Language of the Half Term

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures and backgrounds that our pupils bring to school. As a vibrant, multi-cultural Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1) setting, it is essential that we nurture our pupils to grow into compassionate, respectful individuals who contribute positively to society, in line with British Values and the principles of Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) development.

Around 80% of our pupils are English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners, with some arriving at our school without understanding or speaking any English. Our diverse school community includes both pupils and adults who speak a variety of languages, including English, Hungarian, Punjabi, Urdu, and Romanian. We also have pupils who communicate using Makaton, a sign language designed to support spoken language.

This enrichment initiative helps us achieve several key goals:

Providing bilingual pupils with opportunities to showcase and celebrate their language skills.
Elevating the status of bilingualism within our school community.
Fostering mutual respect for one another's languages and cultural heritages, which aligns with British Values.
Encouraging parents and carers to actively participate in their children’s educational journey.
Expanding the linguistic abilities of both pupils and staff.

To support this, we introduce a new language focus each half term. Mrs. Idle leads this exciting initiative, selecting a date each half term to launch the featured language. She shares a variety of resources to support teachers in this endeavour and incorporates the theme into our collective worship time. Mrs. Idle works closely with teachers to plan an immersive afternoon filled with engaging activities. Pupils are encouraged to come to school dressed in the colours of the flag for the country that primarily speaks the language. During this special afternoon, pupils immerse themselves in a geography activity to learn about the country, a language activity focused on key words and phrases, and a food tasting experience that explores the culture and traditions associated with the country.

Importantly, this learning is not just a bolt-on to our curriculum; we frequently encourage pupils to recall and revisit their learned knowledge during various opportunities that arise throughout the school day. The languages they learn are actively encouraged to be used in everyday situations, such as choosing to answer the register in different languages. This approach helps reinforce their learning, making it a living part of their educational experience.

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we are dedicated to celebrating diversity and fostering an inclusive environment. By integrating language learning into our curriculum, we empower our pupils to appreciate their own cultures and those of their peers. This initiative enhances their educational experience and cultivates a sense of belonging, preparing them to contribute positively to a multicultural society. Together, we are building a school culture that champions respect, understanding, and lifelong learning.

The table below shows when each language chosen will be focused on throughout the year. A rationale for our choices can be viewed here.

In Autumn 2 our Language of the Half Term is Makaton.

Choosing Makaton as the Language of the Half Term provides a strong foundation for all our pupils, particularly those who rely on Makaton to communicate. This helps ensure that everyone can engage fully with the curriculum, participate in classroom activities, and feel confident in expressing themselves. By introducing Makaton during the whole-school topic of animals, we provide a fun and meaningful way for pupils to learn simple signs, fostering communication and inclusion.

This focus on Makaton supports our key themes of peace and conflict, as it helps create a calm and respectful environment where pupils learn to understand and communicate with one another. It also reflects our core value of respect, as we encourage all pupils to learn ways to communicate with and appreciate each other.

Through this shared experience, pupils feel valued, especially those who rely on Makaton, as they see their peers actively participating in learning how to communicate with them. This promotes an inclusive and supportive atmosphere where everyone can thrive.

Helping at Home

Below are some simple ideas for parents and carers to support their children at home while we learn Makaton:

Learn Simple Signs Together: Try learning a few Makaton signs with your child, starting with easy ones like "hello," "goodbye," "please," and "thank you." You can practice them every day as part of your routine.

Use Makaton with Animals: As we are learning about animals in school, you can teach your child signs for animals such as "dog," "cat," and "bird." Practice these signs together when you see animals on walks or in books!

Sing Songs with Signs: Sing simple nursery rhymes or songs and add Makaton signs to them. This will make it fun for your child to remember and use the signs.

Use Signs for Emotions: Teach your child signs for different feelings, such as "happy," "sad," and "angry." Ask them how they’re feeling and encourage them to use the signs to express themselves.

Make it a Game: Play a game where you take turns making a sign and guessing what it means. You can also draw pictures of the signs to help make it visual!

Encourage Communication: Support your child in using Makaton signs during everyday activities, such as at mealtimes or when asking for help. This helps them connect words and signs to their needs.

Read Books Together: While reading books, look for opportunities to use Makaton signs for characters, animals, or actions in the story. This helps reinforce the connection between the signs and their meanings.

Watch Videos Together: There are many videos online that teach Makaton signs. Watching these together can be a fun way for both you and your child to learn.

By using Makaton at home, you are helping your child feel supported, included, and confident in communicating with others.

In Autumn 1 our Language of the Half Term was English.

Choosing English as the Language of the Half Term at the start of the academic year provides a solid foundation for our pupils, especially those who are English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners.

By focusing on English, we ensure that all pupils are equipped with the necessary language skills to fully engage with the curriculum, participate in classroom activities, and build confidence in their communication abilities. This early emphasis on English helps create an inclusive environment where every pupil can thrive. Supporting British Values, this choice fosters understanding and respect among diverse backgrounds, reflecting our core values of respect and cooperation.

This decision aligns with the DfE's guidance on supporting EAL learners and addresses the findings of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), which highlight the importance of language proficiency for academic success. It also relates to our key themes of diversity and inclusion by ensuring that all pupils feel valued and included in the learning process.

Using your knowledge of the English flag find England on the world map below...

England is a country within the United Kingdom.

Although most people in the other countries of the UK speak English, each country also has its own language too!

Helping at Home

Below are some ideas for parents and carers to support their children at home during Autumn 1, when the Language of the Half Term is English:

Reading Together

Storytime: Set aside time each day to read English books together. Choose a variety of genres, including picture books and simple stories.

Library Visits: Visit your local library to explore English books. Many libraries offer storytime sessions that can further engage your child.

Daily Conversations

Encourage English Speaking: Engage your child in conversations using simple English phrases. Ask them about their day and encourage them to share their thoughts in English.

Label Household Items: Label common objects around the house (e.g., door, chair, table) with their English names to reinforce vocabulary.

Interactive Activities

Games and Apps: Use educational apps or online games that focus on English language skills, such as vocabulary building and phonics.

Craft Projects: Create simple art or craft projects that involve following instructions in English, helping your child practice listening and comprehension skills.

Songs and Rhymes

Sing Together: Learn and sing English songs and nursery rhymes. This can help with pronunciation, rhythm, and vocabulary.

YouTube Resources: Explore educational YouTube channels that feature songs and activities focused on learning English.

Encourage Writing

Journaling: Encourage your child to keep a simple journal where they can draw pictures and write a few sentences about their day or favourite activities.

Postcards and Letters: Write postcards or letters to family members using simple English phrases. This can be a fun way to practice writing and reading.

Cultural Activities

English Culture Exploration: Explore aspects of English culture at home, such as traditional foods or customs, and discuss them with your child in English.

Cook Together: Involve your child in cooking a simple recipe together, reading and following the instructions in English.

Supportive Environment

Create a Language-rich Environment: Surround your child with English-language materials, such as books, posters, and games, to create a supportive language-learning atmosphere.

Positive Reinforcement: Praise your child’s efforts when they use English, no matter how small, to boost their confidence and encourage further practice.

By engaging in these activities at home, parents and carers can reinforce their child's English language learning, providing essential support as they embark on their educational journey.

Come back to visit this webpage at the end of the Autumn Term to see some snapshots of this initiative in action.

Alternatively, visit our school 'X' page where staff will be posting updates throughout the half term.

In addition, feel free to take a look at some posts from last year (2023-2024) by clicking here.