Better Bilingual CIC - Community Impact (2024-25) Better Bilingual CIC is an educational consultancy based in Bristol, specialising in school improvement for multilingual schools and Early Years settings across Bristol and the South West. The organisation has been operating since September 2020. During the financial year 2024-25 (Year 5), Better Bilingual CIC delivered significant community benefit through the following activities: Reach and Beneficiaries Over 60 schools were supported through specialist consultancy and training, improving provision for international new arrivals and strengthening teaching in multilingual classrooms. This has contributed to improved pupil attainment and well-being. More than 500 education professionals locally and nationally accessed specialist training (face-to-face and online), increasing their skills in English as an Additional Language (EAL) pedagogy and enhancing outcomes for multilingual learners across Early Years, primary, and secondary phases. Partnership Working Better Bilingual collaborated with over 20 partner organisations, including NW24, The EAL Academy, The Learning Partnership, Haringey Education Partnership, The Belonging Effect (formerly Diverse Ed), North Somerset Early Years Team, and South Gloucestershire Virtual School. These partnerships have extended the reach and impact of the organisation, enabling wider dissemination of best practice in multilingual education. Capacity Building in Schools Better Bilingual CIC has supported education professionals to: Effectively welcome and assess newly arrived pupils, including refugees and asylum seekers, in collaboration with parents and carers Improve inclusion through aspirational, whole-school policies and practices Adapt teaching approaches across subjects and age phases to better meet the needs of multilingual learners Accurately assess English language proficiency to support improved attainment Promote multilingualism as a positive asset within school communities Strengthen home-school partnerships, improving engagement with families In addition, targeted CPD programmes, including the Multilingualism Champions Programme (strategic leadership) and the New to English Induction Programme (operational practice), have equipped school staff to build sustainable whole-school capacity. Resources and Sector Contribution Specialist tools and resources have been developed, including online systems for monitoring pupils' English language proficiency. Free guidance and research-informed practice have been shared through the Better Bilingual website, blogs, and professional networks, including contributions to the NALDIC South West Regional Interest Group. Community Engagement and Inclusion Better Bilingual delivered innovative projects supporting refugee pupils and family integration, including the Refugee Week 2025 "World of Flavours" event as part of the Bristol Refugee Festival. This was followed by a travelling art exhibition showcasing children's work across multiple community venues, including a city farm, a migrant hotel, and a local primary school, promoting inclusion and community cohesion. Feedback and Quality The organisation maintained a 90 per cent recommendation rate, with consistently positive feedback from teachers and school leaders regarding the practical impact of its work and the tangible improvements in classroom practice. Events and Professional Engagement The annual Better Bilingual Celebration Event (October 2024) brought together 30 educators and featured high-quality speakers, including Soofia Amin of Kensington Primary School (Primary School of the Year, 2020). This event contributed to sector knowledge-sharing and professional development.

PART 2 – CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS. The company’s stakeholders are teachers, school leaders and school governors who are responsible for the quality of education and academic results of multilingual pupils in Early Years, primary and secondary schools in Bristol and around. Parents and carers are also stakeholders, especially those from multilingual and sanctuary-seeking backgrounds. The Director of the company has lived in Bristol for over 25 years; having worked in schools as a specialist EAL consultant for the same time, she knows the Early Years and educational landscape well. Stakeholders in schools are constantly consulted during training, consultancy and pupil assessments, with feedback gathered through evaluations (90% or higher 'very positive' 'would recommend'). Through such evaluations and ongoing relationships (many long-term), Better Bilingual has heard the challenges facing schools (e.g. lack of budget for face-to-face CPD) and adapted appropriately, e.g. pivoting CPD delivery to online, flexible access options. Additionally, views on ‘what works’, e.g. free, practical resources for teachers such as multilingual audio stories, are noted and have been further emphasised in training and advice. Due to consultation with Early Years settings and parents in the local migrant hotel, Better Bilingual has developed and provided additional support to schools and settings on promoting multilingualism in the Early Years, specifically and welcoming new arrivals (e.g. refugees) to the UK through accessible, multilingual information about the English education system. School governors are also stakeholders, and their involvement is encouraged during Better Bilingual consultancy sessions and at regional events. For example, Better Bilingual had useful conversations with BWMAT governors at BWMAT Fest (their annual MAT-wide conference in June 2025), at which Better Bilingual had a stand. Feedback was discussed with the Board. Parents and carers of EAL pupils are consulted during the initial assessment process; their feedback shows they appreciate the sensitive gathering of family background information, with the use of interpreters when necessary. In response to this, Better Bilingual encourages school staff to shadow the initial assessment process and build staff capacity so they can use this model when welcoming new arrivals to school in future. Parental feedback influences the Better Bilingual advice and guidance provided for school leaders to improve communications. During the 2024-25 year, there was once again an increase in consultation levels with the teachers and parents of several refugee and Looked After pupils, who were supported by Better Bilingual on a longer-term basis. As a result of this aspect of our work, new Better Bilingual offers to support Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) have been developed and taken up by schools, in collaboration with several local ‘virtual schools’. Although the lack of both school funding and statutory advice from the DfE on EAL and multilingualism remains a significant challenge for settings and schools to engage with Better Bilingual, stakeholders consistently state that our EAL/Multilingualism consultancy and training are most definitely needed. As such, we look forward to continuing our collaborative approach with stakeholders through consultation and positive actions to develop our Better Bilingual services, based on their feedback. Our Better Bilingual mission remains to provide a service which is as useful, accessible and impactful as possible, to benefit multilingual pupils and families in Bristol and the South West.

The total amount paid or receivable by the director in respect of qualifying services was £23,719. There were no other transactions or arrangements in connection with the remuneration of directors, or compensation for directors’ loss of office, which require to be disclosed.

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration