At New Milton Infant School, we consider ourselves fortunate to have families on roll who currently represent thirteen different languages. Each class has at least two children who have access to different languages at home. We actively celebrate our diversity and there are frequent opportunities for these to be shared within school.

We work closely with the Hampshire EMTAS (Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service) team, accessing training and support for children and families when necessary and have been awarded our bronze excellence award for our EAL provision for children learning English in addition to wider black and minority ethnic achievement.

We seek to ensure that all children are enabled to have access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. English is best learnt through the curriculum and our EAL children are encouraged to play a full part in all learning opportunities. EAL learners make the best progress within a whole school context where pupils are educated with their peers. Our school environment promotes language development through the rich use of language and communication friendly classrooms. The school structure, pastoral care and overall ethos help EAL children integrate into the school whilst valuing diversity. Bilingualism is viewed a positive and life enriching asset.

EAL children are not children with SEND (Special Educational Need and/ or Disabilities) and our school recognises that most EAL children needing support with their English do not have SEND needs but have skills and knowledge about language similar to monolingual English speaking children. Their ability to participate in the full curriculum may be in advance of their communicative skills in English. Some EAL children may have SEND and in such cases pupils will have equal access to our school SEND provision, in addition to EAL support. EAL children with a Special Educational Need or Disability will be identified as part of normal assessment procedures as outlined in our SEND Policy.

We work together with parents and carers in the best interests of children with EAL. Teachers meet with parents on a termly basis to inform them of progress made and discuss strategies to support their children. We have a dedicated EAL leader, Mrs Rachel Pilley, who can be contacted via the school office should you wish to discuss anything further.