Management Information Sheet

EAL funding

• How much funding is available for EAL pupils?

  £349.44 per new EAL pupil is available for the first 3 years after the child has arrived in the UK or after being identified as EAL from Yr 1. Funding is for children in Years 1 to 11.

• How is the funding allocated?

  Funding is triggered when a child is registered as EAL in the October Census. This happens when their language code is given as a language other than English. If a child is recorded as EAL in Reception, the funding will start in the April of Year 1 and continue for 3 years. It will transfer with the child if the child moves schools.

• What information is used to establish that a pupil is EAL?

  First language code is used. Many bi-lingual pupils therefore miss out on funding because schools give English as their first language instead of the language used at home or with a parent/parents or family.

  Below is the definition of EAL by the DFE, accompanied by our guidance as to how to interpret this. If you consider a child to be EAL, then you must also record their language code on the school census

EAL - The Department of Education definition A pupil's first language is defined as any language other than English that a child was exposed to during early development and continues to be exposed to in the home or community. If a child was exposed to more than one language (which may include English) during early development, a language other than English should be recorded, irrespective of the child's proficiency in English.

These definitions therefore cover the following:

• Pupils arriving from other countries whose first language is not English
• Pupils who have lived in the UK for a long time, but speak another language at home. They may appear to be fluent, but may not in fact be fully literate in English It takes 5-7 years for these pupils to be fully fluent in terms of literacy levels.
• Pupils born in the UK, but for whom the home language is not English These children may still arrive at school with very little English
• Pupils who have a parent who speaks a language other than English and the child has been exposed to that language at home.

It is important therefore to recognise that:

• Children who have British citizenship can still be EAL.
• If parents write on their child's admission form that the child speaks English as a first language, when it is clear that one or both of these parents speaks another language, the child is very likely in fact to be EAL, and it will be necessary to check this.
• Accurate and robust data collection during admission is essential

• When is the funding paid?

  Funding for a child picked up in the October census is paid to the school in the following April. If a child enters the school after the October census date, then their funding will be allocated the April after the next October census. However, the funding will still continue for 3 years.

Language Proficiency levels

• Are all children allocated a level?

  All children from Year Reception to Year 11 are allocated a level.

• Do the levels need to be entered by the October Census?

  No, the deadline is the January census. If a child has an existing level you may amend it now (if it has changed) or wait till January to do so. If the child is new to the school you can give the code N (not yet assessed) until you have had chance to assess them and enter their code in the January census

• How do we assess the child's language proficiency?

  The codes give some guidance as to how to classify a child, but this has not been made age appropriate. MAAS can supply EAL frameworks to assess this effectively. We would not expect many children in Reception or KS 1 to be at a level above C or D. It is often only in later years that a child reveals a lack of vocabulary / more advanced literacy skills. If the child has not been in the country at least 5 years, we recommend that you do not use code E (fluent)

If you require further advice or training, or wish to audit your EAL provision, then please contact

Tanya Ingram – EAL Adviser 01603 303339 or 307766 .