Use of vocabulary strategies to improve learning in children with English as an additional language (EAL)

Dates: 2023–28
Primary investigator: Annabel Pickard (Psychology)
Supervisors: Hannah Nash (Psychology); Amanda Waterman (Psychology)

The number of EAL learners in UK primary school is rising year on year. With no specific EAL guidance in the national curriculum, teachers are reliant on their own expertise and development of resources. As a result, support for EAL pupils is hugely diverse. Vocabulary knowledge plays a key role for reading development and English language proficiency, which affects academic attainment and thus life prospects. By supporting vocabulary development, EAL learner will be better equipped to access the UK primary school curriculum.

My PhD project aims to provide research evidence to schools to support them on the best strategies for vocabulary development, focused on contributing to the research priorities for EAL research. This will be conducted through systematic reviews and studies within schools.