St Andrew's C of E Primary School

English as Additional Language (EAL)

At St Andrew's we welcome children and families form a variety of backgrounds and culture. We recognise the importance for families and for the children education to continue speaking their first language, when English is an additional language.

Using your first language at home allows you to pass on cultural traditions, values and identities to your children.

Knowing more than one language is an asset, for the future employment of your children, for their overall skills development and for their current education. Children who can speak another language can find learning English easier, while making connections of words, grammar and pronunciation between languages. Speaking more than one language improves children reasoning, memory and analytical skills.

 

Parents and carers are a child’s first and most important teachers, and their influence continues throughout the child’s learning journey. Research shows that when parents are actively involved in their child’s education, it has a positive and lasting impact.

Things that you can do to support your child:

  • Continue speaking your first language

  • Read with and to your child, in your home language and in English

  • Use dual language books from the library (both Arcadia and Manchester central library can offer support with this)

  • Talk together at meal time, while walking to and from school

  • Watch tv programmes and talk about them together

 

These will help your child develop their language skills, maintaining and expand their knowledge of your home language, and be ready to embrace and master English as their additional language.

 

Resources for you and your child

Learn English by the British Council: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/

Learn English for Kids by the British Council: https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/

BBC Learning English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

Early Reading resources, for pronunciation: https://www.standrewsmanchester.org.uk/Curriculum/Early-Reading/ 

Learn English with Manchester ESOL: https://gmesol.org/

 

 

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