EAL Strategy
Fishponds CE Primary School celebrates the rich diversity of its community, with more than 37 home languages represented among pupils and staff. The school’s EAL (English as an Additional Language) strategy ensures that every multilingual learner is welcomed, included and supported to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Belonging and Inclusion
A strong sense of belonging is central to pupil success. The school fosters an inclusive environment where all cultures, languages and identities are valued. New pupils with little or no English receive immediate pastoral support, including a classroom buddy and links to other pupils who share their home language.
Early Support
On arrival, pupils with limited English are provided with communication boards to help them express essential needs. Within two weeks, they are assessed using the Bell Foundation EAL Assessment Framework to identify their English proficiency and set small-step learning targets.
Classroom Strategies
Teachers adapt learning to ensure EAL pupils can access the curriculum. Strategies may include pre-teaching vocabulary, visual supports, concrete resources and use of pupils’ home languages where appropriate. Clear language modelling is prioritised, and staff aim to create supportive, language-rich classrooms.
Targeted Intervention
Pupils working at the early stages of English proficiency receive additional EAL intervention, delivered individually or in small groups by the school’s EAL specialist. Progress is reviewed at least three times per year and support continues until pupils reach higher proficiency levels.
Working With Families
The school recognises that families new to the UK may experience isolation. To strengthen home–school links, communication is supported through ClassDojo translation tools, shared images of learning, bilingual resources and encouragement of reading in home languages. The school also runs termly EAL Coffee Mornings and an annual Culture Week celebrating food, music, stories and traditions from across the community.
Whole‑School Responsibility
EAL is viewed as a collective responsibility. The EAL Lead coordinates provision and works closely with the Inclusion Team and class teachers to ensure high-quality support and tracking for every learner.
