How to Work With EAL Parents

This guidance provides four recommendations for practitioners on working with the parents of pupils who use English as an Additional Language (EAL) so they can support their child’s learning at home. It draws on research around parental involvement in children’s learning with a particular focus on the learning of children who use EAL. The recommendations are likely to support children’s learning at any time but may be particularly important when children are learning or completing tasks at home.

This guidance is modelled on, and draws from the four recommendations in the Education Endowment Foundation’s Guidance report Working with Parents to Support Children’s Learning.

1. Critically review how you work with parents
2. Provide practical strategies to support learning at home
3. Tailor school communications to encourage positive dialogue about learning
4. Offer more sustained and intensive support where needed