English as an additional language (EAL) for Early Years

Government Guidance: The UK Government offers various resources and guidance documents for supporting children with EAL. These include strategies for developing language skills and improving school readiness.

EYFS Framework: Practitioners should refer to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, which outlines the best practices for supporting all children, including those with EAL, through a play-based curriculum. The framework promotes the development of communication and language in the early years.

Birth to 5 Matters: Guidance to help understand the steps to success for children with EAL in the early years.

Tiny Happy People is a BBC initiative that supports parents and carers in developing their children's language and communication skills through fun, simple activities. They offer free training sessions for early years practitioners to help them use these resources effectively.

Ofsted plays a key role in ensuring that Early Years settings are equipped to support EAL learners. They assess how well settings help children with EAL make progress in language and communication. Understanding Ofsted's expectations can help practitioners provide better support.