LDS
Language Development Support (LDS)
Elckerlyc International comprises a mixed community of both native English speakers and children who speak English in addition to their mother tongue. As language is a vital part of learning, we believe that it is the role of both staff and parents to work in partnership to create an environment where all children’s language is enriched, and where diversity is embraced and celebrated. At Elckerlyc we offer an inclusive approach to language enrichment, providing support for a greater number of children in a variety of settings.
The Department
At Elckerlyc we have a team of specialist LDS teachers who liaise closely with the classroom teacher to help all children to:-
- achieve continual progress in the acquisition of English;
- recognise and understand their own bi/multilingualism and gain confidence in pursuing all their languages for learning (families are encouraged to actively pursue the development of the home language/s within the home);
- understand that there are a range of strategies they can use for their linguistic, cognitive and academic development.
Significantly, each of our teachers has personal experience in relocating their own families and placing their children in a school environment where the home language is not spoken. Children and their families need to feel supported when they move to another country and in the LDS Department we can offer support to the whole family by way of:
- introducing parents to established parents of like cultures;
- having an ‘open-door’ policy whereby all parents may speak with us before and after school as the need arises;
- being available to listen and help all parents to help make the transition as easy as possible.
English Teaching Programme
New students are assessed by way of an informal interview with a staff member or via information received from parents and the previous school. Children with very little or no English participate in our unique month long Intensive English Course. This launches the child quickly and competently into the language, providing the necessary ‘survival’ skills to allow them to function successfully in the larger class group. (Additional costs are applied for the Intensive English Course.)
The children receive nine hours contact time each week for four weeks in a positive and caring environment with the LDS Intensive Course teacher. Upon successful completion of the course, the child is accepted into the mainstream class and is then extracted from class for 45-60mins by the LDS teacher twice a week. This is the second phase of structured English Support. Children with an elementary level of English are assessed by the LDS teacher and after consultation with the class teacher, a programme most suited to the level of support they require is put into place.
Existing students’ language needs are discussed by the class teacher and the LDS teacher at the beginning of the year. A programme aimed at supporting the language needs of pupils requiring LDS is then put in place. This may take the form of withdrawn lessons for a determined period of time in order to pre-teach, reinforce or develop specific language skills. Alternatively, the LDS teacher may team-teach with the class teacher so that children with specific language needs can be supported in the classroom. Language Development teachers and class teachers work together to implement the teaching strategies above to effectively achieve the language goals of each individual child in the school.
At Elckerlyc we are passionate about celebrating the diversity of language in our multi-lingual community and we look forward to the journey ahead together with you and your children.