Supporting English as an Additional Language

At Malet Lambert, we have both staff and pupils that have English as an Additional Language (EAL) and we embrace the diversity that this brings. With over twenty five languages spoken and over thirty different nationalities represented, we believe this provides a true multicultural environment.

Our vision

EAL provision at Malet Lambert exists to support and develop pupils’ appreciation and knowledge of the English language and British Culture, manners and behaviour while maintaining their indebtedness to their own language and culture. We strive to enable pupils to undertake their studies in all subject areas successfully and empower them to experience success in all areas of school life.

This vision is at the forefront of all of our support for EAL pupils in our school community. We strive to identify pupil needs at the earliest opportunity, recognising the skills they bring to the school and ensuring equality of access to the whole curriculum. This help is a mixture of academic and pastoral and extends to all areas of school life, as these students are learning not only a second language but often also how to adapt and thrive in a new culture. We aim to ensure that all EAL pupils are able to:

  • Use English confidently and competently
  • Use English as a means to learning across the curriculum
  • Where appropriate, make use of their knowledge of other languages

Our focus

Ensuring that all EAL pupils at Malet Lambert:

  • Have full access to the curriculum both within taught lessons and beyond, in order to do justice to their academic ability in examinations
  • Understand lessons, and are able to express ideas and opinions without detrimental limitation of language or vocabulary
  • Are able to deduce, apply and analyse within their intellectual capabilities

Providing bespoke programmes for EAL pupils enabling them to access mainstream subjects, and successfully integrate with other pupils and participate in activities so that they may play a full part in the life of the Malet Lambert community.

Providing a learning environment where pupils feel confident in expressing themselves in English, so that each EAL pupil can communicate any personal, social, or academic problems to others effectively, with confidence, and fully understand all rules and safety procedures.

Enabling pupils to reach their full potential and participate fully in all subjects through the use of English, so that upon leaving and going into further education, pupils can express themselves with confidence, accuracy and maturity.

Raising the level of EAL-informed teaching in mainstream classes by offering training and support to the wider school.

Overview of current provision

Our EAL provision encompasses the following:

  • curriculum planning
  • support for individual pupils or groups of pupils within the classroom in terms of differentiation
  • support for those responsible for teaching these pupils
  • supplementary provision

Once an EAL pupil has been assessed and placed into an appropriate learning group, he or she is then placed into an EAL course that is designed to target the area or areas in which the student needs to improve.

Proficiency Band
Year 11
Year 10
Year 9
Year 8
Year 7
Code E: Fluent
No EAL support required
No EAL support required
No EAL support required
No EAL support required
No EAL support required
Code D: Competent
1 EAL lesson P/W Cambridge ESL IGCSE
1 EAL lesson P/W Cambridge ESL IGCSE
1 EAL lesson P/W Cambridge ESL IGCSE
1 EAL lesson P/W Cambridge ESL IGCSE
1 EAL lesson P/W Cambridge ESL IGCSE
Code C: Developing competence
2 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge ESL IGCSE
2 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge ESL IGCSE
2 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge LS ESL
2 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge LS ESL
2 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge LS ESL
Code B: Early acquisition
3 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge EAL IGCSE
3 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge EAL IGCSE
3 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge LS ESL
3 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge LS ESL
3 EAL lessons P/W Cambridge LS ESL
Code A: New to English
Prep School
Prep School
Prep School
Prep School
Prep School

EAL provision for Prep School pupils will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Pupils at Band B may not be admitted immediately as they may not meet the minimum standards to join their required classes and could require significant EAL support.

For Prep School, EAL provision is tailored to meet the needs of individual pupils and is focused on a mixture of targeted withdrawal support and in-class support. The emphasis for pupils starting the school with low levels of English is to provide them with survival language so that they can integrate and socialise successfully throughout the school day. As their English improves the emphasis moves to helping students learn low frequency subject specific vocabulary, improving grammatical accuracy and being able to write successfully in different styles and genres.

Future areas of focus

To continue building a culture where EAL is celebrated and promoted across all areas of school life.

To enhance our EAL provision by proactively engaging with staff, parents and students in activities that promote and celebrate multiculturalism.

To review and maintain all relevant practice as and when appropriate, and ensure that all staff have access to up to date training/CPD and resources.

To ensure that our EAL provision continues to be bespoke, responding adequately to cultural or social fluxes and developments in EAL research and studies, preparing pupils to thrive across all areas of school life and beyond.

For further information

If you have any questions or would like to discuss EAL provision for your child, please contact Mr Henwood, EAL Coordinator.