English as an additional language (EAL) support

West Sussex Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) have put together a series of videos for parents and carers of children for whom English is an additional language (EAL) and who are new to the English education system.

The videos are available in different languages, made by members of the EMTAS team and other bilingual professionals working in schools across West Sussex.

They give useful information on topics including:

• where your child will go to school
• the age children start going to school in England
• what school is like
• what your child will need
• what your child will eat for lunch
• what children will study at school
• what schools will communicate with you

There are two versions of this video. One version is aimed at parents of primary school children and one for parents of secondary school children.

The West Sussex Autism in Schools Project team have worked together with EMTAS to produce a resource for bilingual families who are supporting an autistic child or a child on the autistic diagnostic pathway.

The West Sussex Autism in Schools Project is a collaborative project between West Sussex County Council’s Autism and Social Communication Team (ASCT) and West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF).

For parent carers to assist their children

• The Bell Foundation – ‘Guidance for parents of students who use English as an Additional Language’ - a short, easy to understand guide for parents of pupils who use English as an Additional Language to get involved in school life and help their child to learn, available in the most commonly used first languages in UK schools.

• British Council Learn English Kids (for primary age children) - advice for parents to help them help their child learn English Games and activities for children to engage with to learn English.

• British Council Learn English Teens (for secondary age children) - to help pupils improve their reading, writing and listening practice in English through grammar and vocabulary exercises, games and videos, plus tips for exams and the opportunity to interact with other teenagers from all around the world.

• British Council Learn English.

• ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) - these are English language courses for new residents in the UK.

• Aspire - adult education courses in West Sussex.