Guest blog by Hollie O’Sullivan, Associate Assistant Headteacher at Fortis Academy
Hello, I am Hollie O’Sullivan, and I am the Associate Assistant Headteacher at Fortis Academy. I have worked with EAL learners for over seven years at the academy and I am passionate about having an inclusive approach when it comes to supporting all EAL learners. I would like to share some top tips for encouraging an inclusive ethos throughout the whole school.
It is important that all staff are fully aware of the emotional trauma caused by moving to a new country, especially one in which you do not speak the language. Many, if not all, EAL learners will suffer from a type of bereavement in their first few months, as they experience the loss of the lives they once knew.
At Fortis Academy, we attempt to support these feelings by implementing a Newly Arrived Induction Programme, allowing lower proficiency students to work together to develop their language acquisition with specifically trained EAL staff. This environment is tailored to suit their language needs. During induction, we support both the academic and pastoral requirements of each learner individually. When they are ready to transition, we fully inform their mainstream teachers (in advance) on how best to support them.
As part of our induction, we use the FlashAcademy® app as a digital learning tool to promote inclusion. Having the learners’ licenses set to their home languages enables instant participation in learning. Students enjoy the competitive nature of the lessons, which helps strengthen their bonds with one another and their sense of belonging in the class.
We use repeated praise and rewards for achievement to celebrate success and maintain motivation for our learners, as we appreciate the cognitive load that EAL learners face every day. FlashAcademy®’s design supports this ethos, rewarding students with XP points and digital awards for their achievements.
We have also found that using FlashAcademy® as a homework tool reinforces our message of inclusion. Many EAL families do not have the ability to speak English at home and therefore struggle to support their children with secondary-level homework activities. Most learners can interact with the platform independently and do not require support from an English-speaking adult to practise their language, grammar and vocabulary. The teacher dashboard also enables staff to assess homework completion quickly and efficiently.
Beyond language acquisition and mental wellbeing, we focus on integrating EAL learners into the wider school community. We celebrate our EAL learners weekly in our school’s news bulletin, sharing photos of them and their work to ensure they are seen as valued and celebrated members of our academy.
We have an EAL garden, where students design, plant and maintain all the plants, fruits and vegetables. This allows the whole school to see and take pride in a green space created by EAL students. In the spring and summer, this space is often used as a safe area for any student who is feeling dysregulated.
Our team of EAL prefects plays a pivotal role in showcasing the achievements possible for EAL students. They work hard to introduce new initiatives that encourage younger EAL learners to become more active in the school community. They also run break and lunch clubs to promote inclusion.
We also organise a multilingual treasure hunt, where clues are written in different languages spoken within our school community. To solve them, students need to find someone who speaks that language to help them figure out the clues. This is an amazing day and really promotes togetherness.
Finally, our whole-school EAL celebration is the highlight of the academy calendar—World Culture Day. This is a day dedicated to celebrating our rich cultural diversity. All staff and students attend dressed in cultural clothing and visit our Fortis Culture Fair, which is organised by our Sixth Form. The day is filled with music, dancing, cuisine and arts from around the world—an event not to be missed.
Here are just a few ideas you could test to create or advance an inclusive ethos in your school:
We want to share more stories and practical tips about how you implement FlashAcademy® with your students. If you’d like to share your story, please email our marketing team.
