Episode 50: Community Matters – Supporting Multilingual Learners with Sarah Morris | Building Strong Home-School Partnerships for EAL Learners | Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell

Welcome to Episode 50 of Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, the podcast for teachers, school leaders, EAL specialists, and educators who are passionate about supporting multilingual learners and creating inclusive classrooms where every child feels valued and able to succeed.

To celebrate our 50th episode, Helen Bodell explores the powerful role that families, communities, and relationships play in supporting children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL).

In this episode, Helen is joined by Sarah Morris, Deputy Headteacher and Head of Inclusion at her primary school, to discuss how schools can build stronger connections with multilingual families and create truly inclusive communities.

Together, Helen and Sarah explore how a whole-school approach to EAL can help children feel welcomed, recognised, and supported. They discuss the importance of valuing children’s home languages, celebrating cultural identity, and working collaboratively with families to improve both academic and emotional outcomes for multilingual learners.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why strong home-school partnerships are essential for EAL learners.
• How schools can engage effectively with multilingual families.
• The importance of valuing children’s home languages and identities.
• How cultural and linguistic diversity enriches school communities.
• Practical strategies for creating inclusive environments.
• How a whole-school approach can support multilingual learners to thrive.

Families and communities are a vital part of every child’s learning journey. When schools recognise and celebrate the languages, cultures, and experiences that children bring with them, they create environments where all learners can flourish.

Whether you are a classroom teacher, EAL Lead, school leader, teaching assistant, or inclusion professional, this episode offers practical ideas and inspiration for strengthening your approach to supporting multilingual learners.

Meet Sarah Morris

Sarah Morris is a Deputy Headteacher and Head of Inclusion with a passion for multilingualism, equity, and inclusive education.

In this episode, Sarah shares the approaches her school has taken to support multilingual pupils through a whole-school focus on inclusion, collaboration, and community.

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

Thank you for joining us for 50 episodes of Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell. Every episode celebrates the expertise, experiences, and ideas that help educators support multilingual learners and build more inclusive schools.

Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share the series with colleagues who are passionate about language, inclusion, and educational equity.