To have English as an additional language means that the language you speak or hear at home is not always English. Speaking more than one language is often an advantage to a child and should be celebrated. During the academic year 2022-23, at Kings Furlong Junior School, children spoke 25 different languages at home, including: Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese, Hindi, Igbo, Italian, Kinyarwanda, Marathi, Malayalam, Nepali, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Sinhala, Spanish, Tamil, Telugu, Turkish, Urdu and Yoruba.

A helpful website to support reading: http://en.childrenslibrary.org/ 

A useful leaflet can be found here:  https://documents.hants.gov.uk/education/emtas/All-about-EMTAS-leaflet.pdf

New Arrival

A new arrival is a child who is newly arrived in Britain who does not speak English. In this instance, the school will instantly contact the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS). This service is invaluable in helping to explain how the school works and explain confusing aspects of the school the child may be experiencing through an interpreter. 

Advanced Learners

If your child is EAL and an advanced learner, it means that although English is a second language they speak and write competently in English. It is important that the school knows if a child has EAL as it can affect grammar and some receptive language (understanding of spoken language). Knowledge a child has EAL means the teacher and EAL coordinator (Mrs Wright) can put support and provision into place. 

It is expected that new arrivals may be mute in class for up to 6 months as they take in and learn the language. English is often first used in social situations in the playground before the child is confident enough to use English within the classroom setting.

EAL and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)

EMTAS are also helpful in helping to ascertain whether a child with EAL has a special educational need, or whether the language barrier is holding their progress back.

EMTAS details: https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/emtas

Email: emtas@hants.gov.uk 

EMTAS language phone lines for parents/carers

The below help lines available for information and support with home-school communication, or if you have any questions relating to your child’s education or well-being. The phone number for all languages is 03707 794222.

The phone line assistants all speak good English so if you can use even a little English you can call at any of the times listed below.

If you need an interpreter for any other language just ring EMTAS: 03707 794222 or email: emtas@hants.gov.uk with your contact details and the language you speak and they will do their best to help you.

Arabic: ask for Zein Ahmed

Monday 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Bulgarian: ask for Iliana Kocheva

Friday 2pm–4pm

Chinese Mandarin: ask for Nicole Zhou

Tuesday 1pm-3pm

Hindi and Marathi: ask for Meera Narasimhan

Tuesday 2pm-3pm

Hungarian: ask for Ildiko Ordog

Thursday 9am-11am and 12pm-2pm

Malayalam, Tamil and Telegu: ask for Anantha Bharathan Kurup

Tuesday 2pm-4pm

Nepali: ask for Sudhir Lama

Friday 12.30pm-2.30pm

Polish: ask for Katarzyna Tokarska or Magdelena Raeburn

Wednesday 2pm-4pm

Portuguese: ask for Catarina Martins

Friday 1pm-3pm

Romanian: ask for Ildiko Ordog

Thursday 9am-11am and 12pm-2pm

Spanish: ask for Fiona McKenzie

Wednesday 2.30pm-4.30pm

Turkish: ask for Ozgul Springett

Wednesday 1pm-3pm

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller phone line

Thursday 12.00-3pm (term time only)