Supporting EAL Learners at St. Thomas More

At St. Thomas More 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, make strong academic progress, and grow as confident, independent learners.

What is EAL?

English as an Additional Language (EAL) refers to pupils whose first language is not English. This includes:

• 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

We celebrate the cultural and linguistic diversity that EAL learners bring to our school. Tailored support helps every child build confidence, develop fluency, and achieve success in both their learning and personal growth.

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How We Support EAL Learners

At St Thomas More School, we use quality-first teaching to ensure all pupils can fully access the curriculum. Support is carefully differentiated and scaffolded, using strategies such as:

• Pre-teaching key texts to introduce new vocabulary and familiarise children with stories

• Using visual aids, including vocabulary mats and glossaries

• Providing practical, engaging activities that encourage discussion and language use

These approaches help all learners deepen their understanding, develop confidence, and thrive academically and personally.

 

How We Support English as an Additional Language (EAL) at Home

We work in partnership with families to support children who speak English as an additional language. Parents are encouraged to continue using and valuing their home language, as this supports children’s confidence, communication skills and overall learning. We share practical ideas, resources and guidance to help families support language development at home, including talking together, reading regularly, and encouraging children to practise new vocabulary in meaningful, everyday situations.

Department for Education–English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Learn practical strategies to support multilingual children and create learning opportunities that do not rely solely on a child’s English proficiency.

BBC Tiny Happy People–Bilingualism

Wondering if speaking more than one language at home might confuse your child, or if bilingual children experience delays in speech? BBC Tiny Happy People offers clear answers to these questions and explains the many benefits of bilingualism, helping parents and carers support children in developing multiple languages confidently.