Practical ideas

Practical idea - Reaching families with EAL

4 Dec 2009

There are many ways to reach out to families with EAL and make them part of your setting. Read the ideas below.

Learn a few phrases in the relevant languages to show interest and respect. Lots of websites provide brief summaries of key phrases, with audio pronunciation, such as BBC Languages' Listen and Learn Key Phrases in Urdu
If a new parent has little English, introduce them to another parent who speaks their language but can also communicate in English. You could take this idea further and set up a buddying system.
Make a display of photographs of staff and their extended family and encourage the children’s families to add their own photo displays. This highlights the diversity and similarity in family patterns and experience between and within cultures.
Contact trusted community leaders and community centres e.g. refugee support units to support you and help find translators etc.