Building a Whole School EAL System for Multilingual Learners with Dr Robert Sharples

Dec 6, 2025

Dr. Robert Sharples, an academic and co-founder of Heddle, specializes in English as an Additional Language (EAL) systems. He discusses the need for a whole-school approach to support multilingual learners, emphasizing that effective EAL strategies must involve everyone, not just the loudest voices. Robert shares insights on creating practical frameworks for teachers, enhancing EAL provision, and the importance of participation in learning. He also touches on using AI tools thoughtfully and strategies for improving school admissions and support for newcomers.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

EAL As A Roadmap Not A Single Fix

Heddle packages EAL as a practical, school-tested roadmap rather than a lone-expert intervention.
It prioritises sequence: what to do first, next and later to reduce chaos for schools.

INSIGHT

Make Language Part Of Subject Teaching

Shift the focus from 'every teacher a language teacher' to 'subject language within subject teaching'.
That framing fits existing expertise and invites wider staff participation.

ANECDOTE

Lost In Translation With AI Menus

Robert tried AI menu translation in China and got humorous but useless literal results.
He warns AI needs contextual maturity before reliable classroom assessment use.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

For maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via support@alta-education.com

Learn more about Heddle - https://www.heddle-eal.com/

Visit Heddle.link/TDAPE to go straight to the free Heddle community.

Episode 257: Supporting multilingual learners is never just about one intervention or one brilliant teacher. It lives or dies in the systems that sit behind every lesson, every admission and every decision a school makes.

In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Kieran is joined by Dr Robert Sharples to unpack the Heddle System, a whole school approach to English as an Additional Language (EAL) that ties together admissions, assessment, classroom practice and targeted support into one coherent framework.

Drawing on Rob’s work as an academic, author and co founder of Heddle, they explore what it really takes to build EAL provision that works for every multilingual learner, not just the ones who shout loudest for attention.

Across the conversation they dig into questions such as:

What are the expectations every teacher should meet for multilingual learners in their classroom?
How can schools design tiered EAL provision that does not leave the EAL team doing everything for everyone?
Where should you start if your current EAL offer is fragmented, informal or entirely dependent on one heroic colleague?
How can admissions, assessment and record keeping stop being a black hole and start becoming the engine of effective support?
What is a sensible, evidence informed stance on AI translation tools for students, staff and families?

If you are an EAL lead, SENCo, senior leader or classroom teacher who wants to move from well intentioned bolt ons to a joined up system for multilingual learners, this episode gives you a practical blueprint for what to focus on next.