Making subject assessment accessible for multilingual learners (Webinar)
- Date
- 30 September 2026
- Time
- 12:00pm
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Webinar
- Location
- Online
Engaging families and valuing home languages in multilingual schools (Webinar)
This webinar will explore how international schools can work with families and harness home languages to enhance the learning of plurilingual students.
Working effectively with multilingual parents, carers, and families within international school communities is vital, not just from a pastoral and community-building perspective but also in the opportunities it provides for harnessing the power of home languages.
In this webinar, Gemma Donovan (Regional Head of Multilingualism, ISP) and Ben Sell (MFL teacher and Multilingualism Lead, Park House English School, Qatar) will discuss the opportunities, benefits, and challenges of working with plurilingual families to enhance learning for pupils who use EAL in international school settings, both inside and outside of the classroom, and how to integrate home languages more effectively into the curriculum.
Drawing on practical case studies we will explore how schools can help families embrace their home languages and use them to improve educational and social outcomes for learners. The webinar will also include a Q&A section where participants can pose questions to the speakers.
Areas of focus will include:
- Why building strong relationships with multilingual families is crucial.
- Ideas for working effectively with multilingual families.
- How a ‘home language hour’ initiative can help valorise home languages.
- How home language development can play a vital role in enhancing the learning of English and curricular subjects in English medium schools.
- The challenges of working with families from different cultures and educational systems.
Who should register for the webinar:
- EAL coordinators/EAL leads.
- Teaching staff or middle leaders who have contact with parents and families.
- Pastoral or SEND staff responsible for parental outreach.
- School leaders.
Please note: this webinar is for international participants only. Please click here to view our upcoming webinars and online courses for those living and working in the UK.
Why you should register for this webinar:
- To hear about real examples of effective approaches to working with multilingual families.
- To gain greater awareness of how to integrate home languages into international school curricula.
- An opportunity to ask questions about specific challenges you face in working with multilingual families in your setting.
- Access to session recording.
- First to hear about future webinars and how to sign up.
If you have any questions that specifically relate to the webinar topic which you would like answered during the live session, please send them to: webinar@bell-foundation.org.uk.
If the webinar is full, please complete the wait list form and you will be contacted if a place becomes available. Everyone on the wait list will be sent a copy of the webinar recording.
Speaker biographies:
Gemma Donovan, Regional Head of Multilingualism, International School Partnership (ISP)
Gemma Donovan is an international education leader with over 20 years’ experience across Italy, the UK, Hong Kong, and the UAE. She works with school leaders to embed language-aware practice as a lever for inclusion, attainment and whole-school improvement. Gemma supports schools across the region to develop coherent multilingual strategies aligned with curriculum, assessment and professional learning. A regular conference speaker and professional learning facilitator, she has also authored courses for Hachette Learning Academy and The National College, contributing to sector conversations on multilingualism and evidence-informed leadership.
Ben Sell, MFL teacher and Multilingualism Lead, Park House English School, Qatar
Ben Sell is a Cambridge linguistics graduate and holds PGCE and CELTA qualifications, which he has used in posts over Europe and the Middle East. Currently completing an MA in Language Testing and collaborating with Wisconsin Center for Education Research, his research focuses specifically on heritage language prestige and assessment. Ben conceptualised and launched the region’s first Home Languages initiative at Park House. This pioneering project, which dedicates curriculum time to home languages, utilises novel assessment tools to validate and encourage students to embrace their full linguistic identity.
Ticket sales close 19 March 2026 8:30 UK time (UTC+0)
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Important notice: there are only two websites authorised to promote and take bookings for this event run by The Bell Foundation. These are: The Bell Foundation’s website and Eventbrite. Please do not book, or express interest in, this event through any other website or platform.