1. Keep Expectations High

EAL learners are not less able because they are still developing English. Many children understand far more than they can say, especially in the early stages of language acquisition.

Give pupils access to rich stories, ambitious vocabulary, meaningful talk and exciting writing opportunities. The key is to provide the right scaffolds so they can participate successfully.

2. Use Visuals to Unlock Meaning

Images, symbols, objects, gestures, demonstrations and picture prompts help pupils understand new vocabulary and ideas without relying only on spoken English.

Visuals are especially powerful in early literacy because they give children something concrete to point to, move, describe, sequence and discuss before they write.

3. Make Talk Central to Every Lesson

EAL learners need regular opportunities to hear, rehearse and use English in meaningful contexts.

Plan talk before writing. Use partner talk, oral storytelling, sentence stems, repeated phrases and shared retelling so children can practise ideas aloud before recording them on paper.

4. Teach Vocabulary Explicitly

Vocabulary can be one of the biggest barriers for EAL learners, especially in story writing, phonics, comprehension and topic-based literacy.

Pre-teach important words, revisit them often, use pictures and actions, and show children how words work in sentences. Include everyday classroom language as well as story language, descriptive words and subject-specific vocabulary.

5. Value First Languages

A child’s home language is an asset, not a barrier. It supports identity, confidence, cognitive development and language learning.

Where possible, allow children to discuss ideas in their first language, use bilingual books, access dual-language resources, or share key words from home. This helps pupils make connections between what they already know and the English they are learning.

6. Scaffold Writing Without Removing Challenge

EAL learners should not be limited to low-level tasks. Instead, give them the support they need to access the same rich learning as their peers.

Use oral rehearsal, shared writing, modelled sentences, speaking frames, visual story maps, word banks and guided sentence construction. The goal is to reduce the language barrier, not the learning ambition.

7. Build Confidence Through Routine and Repetition

Clear routines help EAL learners feel safe and ready to participate. Repeated lesson structures, familiar story language, visual timetables and predictable classroom phrases all reduce cognitive load.

The more secure the routine, the more confident children become in experimenting with new words, phrases and sentence structures.

8. Use Peer Interaction Carefully

EAL learners benefit from hearing strong language models and working collaboratively with supportive peers.

Pair and group children thoughtfully. Collaborative storytelling, role play, sequencing activities and shared sentence building give pupils a reason to communicate and a safe space to practise.

9. Assess Progress Holistically

Early English proficiency does not always reflect a child’s true understanding, creativity or ability.

Use observation, talk, practical tasks, oral retelling, visual sequencing and supported writing to build a fuller picture. Look at how children understand, participate, rehearse language, use vocabulary and transfer ideas into writing over time.

10. Create a Classroom Where Every Language Belongs

Children learn best when they feel seen, included and valued.

Use multilingual displays, culturally diverse stories, labelled resources, visual prompts, dual-language books and family knowledge. A welcoming environment helps EAL learners feel that their language, background and ideas matter.