[eal-bilingual] Testing of EAL pupils

We find the assessment of Maths is the most useful indicator of potential across the curriculum! 
  We use a SATs style test, but ask students to do it supported by an EAL teacher reading , explaining and modelling strategies. The tasks may be unfamiliar, but is easy to see who catches on quickly and who can use models to complete tasks.
  I have resisted using a language free test, because it seems that important thing for us is to know how a child manages new tasks and alien contexts, after all that is what they'll actually have to deal with for the rest of their school life!
  I also agree with Frank. The default of putting EAL learners in bottom sets is pointless, they need the best teachers and the best language models- usually found in higher groups.

  Above all intial assessment needs time; it's an essential part of the EAL teacher's role, and should be timetabled as contact time. No one else will have time to do it properly. I suggest that you get involved in supporting the initial assessment and also create some specific tasks to assess EAL at NC levels Step 1 to level 2. It is easy to adapt some of the QCA materials produced for level 3, using text excerpts and simpler questions. The Science tasks are also quite useful.
  See link below
  http://www.qca.org.uk/12578.html

  Catharine

helen tucker <hart0999 at hotmail.com> wrote:
  All pupils wishing to join our school (secondary) are tested to find the 
approriate group for them. Our EAL pupils are consistently coming out with 
low scores so are placed in the bottom groups. After a few lessons it 
becomes apparent that the pupils are wrongly placed - they should be going 
into higher ability groups.

How do other schools test their EAL pupils' ability? Any advice/info 
offered gratefully received.

Helen

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