Episode 45: SALT Meets EAL – Practical Language Insights with Ella McKenzie | Supporting Communication and Language Development in Multilingual Classrooms | Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell
24m | Mar 2, 2026Episode 45: SALT Meets EAL – Practical Language Insights with Ella McKenzie | Supporting Communication and Language Development in Multilingual Classrooms | Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell
Welcome to Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, the podcast for teachers, school leaders, EAL specialists, SEND professionals, and educators who are passionate about supporting communication, language development, and inclusion for every learner.
In Episode 45, Helen Bodell is joined by Ella McKenzie, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Speech and Language Therapy Educational Content Lead at Twinkl, to explore the connection between Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) approaches and EAL practice.
Together, Helen and Ella discuss practical strategies that educators can use to support language acquisition, communication, and confidence in multilingual classrooms.
This episode explores how schools can create communication-friendly environments where learners are supported through evidence-based approaches, including visuals, signs, symbols, and other total communication strategies.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- The relationship between SALT approaches and supporting EAL learners.
- Practical strategies to develop communication and language skills.
- How visuals, signs, symbols, and total communication approaches can support learners.
- The importance of creating communication-rich classrooms.
- Ways educators can work alongside speech and language professionals.
- How to support learners’ understanding and expression across the curriculum.
Effective communication is at the heart of learning. By combining expertise from speech and language therapy, EAL practice, and classroom teaching, educators can create environments where all learners can participate, communicate, and thrive.
Whether you are a classroom teacher, EAL Lead, SENDCO, teaching assistant, or school leader, this episode provides practical ideas to support language development and inclusive practice.
Meet Ella McKenzie
Ella McKenzie is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and the Speech and Language Therapy Educational Content Lead at Twinkl.
With experience supporting communication across early years, clinic, specialist provision, and mainstream school settings, Ella has worked closely with educators, families, and multidisciplinary teams to create inclusive environments that enable learners to communicate with confidence.
Ella’s areas of interest include:
- Early language development.
- Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
- Total communication approaches.
- Communication support through speech, signs, symbols, and visuals.
Ella has led whole-school communication initiatives, delivered staff training, and contributed to SEND strategy and EHCP planning to ensure communication is embedded throughout school life.
In her role at Twinkl, Ella focuses on creating evidence-based, practical resources that help educators support communication and language development.
Explore Twinkl SALT resources
Find Twinkl Speech and Language Therapy resources:
Explore more Twinkl EAL resources
Join Twinkl EAL:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/72uh3
Browse the full Twinkl EAL resource collection:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1gx63t
Free EAL CPD sessions
Book your free online EAL CPD sessions:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/the-twinkl-eal-collection-2587299
If you enjoyed this episode of Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with colleagues. Each episode explores expert insights, research, and practical strategies that help educators support multilingual learners and build inclusive classrooms.
