Pupils need to participate in a classroom that’s rich in language. They need to be exposed to the language of the curriculum and the way that their classmates talk to each other. They need to share their ideas in speaking and writing, and connect their lives in school to their lives outside.
That’s the basic recipe for language learning and they won’t get it from an app or a worksheet.
Teachers need a space to participate too. Being an EAL specialist can be lonely, often taking responsibility for pupils with wide-ranging needs and trying to lead a whole-school approach at the same time. It’s rewarding but often hard going.
That’s why we built Heddle.
Heddle began in 2021, as the UK emerged from lockdown and the full impact on children’s language was becoming clear. Schools needed clear, effective strategies to recover children’s lost learning.
We saw schools a mile apart (often in the same trust) with completely different approaches, a lot of teachers getting their CPD from social media and provision pulled together from whatever was available.
So we built a foundation for everyone to use:
The Heddle Community, the fastest-growing community of EAL teachers anywhere in the world, where teachers can ask questions and get expert answers — from other teachers and our network of specialists.
Our extensive library of specialist courses and resources, giving clear, practical guidance on everything from writing a language policy to setting up a buddy scheme.
The Heddle Assessment Tool (HAT), a language assessment that sends tailored recommendations directly to teachers and shows trust leaders which schools need support.
… and welcomed the University of Bristol as our partner and investor.
Heddle today works with schools in eight countries, helping them ensure every child can participate fully in the life of their school and thrive in their education.
We’re motivated by a simple belief: that every teacher should feel confident teaching EAL pupils. We believe that EAL teachers are extraordinarily special people, and by making sure that they are well equipped and well supported we can spread that confidence through the sector.
If you get in touch with the Heddle office, you’ll reach Rob, Michael or Milena. Write to us at hello@heddle-eal.com.
Rob founded Heddle after a decade working directly with schools on EAL in the UK and internationally, convinced that the real problem was not ‘knowing what to do’ but ‘putting it into practice’. The author of Teaching EAL, he holds a PhD in language education and maintains an active link with the University of Bristol. He works directly with our MAT and consultancy clients.
Michael brings many years’ experience delivering complex projects for MATs and colleges, including multi-million pound Department for Education programmes. He leads planning and delivery, so that our work is consistently excellent whether you’re one school or a group of forty. He works directly with our MAT and consultancy clients.
Milena runs the Heddle Community and manages our network of specialists and ambassadors. She makes sure that every member gets a personal service, and when schools get in touch it’s her they reach. She works directly with member schools and our consultancy clients.
Joanna and Sarah develop our EAL resources and teach on our courses. They’re published authors and experienced teachers — if it doesn’t work in their classrooms, we won’t release it.
Joanna has over 15 years’ experience leading EAL and curriculum development in secondary schools. She’s the author of Empowering EAL Learners in Secondary Schools and bilingual in English and Polish. Joanna also teaches on our courses for schools, MATs and consultancy clients.
Sarah has over eight years’ experience leading EAL in international primary schools. She’s the author of Evidence-Based Teaching Strategies for Multilingual Learners and an expert in using AI for teaching and learning. Sarah also teaches on our courses for schools, MATs and consultancy clients.
We work with a brilliant creative team who ensure that teachers can pick up our resources and use them immediately. Whether it’s for Heddle or branded for one of our consultancy clients, it’s their work you’re admiring.
Daisy produces the video for all our courses, from filming to final edit. She is a specialist educational videographer, ensuring the teachers you see on screen are as clear as they are in the classroom.
Heddle resources need to make complex ideas feel completely intuitive. That’s down to Jenny, who leads our design team. You’ll find her work at Bristol’s Studio Cambio and on staffroom walls around the country.
Our community covers all regions of the UK and more than 30 countries internationally. Join for free and get resources, ideas and more, straight to your inbox.
