EAL in Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Teacher Development: The ITTEC EAL Matrix
The ITTEC EAL Matrix defines the core knowledge, skills, and behaviours that underpin effective teaching of multilingual pupils who use EAL. It supports Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Early Career Teacher (ECT) providers to embed consistent, evidence-informed EAL pedagogy across all subjects and phases.
Why it matters:
- Multilingual classrooms are now the norm, with over 1 in 5 pupils in England using English as an additional language
- The Department for Education’s ITTEC Framework and the Ofsted Toolkit both recognise EAL pedagogy as a key area of focus
- EAL Provision across ITT and ECT programmes remains inconsistent – this matrix helps address that gap
Who it is for:
- ITT providers in Institutes of Higher Education
- School-Centred ITT providers and Teaching Hubs
- ECT programme developers
- ECT induction providers and mentors
- Any other organisation that leads on the development or delivery of ITT and ECT in England
How it helps:
- Provides evidence-based EAL content to inform curriculum development in ITT and ECT programmes
- Aligns with the eight standards in the DfE’s ITTEC Framework
- Strengthens ITT and ECT providers’ and trainees’ confidence and expertise in EAL pedagogy and working with multilingual learners
- Supports the overall development and enhancement of ITT and ECT programmes
What you’ll find in the document:
- EAL content recommendations aligned with each standard in the DfE ITTEC Framework
- Reflective prompts designed to critically evaluate and strengthen current provision
- Practical resources and tools to support effective EAL content delivery
- An extensive reference list to underpin further research and professional development in EAL pedagogy.