Rationale

There are approximately 74,000 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in NSW public schools. Many, but not all, of these students will use a different dialect of English to the Standard Australian English (SAE) required for schooling. Some students may use Aboriginal English as their main home dialect and many Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students will use SAE.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students who use a dialect of English (often called Aboriginal English) as their main home dialect and require support to learn Standard Australian English can be described as English as an additional dialect (EAD) learners.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students who use traditional languages or Creoles as their first language and require support to learn SAE are best described as English as an additional language (EAL) learners.

This resource should be read in planning the implementation of English programs and by teachers planning support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander EAD learners.

This resource has been developed with the intended audience being EAL/D specialist teachers, classroom teachers and school leaders.

This resource can be used to professionally develop teachers’ skills and capabilities to teach EAD learners. It can assist school leaders to plan professional learning, lead professional discussion and guide programming for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander EAD learners.

Alignment to system and school priorities

• Our Plan for NSW Public Education

Advance equitable outcomes, opportunities and experiences through providing broad, inclusive and rich curriculum. Our commitment to equity and excellence means every student can learn, grow and belong at school. They do this in a safe and inclusive environment that celebrates the strength of our vibrant, diverse and multicultural community.

• Aboriginal education policy, procedures and other key documents

The NSW Department of Education is committed to being a strong culturally responsive and inclusive education system where every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner and student is known, valued, and cared for to learn, grow, and belong. Our commitment to creating an equitable and outstanding education system affirms Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education is everybody's business.

Alignment to School Excellence Framework

This resource facilitates alignment with the School Excellence Framework (SEF) theme ‘individual learning needs’ as teachers can use this resource to help to identify individual student learning and wellbeing needs of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander EAD learners, through evidence-informed approaches. This enables teachers to provide targeted support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander EAD learners.