English as a second language in England

[debbie]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/ed ... ge.html?fb

A high proportion of pupils in England have English as a second language.

Quality phonics teaching should prove more and more important over time not just for teaching reading and writing to native English speakers but to all learners for whom English is a new or additional language.

We need to keep improving our phonics subject knowledge and hone our teaching skills - and that includes our teaching of the spoken language too.

It is good to see more emphasis on speaking and listening in the latest draft English national curriculum in England.

What a pity, however, that there is no reference (that I have found) to the Simple View of Reading model or diagram in the English national curriculum.

This is an excellent diagram to use for professional development and for thinking about learners' reading profile and their needs.

Ideally, pupils with more than one language may have more than one 'reading profile' and need to be considered according to their mother tongue and the English language.