English: tips to raise attainment

Boost pupils' confidence in key skills in English, including writing and handwriting. Get expert advice on how to support vocabulary development for pupils with SEN and EAL.

Last reviewed on 12 March 2025
Ref: 45457
Contents
  1. Identify pupils' starting points
  2. High quality teaching and modelling language
  3. Pre-tutoring and post-tutoring
  4. Precision teaching

Identify pupils' starting points

Pupils with English as an additional language  Talk to their parents/carers about the pupil's prior experience with language and education.  This will help you support them with more targeted vocabulary development. For example, a pupil with little or no previous knowledge of English will not have the same needs as a pupil who is proficient in social communication but requires help with more specialist vocabulary.  You could, for example:  Encourage the use of bilingual books  Suggest conversation prompts for parents/carers to use when discussing books with their child to stimulate vocabulary development  Encourage families to use their first language to