CORE Hello (EAL)

EAL students arrive at CORE Education Trust with rich linguistic and cultural backgrounds that strengthen our school communities. We believe that language is the gateway to the curriculum, and the curriculum is the gateway to belonging.

Our vision is that every EAL student at CORE:

• Accesses a full, ambitious curriculum from day one
• Develops academic language alongside the social English needed to thrive in school life
• Leaves secondary education confident, articulate and fully prepared for post-16 study
• Takes pride in their home language(s), culture and identity
• Becomes an independent, resilient and ambitious young person

• We hold high expectations for every student
• We recognise that language learning is subject learning
• Phonics, handwriting and disciplinary vocabulary are taught explicitly and systematically
• Assessment is formative, frequent and responsive
• Every student has a clear, planned pathway towards full access to the mainstream curriculum

CORE Education Trust is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and aspirational learning environment where every EAL student can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

We nurture a strong sense of belonging and celebrate the diversity of languages, cultures and experiences across our schools. Every student is supported to feel valued, confident and motivated to succeed both in school and beyond.

A Specialist EAL Provision

CORE Hello is a high-quality, intensive programme designed to accelerate English language acquisition and support students in accessing the full curriculum. Led by specialist teachers, the programme ensures that students are equipped to thrive in mainstream lessons as quickly as possible.

The provision follows a graduated approach, ensuring that every student receives a personalised pathway tailored to their stage of English development:

• Students who are new to English (Proficiency A) access a centralised provision at City Academy
• Students at early stages of acquisition (Proficiency B) are supported within their school through targeted intervention alongside increasing participation in mainstream lessons

CORE Hello is informed by the Bell Foundation’s Five Principles and aligned with the National Curriculum, ensuring a rigorous and research-informed approach to EAL pedagogy.

Students develop skills across listening, speaking, reading and writing, supported by:

• Explicit teaching of language structures and vocabulary
• Use of bilingual resources and interpreting technology
• Encouragement of first language use to support understanding and expression

Phase One: Foundations of Literacy
• Daily English with a focus on reading
• Phonics, handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Daily mathematics teaching
• Weekly PSHE
Phase Two: Language for the Curriculum
• Explicit teaching of disciplinary language across subjects including science, humanities, arts and PE
• Continued daily focus on reading and rich texts
• Ongoing mathematics and PSHE
This structured approach ensures that students are both linguistically supported and cognitively challenged, enabling rapid and sustained progress.
Assessment is carried out using the Bell Foundation EAL Assessment Framework.

CORE Hello places strong emphasis on social integration and cultural capital. Alongside the academic programme, students benefit from opportunities to explore their local environment (Including Supermarkets, Train Stations and Libraries) and build confidence within the wider community.

As part of the PSHE curriculum, Students visit local cultural and historical landmarks such as:

• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
• The Library of Birmingham
• Dudley Castle and Zoological Gardens
• The Black Country Living Museum

If you would like to find out more, please email Gemma Patel (Trust EAL Lead) at gpa@core-education.co.uk