Research School Network: Multilingual England: giving the best start to young children learning English as an additional language Prof Victoria Murphy from Oxford University discusses the research and considers how we can use it to improve practice

The number of children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL) has more than doubled in English schools since 2006. 

Being multilingual is the norm across the world. Potentially, multilingualism can significantly benefit children’s ways of thinking and learning. 

Yet many practitioners find it, understandably, a challenge to support children who speak little or no English. Many children learning EAL aren’t doing well by the end of the EYFS. They aren’t getting off to the best start. 

In this webinar, Professor Murphy will consider the key findings of recent research. She’ll be discussing how we can put that research into action with two of our Evidence Leads in Education, Shaghaygh Khademian and Fliss James.

Together with the team from East London Research School, we will be exploring how we can make practical use of the best evidence, so that we can ensure all our children get off to the best start in their early learning. 

This webinar is suitable for all early years practitioners in schools, PVI settings, and for childminders working with children learning EAL.