English not as a first language (EAL)

All students need to feel safe, accepted and valued in order to learn.  For students who are learning English as an additional language, this includes recognising and valuing their home language and culture. At BSCA, we are aware that multi/bilingualism is a strength and that EAL students have a valuable contribution to make.  We take a whole school approach, including ethos, curriculum, education against racism and promoting language awareness and diversity.

BSCA is committed to ensuring that all our EAL students receive appropriate support to develop their language, feel safe and know that they are valued.  We aim to challenge them in all curriculum areas so they achieve well academically.  At BSCA, we will identify individual student’s needs, recognise the skills EAL students bring to school and ensure equality of access to the curriculum.  We ensure progress through a mixture of focused intensive English/literacy sessions in our dedicated EAL space and in class support.  We believe that this approach allows our EAL students to access a full school experience.

Our EAL students range from newly arrived in the UK and, therefore, new to English to advanced bilinguals born both in and outside the UK.  Our students speak a variety of first languages, some of which are listed below:

Get in contact:

For further information on EAL and our policy, please contact:

Mrs S Chester  (CLL for MFL and EAL)    schester@boltonstcatherinesacademy.org.uk

Mrs C Ajayi (HLTA EAL)

Website links to access useful resources for those learning English:

• https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/ has many free online games, songs, stories and activities for children. The language of the website can be changed to help with choosing activities. There is also a support page for parents.
• https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/ is the version for teenagers.

• A useful link which offers a wealth of resources both for adults and children: BBC Learning English

• www.gamestolearnenglish.com is a free website with lots of vocabulary games, phrase building activities and tense practice so it covers quite a wide range of ability levels.
• https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome/grades-1-2.html Lots of videos, books and activities for primary age groups on topics like animals, weather and music.
• www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk – games and activities for literacy, maths, science and various other topic areas. This is meant for primary aged children but could be useful for older students who have gaps in learning and/or need to practise English.
• BrainPOP ELL uses a series of animated videos to introduce key topics, vocabulary and grammar points. There are sound-enabled flashcards, games, jigsaws and quizzes which practise and consolidate what has been introduced.  Parents can set up an account (email address required; they can put BSCA as their child’s school) for 30 days free access.
• Some websites with games to practise literacy and numeracy:

http://www.mathematicshed.com/

https://www.spellingcity.com/spelling-games-vocabulary-games.html

http://www.eslgamesworld.com

https://www.freddiesville.com

• www.oup.com/elt/rainbowbridge is a site within Oxford University Press’ website for young learners with many videos, songs, animations and fairy tales on topics such as seasons, shapes, animals and much more. These are aimed at EAL children using CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), teaching subjects such as science, history and geography to students through a foreign language.
• https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/activities-for-learners/ This looks good for older learners with some basic English or someone to help them (or an activity where an older sibling reads out the question to a younger sibling).
• http://www.funenglishgames.com/ offers a lot of variety.
• www.agendaweb.org has many options for young and old.
• http://eslkidsworld.com/ – older
• Polish texts taken from the Polish National Curriculum. Arranged by age phase: https://lektury.gov.pl
• https://bilingualkidspot.com/2019/02/19/free-online-books-for-kids/ offers a list of online books.
• http://en.childrenslibrary.org/ The International Children’s Digital Library.
• https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=el offers songs and rhymes from around the world.
• https://www.funbrain.com/books
• https://www.storynory.com/ offers audio stories with script.
• https://pbskids.org/games/reading/ a link for reading games.
• http://www.newsinlevels.com/ has current news articles more suitable for older children.

Useful apps:

Keywords Biology (iOS) https://apple.co/2ROQMqa

Keywords Biology (android) https://goo.gl/yDkw8C

Keywords Geography (iOS) https://apple.co/2Ec4lMj

Keywords Geography (android) https://goo.gl/3o3cXf