New arrivals - Print version

EMAS EAL New Arrivals Support Programme for Maintained Primary Schools in Coventry

EMAS advisory teacher team provides bespoke support for newly arrived EAL learners in maintained primary schools. We offer training, guidance and support in terms of policy and practice as well as ongoing assessment and appropriate high expectation target setting:

We can offer:

• advice on a supportive induction process to ensure that newly arrived pupils feel welcomed and settled in their new learning environment;
• support to collect language background information for primary and secondary pupils [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7071/language-background-information-form] or for EYFS [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7405/draft-eyfs-language-background-form] so that the prior knowledge and experience of the learner can be built upon;
• advice on supporting parents to access information about the school community and local services;
• support to assess and place learners on a language proficiency tracker so that their progress can be tracked and monitored;
• CPD on effective teaching strategies and resources which support newly arrived pupils in the classroom;
• advice on how to identify additional learning or language needs in EAL learners.

For all enquiries regarding new arrival support from an advisory teacher please contact: amanda.millican@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:amanda.millican@coventry.gov.uk] or emasteachers@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:emasteachers@coventry.gov.uk] (for queries about new arrivals funded through the Resettlement schemes (UKRS, ARAP, Homes for Ukraine)

New Arrival funding for maintained schools

A New Arrivals Grant can be applied for from EMAS for bilingual pupils who have recently arrived from overseas. This is a one-off payment of, currently, £500 to help settle the pupil into school life and access the curriculum, for example by purchasing resources or multilingual education assistants (MLA) support.

Forms [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7323/new-arrival-claim-form] need to be completed in full. Support information outlining English proficiency on page 2 of the form is necessary to consider the claim. Forms should be completed and returned to admin.emas@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:admin.emas@coventry.gov.uk]

Pupils are only eligible for the New Arrivals Grant if they meet the criteria below:

• Attending a maintained Coventry school
• Newly Arrived to the UK in the last 6 months
• Speak only a language/languages other than English

NB There is the opportunity to include additional information on the form to support a claim. Payments may be made in exceptional cases where a pupil has additional needs, restricted/disrupted access to education or other significant issues.

If you require a Multilingual Education Assistant please use the contact details below:

Additional resources to explore:

• Young Interpreter Scheme (Hampshire) [https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/emtas/supportinglanguages/young-interpreters-guide]
• Language of the Month (Newbury Park) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/6867/newbury_park_language_of_the_month_10_activities]
• New arrivals excellence programme guidance [https://www.naldic.org.uk/Resources/NALDIC/Teaching%20and%20Learning/naep.pdf]
• Racing to literacy [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7072/racing-to-literacy]

New Arrival Induction

The induction process for new arrivals is an important one. If school staff and parents work closely together the child and young person will feel supported during this process and will settle in and become accustomed to school in the UK.

The following resources and links may support this process: Example of an Induction checklist [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/43116/admission-and-induction-checklist]

Links with parents

• Complete a language and education background form together with parents primary and secondary pupils [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7071/language-background-information-form] or for EYFS [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7405/draft-eyfs-language-background-form]
• Contact admin.emas@coventry.gov.uk [http://admin.emas@coventry.gov.uk] for Multilingual Education Assistant (MLA) availability to support a parent meeting or use online background translation tool [https://newarrivals.segfl.org.uk/] for new arrivals may support an initial available in 17 languages
• Share EMAS Information packs on UK Primary Education [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7997/emas-information-packs-on-uk-primary-education] in Arabic, Dari, Pashto and Ukrainian with parents, Education Welcome packs in Dari [https://www.reuk.org/_files/ugd/d5aa55_ed26769b60d8489d92b53f2b237fa735.pdf], English [https://www.reuk.org/_files/ugd/d5aa55_75b2bef92f7d4ed49d53d8212adf52cb.pdf], Pashto [https://www.reuk.org/_files/ugd/d5aa55_28a67b9b1eea4f33b981e7dfb80118d8.pdf] and Ukrainian [https://www.reuk.org/_files/ugd/3c7d1c_5c9d35d0703a47b8b9a54eadf752a5fe.pdf] by Refugee Education UK or The Bell Foundation guidance for parents of newly arrived learners in 22 languages on the education system in England [https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/resources/guidance/parental-involvement/guidance-for-parents-english-education-system/] and on how to help your child learn [https://www.reuk.org/_files/ugd/3c7d1c_5c9d35d0703a47b8b9a54eadf752a5fe.pdf]. These packs include key information about the education system and how to access it, a welcome to school and classrooms for children and lots of other sources of support.

Preparing the classroom environment

• Communication Fans (various available online)
• Being a Buddy resource pack [https://www.rescue.org/uk/resource/being-buddy-student-booklet] by International Rescue Committee's Healing Classrooms. This resource is for teachers to use when training students to become 'buddies' to welcome refugee/asylum-seeking students to your school.
• Teaching and learning resources for learners in the early stages of acquiring English from The Bell Foundation
• Ensure availability of online translation tools by providing new arrivals with access to smart phones, laptops or iPads within the classroom
• Encourage links with home language through building up bilingual glossaries in different subject areas. International Rescue Committee's Healing Classrooms have produced a downloadable personal dictionary [https://www.rescue.org/uk/resource/personal-dictionary-students] for learners.
• Create a Pupil Profile/Passpor [https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/resources/guidance/classroom-guidance/how-to-create-an-eal-learner-profile/]t so all school staff are informed

Welcoming and supporting your newly arrived learner

• Placing EAL adaptive teaching strategies [https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/resources/detail/classroom-guidance-and-strategies-to-support-eal-learners/] and teaching resources [https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/resources/great-ideas/] in a central area for staff to access
• Within the first three weeks, Baseline your new arrival by placing them on an English proficiency tracker [https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/resources/eal-assessment-framework/] so that English proficiency development can  be tracked and monitored
• After a few months arrange a follow-up meeting with your new arrival, parents and bilingual support to discuss how they have settled and to answer any questions that they may have.