New EAL Webinar Series Launched by The Bell Foundation

The Bell Foundation has expanded its English as an Additional Language (EAL) thought leadership provision by launching a series of free EAL webinars aimed at developing and embedding expertise amongst senior leaders and EAL staff in school, local authority education staff, policy-makers, and academics.

The webinars are part of the Foundation’s Language for Results initiative which is a long term, not for profit, evaluated training programme which seeks to improve the attainment of children who speak English as an Additional Language by developing the knowledge and skills of school staff. The programme is informed by evidence-based research on EAL educational achievement and school approaches to the education of EAL students carried out by leading universities.

To maximise the number of EAL learners that are supported to fulfil their potential, the Foundation is expanding the Language for Results initiative through increasing the number of Centres of Expertise, and publishing best practice blogs, as well as the introduction of the webinar series.

Each webinar session will provide participants with access to either academics, who will introduce participants to their research, discuss key findings and recommendations, and answer questions; or to EAL expert practitioners who will discuss their experience of working in this field, provide best practice advice and access to tools and resources, as well as answer questions.

The first webinar will run from 4.00-5.00pm (GMT), on Thursday 31 January 2019 and is hosted by Professor Steve Strand, Department of Education, Oxford University.  During the webinar Professor Strand will examine the key findings from his research, ‘English as an Additional Language, proficiency in English and pupils’ educational achievement: An analysis of Local Authority data’.  However, due to high demand this session is full, however, a recording of the session can be requested here.

Each webinar will provide participants with:

• Access to leaders in the field
• Latest research, resources and tools
• Time-saving, one-hour intensive session with Q&A
• Access to session recording
• First to hear about future webinars and how to sign up

Future webinars include:

• ‘A case for EAL Assessment’, hosted by Professor Constant Leung, King's College London, and Katherine Solomon, The Bell Foundation – Thursday 28 February 2019, 10.00-11.00am
• ‘Educational Outcomes of Children with EAL’, hosted by Jo Hutchinson, Education Policy Institute – Thursday 28 March 2019, 4.00-5.00pm
• ‘Becoming confident in grammar for the classroom’ – dates to be announced in due course
• ‘EAL and Initial Teacher Training’ – dates to be announced in due course

In addition to this new EAL webinar series, the Foundation is also expanding the number of Centres of Expertise, from the current three regional hubs in Luton, Leeds/Manchester and Boston, to provide new Centres in areas of high need.  To find out more about the work of Centres of Expertise please visit the Training page. To find out how to become a Centre please visit the Partner with Us page.

The Foundation’s EAL best practice blogs are available in the News section of this website.

Finally, to keep up to date with developments in our EAL Programme please complete the Contact Us form.

About The Bell Foundation
The Bell Foundation works with partners on innovation, research, training and practical interventions. Through generating and applying evidence, the Foundation aims to improve practice, policy, systems and outcomes for children, young people, adults and communities with English as an Additional Language in the UK.