Community of EAL Teachers- CEALT 26/27
We are delighted to welcome you to another year of Primary CEALT - the Community of EAL Teachers, commencing in October. CEALT is based in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at Mary Immaculate College and developed in association with Limerick Education Support Centre.
CEALT is a professional learning community supporting primary teachers of learners of English as an Additional Language through collaboration, shared practice and teacher leadership. Grounded in plurilingual education, CEALT recognises pupils’ languages, cultures and experiences as valuable resources for learning and promotes the shared understanding that language belongs to us all.
Feedback from last year was extremely positive. Members particularly valued the range of EAL resources shared, the practical and hands-on sessions, informative presenters, opportunities to share practice and collaborate and the chance to meet like-minded teachers and teacher educators.
The 2026-2027 schedule has been shaped by the needs analysis completed by members at our final event in April. The CEALT Steering Committee met in May to discuss and analyse these priorities and to develop a schedule responding to members’ interests in language development and whole-school practice, family engagement, practical resources and professional collaboration.
Our first face-to-face meeting will take place on Friday 16th October, 10.00 a.m.-1.30 p.m. in Limerick Education Support Centre (V94HAC4) and will conclude with a light lunch. Early registration is recommended!
This session will include:
- CEALT updates
- ‘Nurturing Every Child, Every Language, Every Family’, presented by Aideen Flynn, Play Therapist
- CEALT SHARE: an opportunity for members to exchange practices, challenges and resources
Places are limited, members are invited to register now until Friday 25th September using the following link:
or the QR code below:
Further opportunities for CEALT teacher leaders in 2026–2027
Alongside the scheduled events, CEALT members will continue to be invited to contribute to a range of teacher-leadership, research and dissemination opportunities. These may include:
- presenting or adapting CEALT materials for school staff meetings
- submitting examples of plurilingual practice for consideration in an EAL guidebook
- participating in collaborative lecturer–teacher research and award applications
- co-writing journal, professional and media articles
- contributing to curriculum and resource development within CEALT
- networking with relevant external organisations
We look forward to welcoming you back for another year of building leadership, sharing practice and celebrating plurilingual education.
Please follow us on our new Instagram: @cealt_mic
Further events in 26/27
18.11.26: 4pm-5pm: Online CEALT Meet - led by Caroline Walters, CEALT Lead Teacher - practices; challenges and resources.
12.02.27: 10am-1:30pm: Face-to-face CEALT Meet in Limerick ESC - Words Matter: Developing Vocabulary and Language Across the School - Tom Costello, Little Voices Programme Coordinator with ABC Start Right.
10.03.27: 4pm-5pm: Face-to-face CEALT Meet in Limerick ESC - led by Caroline Walters, CEALT Lead Teacher - practices; challenges and resources.
23.04.27: 10am-1:30pm: Face-to-face CEALT Meet in Limerick ESC - 'EAL Resources from Northern Ireland: Supporting Newcomer Learners and Families'- Sophia Cocault, Full-Service Community Network, St. Mary’s University College, Belfast