At ACS Egham, the Lower School’s English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme supports young learners in a welcoming environment in which they can make friends and engage with the school’s curriculum—preparing them for success.
Specialist EAL Teaching
We recognise the unique strengths that EAL learners bring, including their cultural and personal experiences, and we use these assets to create a positive and supportive learning environment.
Our dedicated EAL specialists work closely with Lower School students across a range of English language competencies, providing personalised support to help build confidence and meet essential content learning goals. Each student’s progress is carefully monitored to ensure they receive the appropriate guidance.
English Language Learners and the IBPYP
Early and primary years students learn English in a supportive immersion setting, in which they use their full linguistic repertoire (all languages they know) to learn and communicate.
We recognise that multilingual students think and express themselves fluidly, drawing on their different languages as one interconnected system. In the IBPYP, this natural process—known as ‘trans-languaging’—helps create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment, where students feel empowered to speak, belong, and thrive as they learn English together.
To support this, our planning reflects the diverse needs of all learners. We offer multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression, ensuring that every student can access the curriculum and demonstrate their understanding in ways that suit them best.
The EAL Programme in Lower School
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Small group lessons that teach content and language together
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Trained teachers who understand the needs of multilingual students
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Home Language Enrichment for many global languages (optional after school activity)
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In-class support from specialist teachers
EAL Assessment and Academic Progression
In Lower School, we assess students across four key domains: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. These areas give us a well-rounded view of each student’s language development.
For students new to English, we support their progression from Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS)—used in everyday conversation—to Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP), which is needed for success in the classroom.
Students with some English proficiency are guided toward greater academic fluency, while also encouraged to continue developing their home language. We value multilingualism and use assessment to inform targeted support, ensuring every learner can thrive both linguistically and academically.
