Thursday February 12, 12:30 – 13:30
Cost: From £55
Location: Online (Watch live or on catch up)
Course outline:
Identifying additional needs in EAL Learners: strategies for assessment and support
EAL (English as an Additional Language) students, just like English as a first language students, may also present with additional educational needs. However, identifying these needs can be more complex when students are still developing their English language proficiency.
This webinar explores how to effectively assess, monitor, and support EAL learners who may have underlying learning differences or language disorders. Participants will learn to distinguish between challenges related to language acquisition and those that may indicate broader SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) requirements.
Training Topics Include:
- Understanding the factors that influence learning progress in EAL students
- Benchmarking and tracking progress: using baseline data and ongoing assessments to inform support
- Collaborative working: effective strategies for liaising with SEND teams and specialists
- Identifying language disorders vs. language acquisition challenges
- Adapting support plans and interventions for EAL learners with additional needs.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the session, participants will:
- Understand the key factors that can affect learning progress in EAL learners
- Gain confidence in benchmarking student progress and using data to identify potential concerns
- Learn how to work effectively with SEND teams to ensure joined-up support for EAL students
- Be better equipped to distinguish between language learning and additional learning needs
- Apply strategies to ensure inclusive, responsive educational provision for all learners.
Speaker:
Ian Morris, Head of EAL, Moreton Hall
Ian has been involved in the field of English Language Teaching for over 17 years, working in South Korea, Spain, Romania, Poland and the UK. He is currently Head of EAL at Moreton Hall School in Shropshire where he is responsible for quality EAL teaching in the Prep, Senior School and Sixth Form as well as supporting departments on EAL academic matters. He has a BSc in Geography and holds the Cambridge CELTA and DELTA qualifications. His main interests lie in curriculum design, assessment, cultural integration and data analysis. When not teaching or training, he can be found roaming the Welsh hills on his mountain bike!
Emma Taboada, EAL Teacher, Moreton Hall
Emma Taboada is an EAL teacher with twenty years’ experience teaching general English and examination classes, both in the UK and abroad. She has taught students from age 3 to 83, at all CEFR levels, in both mono-lingual and multi-lingual classes. After working pastorally as a House Mistress and Tutor, she became interested in the holistic support of international students in terms of their linguistic, additional and personal needs. With a degree in English Literature, she also enjoys researching women poets of the past, and out of school you will find her dancing, reading a good book, or baking with her children.
Catrin Kenyon-Owen, SENCO, Moreton Hall
With over 25 years of experience across the educational spectrum, Catrin is a specialist in neurodiversity and inclusive pedagogy. Currently serving as the SENCO and Head of Learning Support at Moreton Hall, she is a leading voice in developing individualised academic and well-being strategies for students with additional learning needs.
A lifelong learner with an expansive academic portfolio, Catrin champions SEND with a unique blend of strategic oversight and a person-centred, humanistic approach. From her work as a GCSE Examiner to supporting Higher Education students with SpLD, Catrin has dedicated her career to removing barriers to learning. Catrin is a passionate advocate for assistive technology and evidence-based interventions. In this session, she leverages her vast classroom experience—ranging from international teaching in Moscow to leading SEND departments in the UK—to provide actionable strategies for the assessment and support of EAL learners.
