Episode Forty-Seven - In Conversation with NALDIC: Championing Multilingualism

Episode Forty-Seven - In Conversation with NALDIC: Championing Multilingualism:

In this episode, I’m joined by Christina Richardson, Chair of NALDIC, and Tracey Costley, Vice Chair of NALDIC.

NALDIC (National Association for Language Development in the Curriculum) is the UK’s leading subject association for English as an Additional Language (EAL). The organisation supports educators working with multilingual learners across all phases of education, promotes research-informed practice, influences national policy, and advocates for high-quality provision for children and young people who use English as an additional language.

In our conversation, we explore the implications of the new Ofsted framework and current curriculum reviews, reflecting on what these changes mean for multilingual learners and those who teach them. We discuss multilingualism in today’s educational landscape, including both the opportunities and challenges facing schools, and consider how NALDIC continues to champion inclusive, evidence-informed approaches.

Christina and Tracey also share what NALDIC is doing this year to support multilingual educators and learners - from professional development and research initiatives to strengthened advocacy and community-building across the sector.

Finally, we talk about the exciting new partnership between NALDIC and Twinkl EAL. We discuss what this collaboration means in practice: expanding access to high-quality EAL resources, amplifying research-informed classroom strategies, and creating greater support for educators working with multilingual learners across the UK and beyond.