How can a child without English settle into an English school?

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

A child new to English needs a clear plan for the first weeks, and the family needs a named contact who reviews it. Before school starts, request a meeting with the class teacher, form tutor or EAL lead. EAL means English as an Additional Language; ask the particular school what support it provides.

Explain the child's starting point

Prepare a short account of languages spoken, literacy in each language, previous schooling, favourite subjects and any gaps in education. Bring examples of schoolwork. Ask staff to consider language proficiency separately from knowledge in maths or other subjects: silence in a new language says little by itself about understanding a topic.

Ask how the child will learn about the timetable, toilets, lunch, homework and requesting help. Seeing the classroom and meeting a trusted adult beforehand may make arrangements easier to understand.

Agree specific support

Ask about visual prompts, dictionaries, a buddy, classroom support and language lessons where available. Discuss access to the ordinary curriculum and a review date. A general statement that the school has many international pupils is insufficient detail.

Request the curriculum map and an explanation of Years and Key Stages: overseas class numbers do not automatically correspond to English ones. The official structure includes Reception, KS 1, KS 2, KS 3 and KS 4. GOV.UK: national curriculum ↗.

Establish communication with parents

Request a plain-language written meeting summary, instructions for the school app and translation or an interpreter for important conversations where needed. The Bell Foundation offers free multilingual materials explaining the school system and support for learning. Bell Foundation: parent guidance ↗.

Record whom to contact about bullying, unclear tasks or anxiety. At the agreed review, ask about observable progress: classroom participation, friendships, completing work and language development.

Support learning at home without overload

Discuss school topics and read in a language your family knows well, introducing relevant English vocabulary gradually. Bell Foundation materials suggest bilingual dictionaries, discussing topics in the first language and reading at home. Replacing all family communication with English is unnecessary. Bell Foundation: helping your child learn ↗.

If paying for a tutor, set a limited goal, such as understanding science questions, rather than catching up with an entire school curriculum in a month. Discuss persistent difficulties and possible further assessment with the school and SENCo instead of assigning a diagnosis yourself. This article focuses on England. Checked on 7 October 2026.