Episode 12: Welcoming New Arrivals and Supporting Refugee Pupils with Christina Hingley | Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell

Episode 12: Welcoming New Arrivals and Supporting Refugee Pupils with Christina Hingley | Talking Their Language with Helen BodellWelcome to Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, the podcast for teachers, school leaders, EAL specialists, and educators who are passionate about supporting multilingual learners and creating inclusive, welcoming schools.In Episode 12, Helen Bodell is joined by Christina Hingley, a Modern Foreign Languages educator and whole-school coordinator at Firth Park Academy in Sheffield, to discuss how schools can effectively welcome and support new arrivals learning English as an Additional Language (EAL).Firth Park Academy is a diverse secondary school community with more than 60 nationalities and over 30 languages spoken among its students. Christina shares her experience of developing a whole-school approach to language development, including creating a dedicated New to English intervention programme, organising in-class support, and delivering ESOL lessons for Key Stage 4 students.In this episode, Helen and Christina explore the practical steps schools can take to help newly arrived pupils settle into education, develop their English language skills, and feel a strong sense of belonging. They also discuss the importance of pastoral support, inclusive practice, and trauma-informed approaches when supporting refugee pupils, including unaccompanied minors and looked-after children.In this episode, you'll discover:How schools can create effective welcome programmes for new arrivals.Strategies for supporting pupils who are new to English.How to develop language support across a secondary school setting.The importance of pastoral care and belonging for multilingual learners.Trauma-informed approaches when supporting refugee pupils.Ways to create safe, inclusive classrooms where every learner can thrive.Meet Christina HingleyChristina Hingley is an experienced Modern Foreign Languages educator and whole-school coordinator at Firth Park Academy in Sheffield. Passionate about language development and inclusion, Christina leads a range of initiatives supporting multilingual learners, including New to English interventions, mainstream classroom support, and ESOL provision.As the school's EAL cohort has grown to include more refugee pupils, particularly unaccompanied minors and looked-after children, Christina has developed further expertise in pastoral and trauma-informed support to help create a safe and welcoming environment for all students.Whether you are an EAL Lead, classroom teacher, teaching assistant, or school leader, this episode offers practical guidance and inspiration for welcoming new arrivals and supporting multilingual learners as they begin their educational journey.Explore more Twinkl EAL resourcesJoin Twinkl EAL:https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/72uh3Browse the full Twinkl EAL resource collection:https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1gx63tIf you enjoyed this episode of Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with colleagues. Each episode brings together educators and experts in multilingual education to explore practical strategies, research, and real-world experiences that help schools support every learner.