Early Years and English as an Additional Language

Supporting and meeting the needs of children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) can be challenging sometime due to a language barrier. Many Early Years Professionals struggle to communicate with EAL children, particularly if the children are new to English.

Although Early Years settings encourage children to learn and use English whilst at nursery, the child’s home language should also be promoted. This will also help the child to settle in and feel more involved and understood.

These are some top tips to help support children with EAL in EYFS:

Use of visual aids

When communicating with EAL children visual aids are highly endorsed as well as objects to help engage the children without the use of language but also to help develop vocabulary. Having a visual now and next board linked to activities in the setting. Images or objects can be shown before an activity to help an EAL child understand routines and associate actions with the image or object before acquiring the correct word.

 

Parental support

It is important and key role for parents in developing communication with children. Ask for key words in the child's home language and the correct pronunciation of each word too. It may be useful for the setting to use the images they are likely to use in the setting e.g toilet, snack, drink etc and ask parents what the words are in the home language.

 

Keep it simple

When communicating with EAL children that have little or no English in the setting – be mindful to not use full sentences as the child will struggle to understand. Try to keep to one- or two-word utterances and include gestures to help the child understand. Once they have learnt some words and begin to use them confidently then you can increase the language by using simple sentences.

 

 

If you require an advice visit or further support please contact our team:

equalityanddiversity@lancashire.gov.uk

Zainab.Syed@lancashire.gov.uk