A whole school approach to multilingualism

It is known that schools in the UK have an increasing number of bi/multilingual pupils joining their setting, though are often unprepared for such rapid changes in their intake.

EAL (English as a second language) strategies have always been a solution for those pupils with little or no English. However, schools often also see children who do not speak English as having something missing: a deficit approach.

Soofia poses these questions: How do we work at this pace with a wide range of languages, educational experiences and cultural differences? Most importantly, how do we emphasise the positives of our multilingual children and families, rather than just seeing the challenges? She will share her school’s journey from focusing on supporting EAL, to championing a whole school approach to multilingualism to unlock the potential of our multilingual learners and their families.

This online event will be particularly useful for teachers and parents of multilingual children.

Multilingualism and Diversity: Impact on Education, Health and Society seminar series

This seminar series aims to bridge science with practice in education. Leading experts in linguistics, psychological sciences and neurosciences will engage with education practitioners, parents, students and members of the public who have an interest in multicultural diversity and inclusion. 

Related links

• Multilanguage and Cognition Lab
• Department of Psychology and Human Development