EAL Guidance for Parents

Explore our range of free, evidence-based guidance to support parental involvement in the learning of children who use EAL.

Parental involvement is an important part of a child’s learning and academic success. Yet parents and carers of pupils using English as an Additional Language (EAL) can experience language and communication barriers when engaging with schools.

Evidence shows that, often, parents who are new to English or have limited English proficiency:

• Have a significant lack of knowledge and understanding of important areas concerning school life, such as the school system;
• Are significantly underrepresented in school structures and decision making;
• Have different expectations of their children’s schooling when compared with those of teaching staff.