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Leading early years membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has today launched a new toolkit to support early years settings delivering provision to families who are multilingual or who are speaking and learning English as an additional language. 

Engaging with families is a key element of any quality early years provision but, it can present a challenge for providers when families and educators do not speak the same language. However, adopting a proactive approach that recognises and values the differences between families, settings can build positive and long-lasting relationships with families who are multilingual or who are speaking and learning English as an additional language.  

The Alliance’s Supporting Multilingual Children and Families Toolkit has been created to support this process, ensuring that all educators can feel confident in working with and supporting multilingual families. 

The Toolkit includes a comprehensive Best Practice Guide, underpinned by the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework and contains information, advice and guidance on a wide range of practical topics including settling in children who are new to English speaking settings, and how settings can prepare their provision to support multilingual families. There is also a range of interactive resources including template forms, development plans, quizzes and audit materials which settings can adapt.  

Settings will also receive a one-hour virtual consultation with one of the Alliance’s early years experts, to support settings navigate through the guide. 

The Toolkit is sponsored by Polylino, a multilingual digital picture book service for early years settings. 

The Supporting Multilingual Children and Families Toolkit is priced at £75 for Alliance members or £120 for non-members and can be ordered here: