EAL Toolkit Launch

I was the Metropole in Leeds for the launch of the new Strategy resources for raising the achievement of higher ability pupils with English as an additional language. All part of the wider agenda to 'Narrow the Gap'.

After our introduction it was heads straight into some practical workshops introducing the new materials.

I really enjoyed the workshop that looked at analysing pupils' writing to identify how they could be helped to make progress.

We looked at a piece History writing. We had a checklist and used this to asssess features ranging from word level to content and organization. For each statement we had to decide to what extent the skill was being demonstrated (three choices).

Then we discussed which areas needed help and then looked at which of the areas would be most important for the pupils to improve in order to raise their grade.

This last activity highlighted the improtance of not focusing too much on spelling . Of course, spelling is important but it isn't always the case that this is main the issue holding back the child with English as an Additional language.

In the sample we looked at, for instance, the pupils really needed to understand more about the appropriate tone for a piece of academic writing.

The new resources then give a range of suggestions for how you might address the needs you have identified.

Really practical stuff that I will be introducing to the schools I am working with asap. Of course, it will be a very useful tool for first language speakers, too.

My colleague, Annette, attended the workshop on using talking to prepare for writing. She tells me it was excellent.

In the afternoon I attended another workshop. This one was on how to help the pupils improve their extended writing.

We finished off with a plenary led by Martin Pendegrast, who is leading the project.

A great day, full of practical ideas and resources.