At Hampton Pre-Prep, we are privileged to support a wonderfully diverse community of children, many of whom speak multiple languages at home. I am always in awe of their incredible linguistic abilities and resilience. It is truly remarkable to see how quickly and confidently they develop proficiency in English while maintaining their home languages. By the time they move on from Pre-Prep, many of our English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners have achieved an exceptional level of competence in English—a testament to their adaptability, enthusiasm and the supportive environment we all strive to create.
Providing the right support for children with EAL is essential in helping them thrive both academically and socially. At Hampton Pre-Prep, we celebrate multilingualism and embrace strategies that nurture language acquisition in a way that builds confidence and a love for learning. Through immersive experiences, engaging classroom interactions and strong pastoral care, we ensure that every child feels valued and empowered on their language-learning journey. Below is information from Mrs Cox, Head of Learning Support Pre-Prep, to support young EAL learners, which you may find helpful.
Resources and Ideas for Young EAL Learners
Supporting young learners with EAL, both at home and in school, is most effective when learning is engaging, interactive and fun. Many of the strategies and resources available are not only beneficial for EAL learners but also for children with reading difficulties such as dyslexia, as well as those preparing for SATs or, even later, for example the 11+ exams in Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation (SpAG). Flash Academy offers short, instructional grammar videos that are particularly useful for parents supporting their children at home. The goal is to make language learning as accessible, enjoyable and confidence-boosting as possible.
Here are some practical and engaging ways to support young EAL learners:
Interactive Storytelling: Storytelling is a wonderful way to build language skills and comprehension. Using props, puppets, or illustrations helps bring stories to life, making them more engaging for young learners. Encouraging children to retell stories in their own words builds confidence and reinforces vocabulary. A fun activity could be creating a sock puppet together and using it during story time—it becomes a language-learning experience in itself! Families can also explore the British Council’s free Listen and Watch videos, which include pre-learning vocabulary games designed to enhance storytelling, poetry and song activities.
Language Games: The following games are very helpful in supporting language development.
- Simon Says: A classic game that reinforces listening skills and vocabulary. Try a follow-along version online to make it even more interactive.
- Word Bingo: Create bingo cards with vocabulary words and call out definitions or synonyms. Ready-made EAL games can be found on the Smart Kids website.
- Pictionary: Children draw vocabulary words while family or peers guess, helping to develop both creativity and word recall.
Total Physical Response (TPR): Movement-based learning can be particularly effective for EAL learners. Associating actions with words—such as acting out verbs while learning them—helps reinforce new vocabulary in a meaningful way. Role-playing games can also be valuable, allowing children to practise real-world conversations in a safe and playful setting, such as pretending to shop or order food at a restaurant.
Routine and Repetition: A predictable learning structure helps EAL learners feel secure and supported. Regularly revisiting vocabulary and language structures through different activities aids retention and deepens understanding. Visual aids such as flashcards, pictures and infographics can further enhance learning. A simple but effective idea is to label household objects with vocabulary cards—seeing and using these words in daily life helps reinforce language naturally.
By incorporating these strategies, parents and educators can create an encouraging and immersive environment for young EAL learners. Learning a new language is a journey, and by making it interactive, engaging and confidence-building, we empower children to develop their skills while enjoying the process.
Celebrating Our Pupils’ Achievements: Mr Smith was on hand in assembly yesterday to present awards to some of our talented pupils.
This week’s recipient of the Courtesy Cup and Badge: Charlie (Year 1) for a cheerful approach to school life and speaking politely and with good eye contact.
and Stars of the Week went to the following children:
Year 2: Kostya for a stunning attitude to learning, always trying his best.
Year 1: Bodie for his engagement, excitement and enthusiasm toward learning – keep it up!
Reception: Jon for his fabulous show and tell all about Iconic Buildings – thank you, Jon.
Further awards included: Reception: Well done to Jon and Daniel for being named Half-Back Players of the Week at their rugby club! Congratulations to Aryan for earning a gold medal in his tennis lesson—he’s now connecting with the ball and following his coach’s instructions brilliantly, even winning a game!
Year 1: Congratulations to Zayn for his fantastic progress in swim school, earning the Maddy’s Fishy of the Week award, as well as for his enthusiastic participation in the festive games—great work!
Year 2: A big round of applause for Henry H, who was named Man of the Match for Hampton Rangers Football Team and received a trophy for his efforts—super achievement!
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.