1. Manchester 20th May 2016 Judith.evans@collaborativelearning.org
Joined in Thinking
Manchester
20th May 2016

2. Joined in thinking
Why?
Because after 26 years of doing this, I am still having the same conversations, and giving the same answers.

3. Yes, they can join in.
Yes, you should talk to them, (every day)
Yes, they will learn English.
Yes, you should encourage them to speak in L1, with adults or children.
No, it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand

4. Yes, it’s fine if they don’t speak in class yet.
No, they shouldn’t be forced to speak.
No, they shouldn’t sit with your SEN group, or child.
No, they shouldn’t go to Nursery for a while to learn English.
No, phonics won’t help.

5. No, don’t just guess a reading level to put on the system.
Yes, they do have language.
No, don’t tell their parents to only speak English at home.
They’ve been naughty, good.
They’re making great progress, its thanks to all the wonderful work you’ve been doing well done.

6. Smile Talk Draw

7. I found I kept drawing the same diagrams for people and explaining the same key concepts

8. Balancing the needs of EAL learners
Cognitive Learning needs
Language needs
Social needs

9. A graphic organiser/key visual representation of the relationship between first and second (or third) languages

12. Why don’t I post as often as I should
Why don’t I post as often as I should? Because I get caught up in other things: turmoil, volume of work, SATS.

13. Because I become incandescent with rage about things. SATS
Because I become incandescent with rage about things. SATS !!! Rant, rant, rant. So I get censored!

14. What Price Outstanding?

15. Recently I encountered a charming young man.
He is eleven years old.
His parent and sibling have fled a situation of desperate peril. Like so many, they have NRPF (no recourse to public funds) which means life is eked out on meagre scraps we choose to offer.
London is expensive so they inhabit one room.
Some of you have noticed his age and will predict the next bit of awfulness.
He is in Year 6. He does not speak English.
He has been traumatised.

16. He has been out of school since last summer.
Why?
Because no local school could find themselves able to offer a place.
Were they full? No.
So why could our public funded institutions, designed to educate all of our children, not find a space?
Because he needs help.
Because Year 6 is a key year.

17. Our high stakes system means that no-one dare risk a “drop” in standards, because they might cease to be outstanding.
If you are unlucky enough to lead a school that gets downgraded, your career is probably over.
Headteachers are like football managers.

18. So is it surprising that schools find a way to protect themselves? No.
But really at what price to a child?
If, as most people who read this surely do, you work in a school; look at your Year 6.
Do you have spaces?
Do you admit new vulnerable pupils?

19. If not, look at your local area.
Look at the windows when you head home.
Behind those windows, how many desperate ten and eleven year olds are spending their days in a small room robbed by the current system?
Maybe the price of outstanding is too high for our consciences.