At Prospect Vale Primary School, we take great pride in our vibrant and diverse school community. We value every chance for our children to share their unique cultural and ethnic heritages, which enriches the learning experience for everyone and broadens our collective understanding of the world.
The term English as an Additional Language (EAL) applies to any child who is exposed to a language other than English from birth. This encompasses children who are not yet fluent in English. In England the Department for Education defines these learner as those who have been "exposed to a language at home that is known or believed to be other than English"
Throughout Stockport more than 150 languages are spoken across local schools. At Prospect Vale Primary School our pupils, staff and families speak or hear at least 13 different languages. We extend a warm welcome to both bilingual speakers and those who are entirely new to the English Language. At Prospect Vale Primary School, we encourage every child to celebrate linguistic diversity within our halls and view bilingualism as a significant asset and a strength to be fostered for each child's future success.
Once a child is identified as EAL, the school monitors and assesses their development across the academic year. This process allows us to spot any learning gaps and implement tailored strategies or interventions.
We maintain a close partnership with the Ethnic Diversity Service, which provides staff training and works alongside us to support individual pupils. This service also provides insights into cultural events, festivals and celebrations occurring each term which we share with our entire school community
At Prospect Vale Primary School we are dedicated to offering diverse and high quality English language opportunities for every child. Our EAL parents are essential members of our community, and we are always available to provide support when required