The Alderton Junior School is committed to promoting a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students regardless of their background. In recent times, we have seen an increased entry of children from diverse backgrounds. Although a vast majority of our pupils are described as White-British, we have 12% of pupils from other white backgrounds and 14 out of 17 languages spoken. This development has brought about a need for an EAL and Diversity coordinator.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

At Alderton Junior School, we believe that having English as an additional language is a valuable skill. Scientific research has discovered that there are measurable neurological benefits to being multilingual. In Alderton Junior School, we support our EAL learners to take advantage of this skill through a range of ways;

• Maths mastery which was introduced in 2017 encourages language development of EAL learners through ‘talk tasks’ which gives them plenty of opportunity to practice their oracy and learn from their peers.
• Developing an assessment tool for EAL learners to help assess and aid their progress by using practical classroom strategies.
• Through using well researched strategies such as pre-teaching new vocabulary, the use of visuals such as images and pictures to aid EAL learners, scaffolding and collaborative learning, EAL learners have the opportunity to access the curriculum along with the rest of their peers.
• Improve communication with parents by translating letters into the main spoken languages in the school.

Diversity

As Alderton Junior School becomes more diverse, it is important to us that our school culture reflects, acknowledges and celebrates this diversity. Our diverse curriculum allows the children to develop an understanding and appreciation for the world around them.

• Through whole class daily reading, the children are exposed to a range of texts celebrating the diverse world around us.
• Our school library is becoming increasingly representative of the diversity within the school with books about different backgrounds, cultures, race, ethnicity and even family units.
• Celebrating and promoting significant religious and cultural events such as Black History Month, Chinese new year, Diwali, Hanukkah etc.
• R.E curriculum educates the children on the main different religions and the morals that can be learnt from them allowing pupils to develop the virtues of respect and empathy, which are important in our diverse society.

EAL and Diversity lead

Miss West