Arrangements For Schools Wishing To Access Support For EAL Learners

Norfolk continues to welcome increased numbers of pupils in our schools whose first language is other than English.

The English Language Support Service (ELSS) is a specialist support service, working within the Norfolk Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Services (NEMTAS), which is part of Norfolk County Council's Children's Services.

What do we do?
We work with schools to raise the achievement of minority ethnic pupils, and support the particular needs of:

	Pupils for whom English is an additional language (EAL)
	Schools with minority Ethnic pupils at risk of underachieving
	Refugees and asylum seekers

Funding Arrangements- Increased Personalisation funding
There is additional funding available to schools to ensure that good provision is made for EAL learners. This is referred to as 'Personalisation funding' and is delegated to schools. Schools Forum agreed that allocations should be on a per capita basis, based on the Annual School Census.

The actual amount delegated per EAL learner is now £283, which is a considerable increase on last year's allocation, and there will be a further increase next year. This allocation is made annually, directly into schools budgets, with no in-year adjustment to allow for pupils arriving during the year.

Buy-back Arrangements
The English Language Support Service has devised a range of support packages which will enable schools to use all or some of their personalisation allocation to purchase a package of regular support from a specialist EAL teacher.

School clusters are welcome to join together to purchase a support package, and schools with relatively small numbers will be able to access a level of support through the Isolated Learners package, which would provide 2 termly visits to advise schools and monitor pupils progress. Schools and Clusters are also able to purchase training packages.

School/Service Agreement for Personalisation Funding
All members of our team are skilled and experienced in meeting the needs of EAL pupils. We have an up to date knowledge of EAL at National Strategy level, and align our work closely to these developments. Schools may choose from a range of time packages and an audit of need will be carried out to enable the development of an appropriate package of support.

Support may include combinations of the following:

	Teaching of individual pupils, small groups, or in-class support
	Advice to mainstream colleagues
	Recommending and providing resources
	Training - either as whole school training, cluster training, or training for TA's
	Advising on developments within National Strategies, particularly capacity building within schools
	Advising on community language GCSE entry

The Ethnic Minority Achievement Gran (EMAG) , for newly arrived pupils who are beginners to English
This funding is allocated to pupils who arrive during the course of the year, and are assessed as beginners to English. Each beginner attracts funding of £300. This funding will be allocated to schools following the usual initial assessment and referral procedure to the English Language Support Service. Referrals can be made whenever a new arrival is admitted. Schools will continue to have the option of using the funding to buy back support from ELSS, or of making appropriate alternative arrangements to support their EAL beginners.

A package for a beginner would provide weekly support for half a term, following assessment, and would cost £300.

Please click here to access the application form: Arrangements for schools wishing to access support for EAL learners.