Assessment and advice for EAL learners who may have Special Educational Needs

Identifying whether or not EAL learners have Special Educational Needs can be difficult but accurate identification is crucial in ensuring that the individual child receives appropriate support to enable them to reach their potential. There are many reasons why EAL learners may not make expected progress at particular points in their education and when this happens, schools may need the support of specialists to find the best way forward. Most EAL learners, like most other children, will not need support from an SEN specialist: their needs will be best met through a focus on language development and using EAL strategies in the curriculum. However, some EAL learners will need SEN support as well as a focus on EAL.

NASSEA Associates offer:

• A dual language assessment by a specialist teacher and bilingual language assistant (where the language is available) to determine the child’s level of EAL need, competence in first and additional languages and other factors influencing educational attainment and progress. Schools receive a report including guidance on supportive strategies and any further referral needed;
• Advice on increasing progress for EAL learners who do not have special educational needs but who are achieving significantly below expectations.

For further information and requests for NASSEA Services please contact Ameer Abbasi on mobile number 07845 649 624, telephone number 0161 253 6422/23 or through e-mailing consultancy@nassea.org.uk.