A SCHOOL in Basingstoke has been celebrating after receiving a Silver EAL Excellence award.

Castle Hill Infant School, based in Winklebury, received the award after gathering evidence of good practice and provisions in place for pupils at the school with English as an additional language.

The term EAL is used to describe a diverse group of learners who speak English as an Additional Language. 

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Castle Hill worked closely with Hampshire County Council's Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) to ensure a range of strategies were in place to meet the needs of EAL pupils.

In a message to Castle Hill Infant School, the EMTAS validator said: "A huge thank you again for welcoming me so warmly into your school.  It was brilliant to hear how well you have collectively worked as a school to further improve practice and provision at Castle Hill Infant School. 

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"A real strength I feel is the high levels of engagement from parents and families within the school community. This is a testament to the school and how it has nurtured this welcoming environment. 

"I was also really impressed with how well-supported staff feel both from the training received by EMTAS, but also that they regularly check in with yourselves to ensure they are following best practice."

A spokesperson for Castle Hill Infant School said: "We are a school that celebrates our diverse community and the diversity of languages spoken. We celebrated and received the award in a whole school assembly with a member of Hampshire's EMTAS team presenting the award."