English as an additional language

A pupil whose first language is not English. Not a special educational need.

What it is

EAL describes pupils exposed to a language other than English at home. It says nothing about ability and is not, in itself, SEND.

Where it applies

Any pupil. Schools receive additional funding for pupils recorded as EAL in their first three years.

How it works

Conversational fluency develops far faster than academic language — commonly two years for the first and five to seven for the second. A child who sounds fluent in the playground may still be at a serious disadvantage in a science lesson.

Confusing EAL with SEND works in both directions: children are wrongly placed on SEN registers, and genuine needs are missed and attributed to language.

What you can ask for

Ask what assessment has been done of your child's academic English, not just their conversation.

Ask for subject-specific vocabulary support and for a first-language assessment if there is any question of SEND.

Ask about access arrangements in exams — a bilingual dictionary is permitted for some candidates within defined rules.

Where to get help

The Bell Foundation publishes free assessment frameworks and classroom guidance. SENDIASS for free local advice, and IPSEA or Contact nationally. where SEND is also suspected.