English as an Additional Language

"Be the Best You Can Be - With Kindness in Every Culture, Confidence in Every Word, and Resilience in Every Step."

At our school, we are proud to welcome pupils from a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds. We recognise that students who speak English as an Additional Language bring valuable experiences to our community, and we are committed to ensuring they thrive both academically and socially.

Our EAL provision is designed to:

Support language development through tailored teaching and in‑class strategies.
Promote confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Provide targeted intervention for pupils who require additional help with English language skills.
Work closely with teachers to ensure lessons are accessible and appropriately differentiated.
Celebrate cultural diversity and encourage pupils to share and value their home languages.

We monitor progress closely and adapt support to meet individual needs, ensuring every EAL learner is able to participate fully in school life and achieve their best.

If you would like further information about EAL support, please contact our EAL coordinator

Mrs Simar Walia

email walia.s@sco.svmat.uk

A Simple Guide to the UK School System

Welcome to the UK school system! This simple guide helps EAL (English as an Additional Language) families understand how schools work in the United Kingdom.

1. School Stages

- Early Years (Ages 3–4): Nursery or preschool. Not compulsory.

- Reception (Age 4–5): First year of primary school.

- Primary School (Ages 5–11): Years 1–6.

- Secondary School (Ages 11–16): Years 7–11. Pupils work towards GCSE exams.

- Sixth Form / Post-16 Education (Ages 16–18): Students study A-Levels, BTECs, or other qualifications to prepare for university, apprenticeships, or work.

2. GCSE Exams (Usually taken at age 16)

GCSE stands for *General Certificate of Secondary Education*. Students study several subjects over two years (Years 10 and 11).

- Students normally take 7–10 GCSE subjects - Subjects include compulsory ones such as English, Maths, and Science, plus optional subjects like Art, Geography, History, PE, or a language. - Exams usually happen in May–June.

3. GCSE Grading System

- GCSEs are graded from 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest. - Grade 4 is considered a “standard pass”. - Grade 5 is considered a “strong pass”. - Grades 7–9 is high-level (like old A/A*).

4. Sixth Form and College (Ages 16–18)

After GCSEs, students can choose from several pathways:

- A-Levels: Academic subjects studied for two years. Good for university. - BTECs or vocational courses: More practical, hands-on learning. - Apprenticeships: Learn while working and studying. - T-Levels: New technical qualifications combining classroom learning with work placements.

5. School Day

- Usually between 8:30am and 3:30pm in most schools. Southam is 8.45am to 3.20pm - Includes lessons, breaks, lunch, and sometimes after-school clubs.

6. Subjects in School

Children study English, Maths, Science, PE, Computing, History, Geography, Art, Music, and more.

7. Support for EAL Pupils

- Extra help with learning English. - Visual aids, small group work, and language-support strategies. - Schools value all languages—bilingualism is encouraged!

8. Communication with Parents

- School will send letters, emails, and texts. - Parent meetings happen at least once a year. - Translation support may be available.

9. Attendance

- Children must attend school every day unless they are ill. - Holidays during term time are not usually allowed.

10. Uniform

- Most schools in the UK have a uniform. Southam College has a uniform that includes a blazer, shirt, tie and trousers or a skirt. There is also a PE uniform

11. Free School Meals & Support

- Some families may qualify for free school meals. - School can help you apply if needed.

Reading at Southam College

There is no doubt that reading for pleasure is a clear indicator of future academic success for a child. At Southam College, reading is strongly encouraged through a variety of structured activities:

Weekly “Registration and Read” session with tutors: novels for Years 7–8, non-fiction for Years 9–10.
Fortnightly library lesson for Years 7, 8, and 9 with their English teacher.
Students are expected to carry a reading book daily as part of their school equipment.
Book Club every Thursday after school 3.30pm-4.45 in the Library.

How Can You Support Reading?

Ideally, students should read for at least twenty minutes every day. Reading should become part of their daily routine. Additional support is available through Southam College’s free audiobook and e-book platform:

The ePlatform catalogue includes bestselling, popular fiction titles available 24/7.
Customisable background colours and fonts support students with reading difficulties.

Accessing the ePlatform

Using a Web Browser

Access the ePlatform through any browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Chrome):

· https://southamcollege.eplatform.co/

Using the App

1. Search for “ePlatform” in the App Store and download the app.

2. Open the app and search for the library “SOUTHAM COLLEGE”.

3. Click the three lines in the top-left corner and select “Sign In”.

4. Enter the student's school email address (ending in @stowevalley.com) and the password: L!brary1.

5. Search for a book to read. Books will temporarily download and can be accessed offline—ideal for travel.

More Information

Further details are available https://www.southamcollege.com/students/library

How Does Reading Regularly Help EAL Students?

1. Builds Vocabulary Naturally

Seeing new words in context helps EAL learners understand meanings and usage. Example: The cat rested on the cozy windowsill.

2. Strengthens Grammar Understanding

Students observe grammar in real sentences. Example: We went to the park yesterday.

3. Improves Reading Comprehension Skills

Reading develops inference, main-idea skills and detail recognition. Example: From the story, we know the character felt nervous even though it wasn’t said directly.

4. Supports Speaking and Writing

Learners pick up useful phrases and sentence patterns. Example: At the concert, everyone clapped and cheered for the band.

5. Enhances Pronunciation and Fluency

Reading aloud or listening to audio improves rhythm and clarity. Example: A student repeats the sentence smoothly after hearing it in an audiobook.

6. Increases Cultural Awareness

Stories show daily life, school expectations and social rules. Example: She visits her grandparents every weekend.

7. Builds Confidence and Independence

The more they read, the more independently they can understand new language. Example: A student recognises a new word because they saw it in a book before.

8. Encourages a Positive Attitude Toward Learning English

Enjoyable books build motivation and curiosity. Example: A learner asks for the next book in a series they enjoyed.

World Book Day – EAL Support at Southam College

On Thursday 5th March, Southam College will be celebrating World Book Day with a range of exciting whole-school events designed to promote a love of reading for every student.

As part of this, our EAL (English as an Additional Language) team will be offering enhanced support to ensure that all our multilingual learners can fully take part in the day. From accessible reading activities to bilingual resources and small‑group sessions, we aim to make World Book Day an inclusive, engaging celebration for all our students—recognising the rich linguistic diversity of our school community and empowering every young person to enjoy stories in all their forms.

English as an Additional Language Policy

POLICY