At St. Johns, we value and celebrate the rich diversity of cultures, languages, and religions represented within our school community and the wider world.

We work closely with pupils and their parents/carers to ensure that every child can fully engage in their education, achieve strong academic progress and personal development, and grow as confident, independent learners.

What is EAL?

English as an Additional Language (EAL) refers to pupils who use a language other than English as their first language. This may include:

• New arrivals to the UK whose first language is not English

• Children who have lived in the UK for some time and may appear fluent in English but continue to use another language at home

• Children born in the UK whose home language is not English

• Simultaneous bilinguals, who have been learning two or more languages from birth

At our school, we celebrate the cultural and linguistic diversity that EAL learners bring to our community. We provide tailored support to help every child build confidence, develop fluency, and achieve success in both their learning and personal growth.

How do we support EAL children?

We use quality-first teaching to support our pupils, ensuring that learning is differentiated and scaffolded so every child can access the curriculum fully. This support is offered in a variety of ways, such as pre-teaching key texts to build familiarity with stories and introduce new vocabulary, and using visual aids like vocabulary mats and glossaries. We also provide engaging, practical activities and encourage the use of language and discussion to deepen understanding for all learners.We also provide targeted support for pupils who need it and make use of Language Village to help our EAL children develop their English skills.