As practitioners, understanding and supporting children who are learning an additional language is crucial for developing their confidence, academic success and social well-being. Elklan’s new course, ‘Supporting Children and Young People with Additional Language’, is designed to equip practitioners with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively support bilingual and multilingual learners. This course explores the complexities of bilingualism and multilingualism, highlighting both the benefits and challenges that these children may encounter in their learning and development. Through practical and evidence-based approaches, we guide you in creating an inclusive environment that supports the language development and the well-being of these children.

Understanding of Bilingualism and Multilingualism
Participants will gain insights into the aspects of learning additional languages, enabling them to appreciate the unique strengths and needs of bilingual and multilingual children in early years settings and primary and secondary schools.

Ability to Monitor and Support Language Progress
The course provides practical tools for identifying the specific needs of children of all ages learning an additional language and for monitoring their progress over time, ensuring targeted and effective support.

Creating Inclusive, AL-Friendly Environments
Practitioners will learn how to develop an environment that is welcoming and supportive of children learning additional languages, promoting their social, emotional, and mental health alongside their academic development.

Language Support Strategies
The course offers a range of evidence-based strategies to support both receptive and expressive language skills in children learning an additional language, helping them to achieve their full potential in all areas of the curriculum.

Building Strong Partnerships with Families and Communities
Recognising the vital role of families and the wider community, this course equips participants with strategies to work collaboratively with parents and community members, creating a supportive network around the child.

This course is an invaluable resource for those committed to providing effective education to children learning additional languages, ensuring they are fully supported to succeed in both their linguistic and broader developmental journey.

1. Exploring the world of bilingualism and multilingualism

2. Identifying support and monitoring progress

3. Developing an AL-friendly inclusive environment and supporting SEMH

4. Supporting receptive and expressive language

5. Working with families and the wider community

For the Online Training package, the course is delivered online through 5 e-learning sessions and live tutorial webinars with useful resources provided to assist participants support children learning an additional language.

Online Training - Weekly Webinars

Online Training - Fortnightly Webinars

Elklan offers a wide range of courses to train those in a child’s network to support children’s speech, language and communication skills.

Speech and Language Support courses are accredited at levels 2 and 3 and give participants extensive knowledge and strategies to support language within a classroom.

Communication Friendly Settings programmes build on Speech and Language Support courses by facilitating the cascade of Elklan strategies throughout schools and settings so every member of your team has a good foundation in developing communication through this whole setting accredited award.

Elklan trains parents and carers to develop children’s communication at home through our Let’s Talk courses, ensuring the same methods are deployed outside of school to greatly benefit the social and educational development of their children

Discover a range of specialised courses developed by Elklan such as Supporting Social, Emotional and Mental Health of Children and Young People to equip your staff with the skills necessary to support children with additional requirements and specialised needs.

Elklan is also proud to introduce the new Higher Level Communication Practitioner Award. This national award is for teaching assistants and early years practitioners in early years, primary, secondary, and special settings. The award recognises your role in your setting with specific responsibility for supporting children and young people with SLCN.