Local authority EAL and EMA Services

All local authorities have additional funding for EAL learners through the Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) Grant. This grant is often used to finance a central local authority (LA) team with a particular responsibility for EAL and ethnic minority issues. The local authority team may run professional development programmes, manage specific projects and produce guidance documents and materials. However the bulk of the grant (85%) is required to be devolved to schools’ budgets to meet the needs within their schools.

In areas with relatively few EAL and bilingual learners and few pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds, a larger proportion of the grant may be retained centrally to provide for a LA team of EAL/EMA specialists, often providing peripatetic support for schools and particularly for learners who are new to English

LA teams may be able to offer advice and guidance or provide specialist support for initial teacher education programmes. For example, they are often involved in working with newly qualified teachers recruited to schools in their local authorities. Links to service information and contacts for more than 70 LA language services are listed below.

Author

Nicola Davies

Last updated 17th February 2010

A-Z Languague support services in England

Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council - The Language Support Service helps teachers and schools in Barking and Dagenham where there are children who are from different ethnic groups and who are learning to speak English. The focus at the moment is to help schools help children who have just arrived with little knowledge of English so they can settle in quickly and do well at school.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council - The work of the service focuses on improving the capacity of schools to better meet the needs and ensure equality of outcomes for minority ethnic children and young people across the 3-19 age range, narrowing attainment gaps and raising academic achievement.

Bexley Council - The English Language Support Service is jointly funded by a grant (Ethnic Minority achievement Grant/EMAG) and by Bexley Council.

Birmingham City Council - To lead in the Education and Lifelong Learning Service relationship with minority ethnic communities, voluntary organisations, supplementary schools, other minority groups and the community.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council - SEMA (support for ethnic minority achivement) works with schools to support the achievement of ethnic minority children.

Blackpool Council - Blackpool EMAS (Ethnic Minority Achievement Service) 

provides advisory support for all issues regarding Race Equality, English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Bilingualism.

Bournemouth Council - The team monitor and promote the achievement of minority ethnic and traveller pupils in primary and secondary school and on site for the children of show men. Staff also provide support, advice, training and resources to teaching staff.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council - The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Support Team works in partnership with schools to raise the attainment of pupils with English as an additional language.

Brent Council - The Language and Cultural Support Service supports children in Brent nursery and primary schools who do not have English as their first language.

Bristol City Council - Working in partnership with  Unitary Authorities, schools,
communities and families to raise the achievement  of ethnic minority pupils.

Bromley London Borough Council - EAL support teachers specialise in teaching English as an additional language to pupils who do not speak English as their first language.

Buckinghamshire County Council - METAS supports schools in raising the achievement of minority ethnic, Traveller, refugee and asylum-seeking pupils to enable them to participate in all opportunities schools provide, while still being able to maintain their own culture, traditions, languages and beliefs.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council - Curriculum and Language Access Service (CLAS) is a language support service that exists to support the educational needs of minority ethnic pupils by working with local schools, parents and other agencies.

Cambridgeshire Race Equality and Diversity Service to improve access to education for, and raise the achievement and attainment of, black, minority ethnic, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people.

Calderdale Council - Calderdale currently receives funding from the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant. The focus of this funding is to support groups of pupils identified nationally as underachieving.

Darlington Borough Council - Darlington schools celebrate and support a diverse pupil community. We offer a responsive reflective support sevice to ensure that all children have an opportunity to enjoy success.

Devon County Council - Devon has representatives from a wide range of minority ethnic groups. The Service is aiming to increase the number of bilingual assistants who, under the guidance of specialist teachers, work directly with pupils for whom English is not the first language.

Derby City Council - We are committed to working in partnership with schools to improve curriculum entitlement and raise standards in order to provide equality of outcome for pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and pupils for whom English is an additional language.

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council - Doncaster EMTAS service staff work in collaboration with mainstream colleagues in order to provide EAL support to targeted pupils

Dorset County Council - The main role of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) is to support the progress of ethnic minority pupils in schools.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council - The Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) works in partnership with schools and communities to provide support for children with English as an additional language, helping to raise the achievement of ethnic minority pupils including new arrivals. 

Durham County Council - The EMTAS service supports the induction of minority ethnic and Traveller pupils, including pupils with English as an Additional Language - EAL.

Enfield London Borough Council - Support for children who do not have English as their first language.

Gateshead Council - Gateshead EMTAS aims to enable young children whose home language is not English to have access to the whole curriculum and the social opportunities offered by their schools.

Gloucestershire County Council - Gloucestershire Race Equality and Diversity Service is funded by the County Council with support from the Standards Fund.

Greenwich Council - We can offer support to children in nursery and primary schools who do not have English as their first language.

Hampshire County Council - Our service aims to support schools and families across Hampshire in raising ethnic minority achievement, through bilingual assistance, projects, training and advisory support.

Haringey London Borough Council - Haringey Council believes that all members of the community have the right to equal access to information and services provided by the Council.

Hertfordshire County Council - Schools are funded under EMAG (Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant) to give extra help to pupils with English as an additional language/Ethnic Minority children who are under achieving including pupils of mixed heritage

Hounslow Language Service - Hounslow Language Service provides specialist staff who work alongside school staff to help bilingual pupils develop their English and succeed in school subjects.

Islington Borough Council - EMAS provides strategic direction in raising the achievement of Black and Minority Ethnic pupils; training and support to schools; direct interventions to tackle underachievement of specific groups of pupils.

Kent County Council - Clusters of schools have made provision funded by the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant to meet the needs of bilingual learners including those learning English as an Additional Language as beginner or advanced learners.

Kensington and Chelsea - The Language Development Service is a specialist team of teachers and professionals who work with schools to raise the achievement of ethnic minority pupils.

Lancashire -The Ethnic Minority Achievement Support Service (EMASS) working with new arrivals, African-Caribbean heritage pupils and minority ethnic communities

Lambeth Borough Council - The Ethnic Minority Achievement Team (EMAT) supports schools to raise achievement of ethnic minority pupils.

Leicester City Council - Multicultural Education service to assist schools in raising the standards of ethnic minority pupils

Leicestershire Council - The aim of the EMASS service is to work in partnership with schools, parents and other agencies to raise the achievement of minority ethnic pupils.

Lincolnshire County Council - We work with schools and families to help pupils with an alternative language and/or cultural background get the most from their education.

Liverpool City Council - We work with schools, communities and other agencies to help the achievement of Minority Group Learners.  

Luton Borough Council - The Luton EMAS team works with headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants and community groups.

Manchester City Council

Medway Council - Medway Council is committed to realising everyone's potential and improving levels of achievement in the local community.

Milton Keynes Council -  EMASS - the Ethnic Minority Achievement and Support Service - helps to support schools.

Newcastle City Council  - The role of EMTRAS is to work with schools, teachers and other agencies to secure the highest possible standards of achievement for pupils whose home language may not be English and who need special support to settle and learn in schools.

Newham London Borough Council -

Norfolk County Council - The Ethnic Minority Achievement Service is committed to ensuring that all young people in Norfolk receive the highest quality education.

Northamptonshire County Council

North Lincolnshire Council - The North Lincolnshire Diversity Service provides quality support to raise the achievement of all minority ethnic groups of pupils.

North Somerset Council - We work to help raise the achievement levels of black and other minority ethnic pupils across North Somerset.

North Tyneside Council - North Tyneside EMTA Service aims to enhance the quality of educational opportunity and support the educational achievement of ethnic minority and Traveller pupils by offering a range of services to North Tyneside schools.

Nottingham City Council - EMA service site featuring a series of guidance and support

Oxfordshire County Council - The council supports children who do not have English as their first language, operating in nursery and primary schools.

Portsmouth Council - The main aims of the service are to work in partnership with schools to reduce the level of under-achievement of ethnic minority pupils, including those with English as an Additional Language (EAL).

Reading Borough Council - Equality, Achievement and Languages specialist service providing schools and other educators with support to ensure that all our young people achieve well.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council - The Multicultural service is a small team which supports children in schools with English as an second language.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Service - The service aims to support all schools which have children from ethnic minority or Traveller backgrounds. Schools funded by the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) meet regularly to discuss common concerns. 

Salford City Council - Salford City Council provides a support service called Salford Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS).

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council - Ethnic Minority Achievement Network (EMAN) is funded by the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant to support the attainment of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Sefton Council - The Equality and Diversity team for schools is part of the Complementary Education Service and supports schools and families in raising the achievement of Minority Ethnic, Asylum Seeker and EAL pupils.

Sheffield City Council - The Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) aims to raise the achievement of and equality of outcome for black and bilingual pupils in Sheffield schools and communities.

Shropshire County Council - The Council supports children who do not have English as their first language, operating in nursery and primary schools.

Solihul Metropolitan Borough Council -

Somerset County Council - The Ethnic Minority Achievement Team consists of support and advisory teachers who help raise the attainment of children from Minority Ethnic groups.

South Gloucestershire Council - The Ethnic Minority Achievement Service is a specialist team of teachers who work in partnership with schools, parents and communities to address the educational needs of black and bilingual pupils and to raise their attainment.

Southwark London Borough Council - Each school has their own system for supporting children who do not have English as their first language.

St Helens Council - The Council supports children who do not have English as their first language, operating in nursery and primary schools.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council - The work of the Ethnic Diversity Service centres around promoting race equality and fostering a culture of mutual respect for people from different racial groups

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council - Stockton Authority run termly English as an Additional Language (EAL)/ Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) Networks

Suffolk County Council - The Minority Ethnic and Traveller Achievement Team (METAT) provides training and advice to Suffolk schools

Surrey County Council - The Ethnic and Language Minority Achievement (ELMA) team in Children's Service works in partnership with schools, SCC colleagues and other agencies to improve services to minority ethnic communities, promote inclusive practices and raise the achievement of minority ethnic children and young people, including those who have a first language other than English.

Tameside Council - The Equality, Multicultural and Access Team (EMAT) supports children who do not have English as their first language.

Tower Hamlets London Borough Council - The central support teams are embedded within existing parts of the LEA and consist of 3 teams who work within the Learning and School Development Service, to provide Ethnic Minority and Travellers' Achievement Services.

Wakefield Council - The Equality and Diversity Service (formally known as Race Equality Service) by working in partnership aims to raise attainment of all Ethnic Minority (EM) including Travellers, Asylum Seekers/Refugees and English Additional Language (EAL) pupils. . 

Warrington Council - The English Language Support Team (ELST) is a team of specially trained teachers and bilingual support assistants who are committed to supporting schools in raising the educational achievement of minority ethnic children in Warrington.

Warwickshire County Council - ICSS provides and facilitates equal access to the National Curriculum and prepares ALL children for life in a multicultural society.

Wigan Council - The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Team provides education support for pupils whose first language is not English. This includes Asylum Seeker children, other children newly arrived in the country and those whose home language is not English.

Wiltshire County Council - The Wiltshire Ethnic Minority Achievement Service provides language support for those in the early stages of learning EAL and regular monitoring of more advanced EAL learners.

Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough Council - The Ethnic Minority Achievement Service provides a range of specialist staff to support and help raise the achievement levels of ethnic minority pupils.

Wirral Council - MEAS staff work in Primary and Secondary schools throughout the borough. The aim of the Service is to remove language barriers, provide access to the curriculum, raise self-esteem and encourage social integration.

Wolverhampton City Council - The council supports children who do not have English as their first language, operating in nursery and primary schools.

York City Council - The Traveller Education, language and cultural support services provide specialist advice and teaching for minority ethnic pupils with language or cultural needs that may create barriers to access, attendance and achievement.

Featured sites
Bracknell Forest	Bracknell Forest's EAL service site is particularly useful for mainstream staff working with new EAL learners in mainly monolingual areas.  Straightforward guidance for primary and secondary and a useful collation of resources.
CREDS	Cambridgeshire's Race Equality and Diversity website. many many teachers find the translations of key words particularly useful. Click on Teaching and learning and you will see a drop-down menu for lists of key word translations.
Cumbria	Cumbria's useful website including a downloadable inital support pack, particularly aimed at those new to working with newly arrived early stage learners of EAL.
EMAS4Success	EMAS 4 Success is the website sponsored by Bristol and North East Somerset, Bristol City, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. It contains useful policy and project information, guidance and downloadable teaching and learning resources produced by the services, including a number for new to English pupils
Gloucestershire	Gloucestershire' s READS (Race Equality and Diversity Service) 'iRespect' website contains a wealth of resources promoting 'positive tolerance and active citizenship'.
Hampshire	Hampshire Ethnic Minority Achievement Service supports schools and families across Hampshire to 'raise ethnic minority achievement' through projects, training and advisory support.
Hounslow	Hounslow Language Service site with downloadable beginners programmes, multilingual stories, multilingual parents guides to bilingualism, multilingual maths key vocabularies, policies and information. Further resources available to purchase from the site
Islington	CEA Islington's ethnic minority achievement service website. The website has recently been updated and contains many new features along with downloadable resources and information relating to the achievement of groups such as Turkish and Bangladeshi heritage pupils.
Kensington and Chelsea	Kensington and Chelsea's new site features details of their new one year English language and literacy in curriculum learning course for 14-16 students and their downloadable language development strategy policy guidance.
Milton Keynes	Milton Keynes have made some EAL focused resources and guidance available on their website. These include a section relating to key visuals. Supporting Pupils with English as an Additional Language  and Guidance on the Assessment of EAL Pupils who may have Special Educational Needs are both interesting.
Nottingham	Nottingham City's EMA service site featuring a series of EMA Guidance Documents giving an overview of EMA and useful guidance on target setting, recording progress, partnership teaching. It contains information on a range of resources relevant to African Caribbean heritage pupils and details of a project focusing on raising the achievement of African-Caribbean and Dual Heritage pupils as well as some work for beginners to English and a series of newsletters and updates.
Portsmouth	This site has been developed by the Porstmouth Ethnic Minority Achievement Service as 'a resource base for teachers, parents, educational agencies, students - indeed, anyone with an interest in bilingual education and ethnic minority achievement issues'. Features of the site include copyright free images for teaching materials as well a wealth of material of interest to EMA services and teachers. Please note this site is no longer being updated.