EMTAS Moodle

By the Hampshire EMTAS Teacher Team

Hampshire EMTAS is working with Merton Infant School, Cranbourne School and St Swithun Wells Primary School to develop an additional level for the EAL Excellence Award (EXA). The new level will acknowledge the achievement of schools maintaining Gold standards while acting as EAL centres of expertise and reaching out to the community. Schools achieving Diamond level will be recognised by a trophy and certificate and celebrated on the EMTAS website/Moodle.

To qualify for Diamond, schools will need to have been previously validated at Gold. They must also demonstrate they are maintaining their Gold level practice for their subsequent validation. In addition to this they will show further evidence of work within 1 of the following 3 strands:
-       Community (working with families in wider catchment)
-       Collaboration (working with other schools)
-       Contribution (working with EMTAS).

Schools will have flexibility in choosing their area of expertise and how they may like to evidence this. They may also collaborate on a particular project.

Below are examples of pieces of work which may lend themselves to each strand. Individual schools may come up with their own ideas for projects which are particularly relevant for their setting and the pupils and families in their local area. Colleagues should discuss their Diamond project ideas with their EMTAS Teacher Advisor first eg to avoid duplication of a resource.

As with other EXA levels, schools’ Diamond award will lapse after 2 years. To maintain their Diamond level, schools will need to evidence that they have maintained their Gold. This revalidation process will be flexible and driven by individual schools’ action plans. Schools will also need to show they have continued to contribute within the above strands.

 
Case studies

School A successfully achieves Gold in December 2022. In March 2024 they revalidate at Gold. In addition to this they demonstrate their work mentoring another school and their contribution to a new EMTAS resource. This school qualifies for a Diamond award.

School B submits evidence for their EXA in October 2023. This is their first ever submission. They are validated at Gold. At their validation they discuss their contribution to a network meeting in February 2021. This school does not yet qualify for a Diamond Award because they have only just recently achieved Gold and their Diamond evidence is out of date. To achieve Diamond the school needs to revalidate at Gold with current/varied evidence of work at Diamond standard.

 
By introducing the Diamond Award, we hope schools which have already obtained Gold will be inspired to use their experience and expertise in EAL to support others. We look forward to supporting schools in their projects and finding out their impact on the EAL community.