English as an Additional Language

At Cottam Primary School, we believe that every child should feel safe, welcomed, valued and able to fully participate in school life. For children who are learning English as an Additional Language (EAL), this means recognising, celebrating and respecting the languages, cultures and experiences they bring with them.

We view bilingualism and multilingualism as strengths that enrich our school community. The diverse languages, cultures and perspectives of our children and families help to make Cottam a vibrant and inclusive place to learn and grow. We are committed to creating an environment where every child feels a strong sense of belonging and where their identity is celebrated.

At Cottam Primary School, 36 pupils (12%) are identified as EAL learners. Our school community is wonderfully diverse, with many languages spoken by our children and families, including:

Bengali, Polish, Romanian, Arabic, Chinese, Yoruba, Tamil, Sudanese, Bulgarian, Urdu, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Nahuatl, Mexicano and Nepali.

We take a whole-school approach to supporting EAL learners through our ethos, curriculum, language-rich environment and commitment to equality, inclusion and anti-racism. We encourage all children to develop an appreciation and understanding of different languages and cultures, helping to foster respect, empathy and a sense of community.

We recognise that learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging. All staff share a collective responsibility to ensure that EAL learners feel supported, understood and able to thrive. We work hard to identify and remove any barriers to learning, while nurturing children's confidence and language development.

Our teachers carefully plan lessons to ensure that EAL learners have access to the support, resources and opportunities they need to participate fully in learning and achieve their potential. Through high-quality teaching, meaningful relationships and a nurturing environment, we aim to help every child develop the language skills, confidence and sense of belonging needed to succeed both academically and socially.

Above all, we want every child and family to know that their language, culture and experiences are valued and that they are an important part of the Cottam family.