Equality and Diversity
Supporting children with English as an Additional Language
In Cornwall, we have been reviewing our strategies for supporting EAL children and their families in the Early Years.
Our Early Years EAL hubs will continue to run from September 17, with a collection of bilingual books in a range of languages for settings to borrow. Dates of hubs will be advertised in the EY Training Directory and practitioners can continue to drop in to these, without prior booking, for advice and guidance from the Early Years Team.
Further Training will also be offered through the EY training directory for settings so that everyone can ensure they develop staff professional knowledge in this area in order to meet their Equalities Duties.
From September 17 settings will no longer be able to make a referral through the Equality and Diversity Service ( this Service is no longer in place as of Sept 17 because it is expected all providers now meet the requirements of the Equalities Act). Pre-school and Early Years - Cornwall Council
Settings will need to fund any additional support or resources, such as interpreters through the setting’s own budgets and should ensure they are prepared for this- EYPP funding can be used for this purpose, for example. In addition to the EAL hubs, EAL books can be requested via Deborah Averill (Bookstart coordinator) as well as through Local libraries.
Supporting EAL children is part of our core provision in ensuring all children’s needs are being met and also meets our statutory work in promoting British Values.
Please contact Stephanie Wright, Early Years Consultant with any questions regarding provision for EAL children in Cornwall on stephanie.wright@cornwall.gov.uk
Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has 'a statutory remit to promote and monitor human rights; and to protect, enforce and promote equality across the nine "protected" grounds - age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.'
Website: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/
EAL Nexus website - Are you teaching learners who speak English as an additional language (EAL) and looking for ideas for the classroom? Have you just arrived in the UK and started school? Are you a parent wondering what your children will do at school and how you can support them? Our website aims to answer many of your questions.