EAL Teaching and Learning: Raising Standards to Improve Outcomes

Use this time to explore the agenda for the day and make new connections with peers.

A short explainer video will help you explore how to make the most of our new next generation Conference platform.

You’ll be able to create networking meet ups, access content on demand and use our new Q&A, chat functions and virtual polling tools.

The chair will outline the key themes for the day, which will include policies and best practice around the catch-up period for pupils using EAL, following COVID-19, the longer-term vision for blended learning in relation to EAL, and how to ensure pupils are supported in line with their achievement potential.

• Considering the policy landscape for pupils with EAL prior to COVID-19, and how that has changed in the past year as a result of the pademic
• Discussing the next steps for school leaders and teachers to help boost attainment for learners with EAL ahead of 2021 exams and assessments, and how to maximise support for this

• Reviewing the current EAL research and evidence landscape, and outlining how COVID-19 has changed understandings of what works and how, to deliver the best teaching and learning opportunities
• Exploring the use of English proficiency assessments, how data was collected and used during the national lockdown, and how this is feeding into current catch-up efforts
• Sharing research findings from the study on multi-lingual families during lockdown, and how evidence may be used to inform EAL policies and practice
• Discussing how school leaders and teachers should make best use of research to enhance education provisions that support pupil progress

This session will enable attendees to continue discussions in smaller groups around two key issues. Led by sector experts, participants may join a discussion group around policies and funding related to EAL, or around the latest evidence and teaching practices, to boost support at a school-level.

Your opportunity to make the most of the virtual Conference, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections, tour our real-time resources and content and take part on discussions via the tailored channels.

Don’t forget if you’ve missed a session, you can use our replay functions, so you can watch all the content on demand at a time that suits you.

• Discussing how to develop an effective EAL policy which aligns with a school’s equality policy, and places pupils into classes or groups based on their potential rather than proficiency when joining
• Sharing ideas around the creation of a ‘how our school works’ video or presentation for new joiners, involving all pupils and staff, to explore the structure of the English school system, as well as the individual school
• Understanding what a successful school-parent engagement plan looks like, and sharing advice for implementing this in different contexts within your own school
• Exploring the training and coaching needs of EAL welfare staff as well as teachers, to consistently ensure a safe and supportive environment for all pupils at primary age

Use our Conference platform to pose your live questions to speakers and share your challenges and solutions with fellow delegates via our chat function.

• Identifying the differences between the acquisition of everyday language and academic language in a classroom setting
• Recognising the importance of oral activities which use dialogue to broaden vocabulary and  to prepare students for written tasks
• Analysing the structure of different text types  to plan teaching in key subject areas
• Designing scaffolded reading and writing activities to improve students’ comprehension and production of written texts

Use our Conference platform to pose your live questions to speakers and share your challenges and solutions with fellow delegates via our chat function.

Your opportunity to make the most of the virtual Conference, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections, tour our real-time resources and content and take part on discussions via the tailored channels.

Don’t forget if you’ve missed a session, you can use our replay functions, so you can watch all the content on demand at a time that suits you.

• Outlining how the Education Inspection Framework relates to EAL provision, and the expectations for support to be provided by school leaders and teachers
• Sharing best practice from outstanding schools providing quality opportunities for progression for pupils with EAL
• Exploring the effect of COVID-19 on pupils with EAL, and how Ofsted will be looking at schools’ efforts to ensure the necessary catch-up strategies are in place for these children in particular
• Considering Ofsted’s expectations around the use of data in schools for pupils with EAL, and advising on how to make best use of this to boost progress and attainment

Use our Conference platform to pose your live questions to speakers and share your challenges and solutions with fellow delegates via our chat function.

• Examining traditional approaches to blended learning, how these have been scaled up in light of COVID-19, and further adapted to suit the needs of learners using EAL
• Sharing practical ideas for both in the classroom and online, to support progress among learners using EAL
• Exploring ways of simultaneously teaching pupils with EAL remotely and in person, if this kind of blended learning approach is required, for example when pupils are in bubbles

During this session, Professor Strand will draw on his latest research projects, including that conducted through 2020, to discuss questions including:

• How long does it take pupils to acquire proficiency in English?
• How long do pupils need special language support?
• How does the level of support needed for gaining oral proficiency differ to gaining academic proficiency?
• Do any particular groups of pupils, or types of schools, take longer to acquire proficiency?

Use our Conference platform to pose your live questions to speakers and share your challenges and solutions with fellow delegates via our chat function.

• Exploring how bilingualism is approached in other countries, how this affects the uptake of languages, and pupils’ proficiency, particularly in English
• Understanding the nuances around teaching and pedagogy required by language learners in different communities, and how to adapt approaches in the UK for learners from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• Discussing ways of fostering effective partnerships with schools in different countries, for a long-term approach to learning from staff and pupils and utilising innovative methods for enhancing EAL

Please note that attendees will be able to access all the event resources and replay sessions for up to 30 days after the event.

*Programme subject to change