EAL Support and Funding

EAL program documentation

Schools are encouraged to develop an EAL program statement to inform and guide the development of the most appropriate program for the EAL learners and the specific school context.

School communities, and especially EAL students and their parents and carers, can provide valuable input into the development of the EAL program statement. This can help increase involvement and knowledge about how the school supports EAL learners and fosters an inclusive educational program for all students.

The following points describe the structure and content of a typical EAL program statement. The provision section will be developed as program arrangements are established.

Rationale

• Information about the school’s EAL learner cohort
• Support required to meet their language learning needs

Objectives

• Clearly stated learning objectives
• Assessment practices consistent with the Victorian Curriculum F–10 EAL
• Other educational and community aims, such as meeting student welfare needs and maintaining students’ other languages

Provision

• The type/s of support or classes to be offered
• Timetabling
• The eligible students
• How the specialist aspects of the program will be staffed
• How students will be supported in mainstream classes
• Roles and responsibilities of staff
• Transition policies or arrangements
• Strategies for engaging with parents and families of EAL learners
• Resources available
• Professional learning goals and plans

Review

• Schedule for regular review
• Commitment to evaluate the program, consistent with the evaluation of other learning areas and in line with school improvement processes

EAL Regional Program Officers (RPOs) are available in each region to support Victorian government schools to develop and implement effective EAL programs that suit the school context and needs of the particular EAL learner cohort.

The EAL RPOs can help identify appropriate steps in designing a suitable program, and support schools to develop their EAL program statement.

To contact the EAL RPO for your region call: 1800 338 663.