EAL Information Booklet (English)

English as an Additional Language at

The British International School Abu Dhabi

We, at The British International School Abu Dhabi
provide an international, individual and inspiring
education for all our students.
The school o ers an Inclusive school environment
where your child will be able to develop their English
language skills in a nurturing and supportive
environment.

English as an Additional Language Team (EAL) Team

The EAL Team is part of the Inclusion learning more di icult.
team at BIS Abu Dhabi and is made up of The EAL Team helps students settle into
a number of highly dedicated and skilled our school community as quickly as
EAL Teachers and Teaching Assistants possible. We work with classroom
who have experience in working with a teachers to support teaching and
variety of students from di erent learning, resulting in faster language
backgrounds, ages and abilities. aquisition, as well as a better academic
BIS Abu Dhabi recognises, that a child or and social outcome for your child.
young person who is learning English
(English Language Learner), may find

How do you identify if my child needs additional English language support?

Students can be identified by the reviewed on a termly basis. When your
Admissions Team during the application child meets their targets through
process and by our classroom teachers. assessments, academic progression and
Students who need support are placed improved attainment, they will be
on the ELL Register (English Language removed from the ELL register. Parents
Learners), once their English language and carers are always informed about
needs have been identified, targets will our decisions. Removing your child from
be set. the register does not mean they are
Placing a student on the register allows forgotten about but rather, their English
us to share information with teachers ability has progressed to the extent
and support sta . It helps us recognise a where they are able to ‘graduate’ from
student’s strengths as well as supporting the programme. As part of the BIS Abu
them through any challenges they may Dhabi family, we will always keep a close
encounter. eye on all our ‘graduates’.
The ELL Register is monitored and

How is support given to my child?

We understand that some students will Once the classroom teacher or
need help, to be able to reach the year Admissions Team identifies the student,
group expectations. The EAL Team works the EAL Team undertakes further
with the mainstream teaching sta to assessments and observations in order
provide the necessary additional to gain greater insight into the student’s
support required for their language level of competency.
learning - as long as it is reasonably The student will be given an EAL Band
practical and compatible for the e icient from A - E (Band A = beginner to Band E =
use of resources. Support can be given in native speaker). All feedback is shared
a variety of di erent ways including; with the class teacher and parents. The
in-class support, small withdrawal EAL Team member advises on the level
groups and the Accelerated Beginner’s of support that would be suitable for the
Course. individual student.

In-class support

There are times when your child’s classroom to support students in their
classroom teacher may notice that your lessons. The student is also added to the
child is not responding as expected or is ELL Register to monitor their progress.
experiencing increasing di iculties Once su icient progress is made,
within the classroom. If this is the case, parents will be informed, and the
the classroom teacher seeks advice student is removed from the register.
from the EAL Team. The EAL Team will If su icient progress has not been made,
suggest alternative strategies in the parents will be invited to a meeting by
classroom in order to resolve the the class teacher and the Head of EAL.
problem. The teacher informs the At this stage, the student will remain on
parents/carers of their concerns and will the ELL register and will be o ered
maintain regular contact to keep support in small groups.
parents updated. If possible, a member
of the EAL Team will spend time in the

Small group support

Students receive support outside the 1:1 support. At this stage, an Individual
classroom with a group of students at a Language Plan will be produced. This
similar level. This support will last until will involve the setting of very specific
the student has made the required and measurable targets – these targets
improvement. During small group are regularly reviewed and discussed
support, if a student struggles to attain with the class teacher, student and
the expected level, they are then o ered parents.

1:1 support - additional fee required

For some students, it may be felt that In the unlikely event that a student does
the student’s language needs are greater not make adequate progress and is
(Band A or B). In such cases 1:1 support unable to meet their specific targets,
will be recommended. The hours and the despite receiving the specialist support,
length of time required will be discussed, a decision may be made regarding the
agreed and reviewed on a termly basis progression of the student through to
depending on progress made. Students the next year group. Any decisions made
may also be withdrawn for small group at this stage will be in conjunction with
support. ADEK requirements.

A
BC

Accelerated Beginner’s Course (ABC) - additional fee required

Aimed at beginners or emerging The ABC programme aims to create a
students in English in Primary school. di erentiated and individualised ELL
This Intensive English Programme is an programme in a supportive and caring
integral part of BIS Abu Dhabi. It is a environment. The EAL Team set specific
developmental English curriculum for learning goals based on a student’s age
newly-arrived students from and stage of language acquisition. This
non-English-speaking backgrounds. It is ensures the programme is 100% tailored
particularly important for these students to the student’s English language needs.
and their future education that they are Progress is closely monitored until
confident in both oral and written students have developed enough
English before going into mainstream English language skills to successfully
classes. integrate into the mainstream
classroom, access the curriculum and
thrive socially and academically.

How does the ABC Programme work?

The initial ABC Programme runs from develop their social language skills and
eight weeks to a term. Students are maintain friendships within their peer
withdrawn from non-specialist lessons groups.
during this time to focus on their English Please bear in mind that the time to
language acquisition. The course is learn oral and written skills varies for
based on Cambridge ESL materials. each student and success is reliant on
Bilingual support may also be available. the student and their family’s support of
Students receive their own course books the programme. Regular attendance at
and have access to computers and iPads. school and completion of home learning
Students participate in PE, Music and is a compulsory part of the programme.
Arabic lessons along with their
mainstream classes allowing them to



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