’s prior learning experiences and their abilities in their home language
- learn key words and phrases in the child’s home language and teach the whole class
- display different languages and scripts in your setting, make signs and labels in other languages and use dual language books
- encourage parents’ active participation in the setting for bilingual storytelling, label writing and sharing of cultural information
- record cultural and religious information at initial meeting (customs, diet, festivals, worship)
- use this opportunity to inform the parents (and encourage them to ask questions) about the setting
- encourage parents to support their child’s learning through language and play using their home language
There is an EAL assessment framework for early years.
In primary and secondary schools
To welcome new arrivals you should:
- arrange a meeting with the parents, EAL coordinator and an interpreter (if necessary) before the child joins your school (contact your advisory teacher to book an interpreter)
- register the new pupil with us
- read the initial meeting guide
- check the pronunciation of children’s names
- reassure parents that maintaining and developing the home language will support learning English and enable the child to communicate with their extended family
- find out about the child’s prior learning experiences and their abilities in their home language
- ensure that information about school processes are given at this time
- provide a tour of the school
- provide parents with a translated Welcome to Devon Primary Schools leaflet – find in Bilingual Resources
- introduce the pupil and family to the class teacher and other relevant members of staff
- introduce the pupil to a ‘pupil buddy’ who will support the new arrival during the first few days
- ensure that there is a recognised and understood system of communication between home and school (home or school book or reading diary) and a key member of staff to communicate with the family
- make sure that parents know the start date and whether there is to be a staggered entry and whether they can stay with their child on the first day
To prepare your classroom you should:
- learn key words and phrases in the child’s home language and teach them to the whole class
- display different languages and scripts throughout the school to show that all language backgrounds are welcome.
- make signs and labels in other languages and use dual language books within the classroom.
- find cultural background information and links to traditional food/holidays etc. to use as curriculum references
- encourage parents’ active participation in the school, especially for bilingual label writing and sharing of cultural information
- select appropriate ‘buddies’ who will show the new pupil around
- use a visual timetable to show the format for the day
Language Acquisition
It is important to understand your new arrivals currently proficiency level in English and to set targets, with intervention to help them improve their English. You can download our EAL Proficiency Assessments designed to fit the DfE’s EAL levels. The DfE are no longer collecting EAL proficiency, country of birth or nationality data however all schools should continue using the EAL assessments so that progress and targets are monitored.