Working with EAL families Involving Parents in school Sarah Thompson EAL Advisory Teacher and Bilingual support co-ordinator EMAS Team. November 2013

Welcoming an EAL family Barriers for the family Moving to a new country, area or new experience Feelings of insecurity and loneliness, being misunderstood or unvalued Sudden changes in family situation and/or culture shock Different goals/expectations for their child Previous education system had different style or emphasis Experiences of Racism or alienation Not seeing visual representations of themselves in printed materials

Basic interpersonal and communication skills (BICS) Thanks for the book. 2-3 years

Cognitive and academic language proficiency (CALP) Using this formula, explain why the proposed increase in tuition fees is likely to restrict the access of vulnerable students to higher education years

What happens when a family arrives in your school? Put yourself in the place of a parent with very little English. Discuss in groups: School publications/admin forms/procedures How you collect background information about pupils and family How do you get over the language barrier?

Welcoming an EAL family What can we do? Welcome notices, entrance signs, labels on doors School booklets and information sheets simple, clear and uncluttered Letters and newsletters with highlighted information Visual daily routine photo book Make an induction video that can be watched online Access EMAS bilingual assistants, our directory of contacts or ask in local community for volunteer interpreters An individual system for communication with the family- a home school contact book and/or regular meetings Visit the home

Welcoming an EAL family What can help? (cont..) Set up an EAL Family Forum Online language resources Represent other Cultures in pictures and displays. Have books and tapes, stories and poems from other cultures Display /use everyday artefact from all around the world. Celebrate festivals and traditions Ask parents if they would be willing to come into school to teach a few words of the home language, read a dual language story to the class or bring in pictures of their country of origin

Communication tools in Polish, Romanian and Lithuanian

Generic school letters in other languages

Crick software Clicker New to English

EMAS staff supported the school to run an EAL parents meeting. Some schools have regular drop in times and have a different focus each week. The topic at this meeting was KS4 options. Parents and pupils came to discuss GCSE choices and get help with forms

Our contact details Ethnic Minority Achievement Service Level 2 County Hall Trowbridge Wiltshire BA14 8JN Telephone: