Supporting Refugee and Asylum Seeker pupils - Print version

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Supporting refugee and asylum seeker pupils

Globally there are over 25 million refugees. Coventry continues to live up to its City of Sanctuary title [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/ethnic-minority-achievement-service-emas/schools-sanctuary] and we welcome a significant number of pupils from Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and several African countries.

Whilst schools might worry about meeting the distinct needs of asylum-seeking and refugee children, not all children who have experienced armed conflict and flight will suffer from trauma and stress. There are, however, key factors that lead to these pupils being some of our most vulnerable:

  • About half of the world’s refugees are children who are often very vulnerable. They are five times more likely to have been out of school
  • living with a parent or guardian who has also experienced, or is experiencing, stress and trauma
  • if still an asylum-seeker, living in an uncertain situation (not knowing if one will stay in the country)
  • living in a challenging financial situation which adds more stress to their life
  • living in a new place where community and social networks may be new or limited
  • having experienced multiple traumas or stress (violence in their country of origin, losing a loved one, a stressful journey to a safe place)

Many refugee children display amazing resilience and respond positively to effective school and social care support.

Things to consider for refugee children in your classroom:

  • help to stabilise students or children struggling with trauma and stress by creating a reliable, daily, transparent timetable or rhythm during the school days
  • encourage a sense of belonging and feelings of safety and security by creating welcoming, parting and acknowledgement rituals
  • increase students’ self-confidence by encouraging participation

School and most importantly the relationships formed at school can be an incredibly stabilising, positive and nurturing experience in a child’s life, which can help them move on from more challenging times. Paired with supportive help at home or in out-of-school life from parents, siblings, other family members and guardians, many children and students will overcome the challenges they are experiencing without additional help.

Further advice and support

EMAS - general enquiries

Address: Coventry City Council
PO Box 7097
Coventry
CV6 9SL

Telephone: 024 7697 5491 [tel:02476975491]

EMAS - teacher enquiries

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Telephone: 024 7697 5491 [tel:02476975491]

Supporting pupils on resettlement schemes in Coventry schools

Background of ARAP and UKRS Schemes

Recently, the Homes for Ukraine and ARP (Afghan Relocation Programme) schemes have given Afghan and Ukrainian children and young people the opportunity to access the British education system and have given support to schools in regard to supporting pupil needs. The UKRS (United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme) formally known as VPRS (Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme) is a well-established scheme which has also meant that many pupils originating from countries such as Syria, Iraq, Sudan and so on have had opportunities to excel in their academic career over the past 6 years.

These pupils often arrive with no or little English. Typically, these pupils speak Arabic, Kurdish, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Tigrinya or local dialects and so need help to access the curriculum which is delivered in English.

Who has attracted this funding

These children and their families have entered the UK to resettle as they are leaving behind significant hardships: war, persecution, trauma to name but a few. Their journey to the UK may have been long and treacherous. Pupils will need support emotionally as they adjust to their new life as well as tackling issues such as a lack of previous education and perhaps at an early stage of learning English.

Support for schools

Pupils who arrive in the UK via these schemes receive an intensive 12-month support package from a range of partners including EMAS to support education at both primary and secondary stages. Support packages will vary depending on need but may consist of:

  • Multi-Lingual Assistants (MLAs) are deployed where possible to support pupils across the city in settling into the classroom and accessing lessons in the early months
  • visits are made by advisory teachers each term in order to assess pupil progress
  • advisory teachers’ comprehensive CPD offer to school professionals
  • applications for free school meals and the Coventry Boot Fund are supported by The Migration Partnership

More information

The Coventry City Council Migration Team website [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/immigration-asylum] and the Our Coventry website [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/immigration-asylum/support-refugees-asylum-seekers-1/7]gives more information on how refugee scheme families are supported before and after they arrive in the UK.

If you believe that a pupil within your setting may have entered the UK through the UKRS, ARAP or Homes for Ukraine scheme and you wish to contact our advisory teaching team, then please make contact by phone or email. [http://emasteachers@coventry.gov.uk]

EMAS - general enquiries

Address: Coventry City Council
PO Box 7097
Coventry
CV6 9SL

Telephone: 024 7697 5491 [tel:02476975491]

EMAS - teacher enquiries

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Telephone: 024 7697 5491 [tel:02476975491]

Resources for supporting pupils seeking sanctuary

We have compiled a list of potential resources that may be of interest for supporting pupils seeking sanctuary in your school:

Background Reading

How to support transitions to further education for refugee young people in the UK [https://www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Advice-for-Schools.pdf]

Thirty years of NALDIC: refugees and asylum-seeking children [https://naldic.org.uk/thirty-years-of-naldic-refugees-and-asylum-seeking-children/]

CPD for School Staff

Healing Classrooms Online Training [https://www.rescue.org/uk/irc-uks-healing-classrooms]

Parent Partnership Resources

Entitlements to NHS Services for migrants in England [https://youtu.be/LVcCNGrxau8]

Refugee Education UK Welcome pack [https://www.reuk.org/welcome#:~:text=Education%20Welcome%20pack,resources%2C%20courses%20and%20interpretation%20services.]

Bell Foundation Information Leaflet: About the English Education System: Primary Schools (English but also available online in a variety of other languages) [https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/resources/guidance/parental-involvement/guidance-for-parents-english-education-system/]

Bell Foundation Information Leaflet: About the English Education System: Secondary Schools (English but also available online in a variety of other languages) [https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/resources/guidance/parental-involvement/guidance-for-parents-english-education-system/]

Bell Foundation Information Leaflet: Helping Children Learn (English but also available online in a variety of other languages) [https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/resources/guidance/parental-involvement/guidance-for-parents-helping-children-learn/]

Our Coventry Refugee and Migrant Support [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/immigration-asylum/support-refugees-asylum-seekers-1]

Carriers of Hope [https://carriersofhope.org.uk/] help with school uniform [https://carriersofhope.org.uk/finding-cheap-school-uniform-in-coventry/]

Induction

Refugee activity pack for KS2,3 and 4 [https://refugeeswellschool.org/activeapp/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WTS_Student-English.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3R-Mzsc-ibzGzwV_Y_Ayyx2P6aSstPBosOK_CifbwfqwJFfoy4UdVoL6A]

Education Above All 'My Host Country' Induction Booklets for 6-7 year olds (English) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/8422/my-host-country-booklet-for-6-to-7-year-olds-english], 8-10 year olds (English) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/8423/my-host-country-booklet-age-8-to-10] and 11-16 year olds (English) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/8424/my-host-country-booklet-age-11-to-16]

International Organization for Migration Welcome to the United Kingdom Journals for ages 5-9, 10-13 and 14-18 [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/8425/international-organisation-for-migration-welcome-to-the-united-kingdom-journal]

PSHE Resources

Twinkl Refugees KS2 PowerPoint and Discussion Pack [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/refugees-ks2-powerpoint-and-discussion-pack-t-lf-1684223288]  [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/immigration-word-mat-t-tp-1637146731]and other refugee themed resources [http://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/immigration-word-mat-t-tp-1637146731]

British Red Cross Refugees and Migration teaching resources [https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/teaching-resources/refugees-and-migration]

Stories of Hope and Home: Access to people with lived experience of the UK asylum system making visits into schools [https://www.storiesofhome.org.uk/]

A Day of Welcome [https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/resources/a-day-of-welcome]

Refugee Week [https://refugeeweek.org.uk/]

Reading and Teaching Resources

Story Books UK (online stories in home languages) [https://global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uk/stories/fa/]

WorldStories (online stories in home languages ) [https://worldstories.org.uk/library]

Mantra Lingua (purchasable dual language story books in home languages) [https://uk.mantralingua.com/]

Twinkl (paid for website but includes EAL resources with home language translations such as survival English fans and so on) [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/]

The Coventry Schools Library Service offers the opportunity to loan dual language books and books on the theme of sanctuary [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/schools-library-resource-service]

Mental Health

Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre (CRMC) Advice Team [https://covrefugee.org/advice-team/]

Referral information for the NHS Refugee and Wellbeing Service [https://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/service-details/health-service/refugee-wellbeing-service-876/]

Extra Curricular Support

Positive Youth Foundation Involved: developed to support the integration of newly arrived refugee and asylum seeking young people. [https://www.positiveyouthfoundation.org/involved]

Resources for supporting Ukrainian pupils

For all schools welcoming pupils from Ukraine, the EMAS specialist advisory teacher team are available to offer new arrival support and advice.

We have compiled a list of useful resources, some of which are available in Ukrainian or Russian (which may be the home language of some of our Ukrainian pupils):

Background Reading

DFE Guidance Resources to help support children and young people arriving from Ukraine [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/helping-ukrainian-students-in-schools/resources-to-help-support-children-and-young-people-arriving-from-ukraine]

Language Support in the Classroom

PSHE Resources

Reading Resources

Unite for Literacy ebooks available in English and Ukrainian [https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/]

Story Books UK (online stories in Ukrainian and other languages) [https://global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uk/stories/fa/]

WorldStories (online stories in Ukrainian and Russian and other languages) [https://worldstories.org.uk/library]

Mantra Lingua (purchasable dual language story books in Ukrainian and Russian and other languages) [https://uk.mantralingua.com/]

Twinkl (paid for website but includes EAL resources with home language translations such as survival English fans and so on) [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/]

The Coventry Schools Library Service offers the opportunity to loan dual language books and books on the theme of sanctuary [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/schools-library-resource-service]

Parents

Continued Education in First Language

More suggestions can be found in this information guide [https://www.coe.int/en/web/children/-/resources-supporting-ukrainian-children-s-right-to-education] prepared by the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (available in Ukrainian and English).

EMAS - general enquiries

Address: Coventry City Council
PO Box 7097
Coventry
CV6 9SL

Telephone: 024 7697 5491 [tel:02476975491]

EMAS - teacher enquiries

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Telephone: 024 7697 5491 [tel:02476975491]

Resources for supporting Afghan pupils

For all schools welcoming pupils from Afghanistan, the EMAS specialist advisory teacher team are available to offer new arrival support and advice.

We have compiled a list of useful resources, some of which are available in either Pashto or Dari, the two main languages spoken in Afghanistan. You may find that some Dari speakers can understand Farsi, as this is a similar language to Persian.

Background reading

Parent Partnership resources

Induction

Education Above All 'My Host Country' Induction Booklets for 6-7 year olds (English, Dari and Pashto) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/8422/my-host-country-booklet-for-6-to-7-year-olds-english], 8-10 year olds (English and Pashto) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/8423/my-host-country-booklet-age-8-to-10] and 11-16 year olds (English and Pashto) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/8424/my-host-country-booklet-age-11-to-16]

PSHE resources

Reading and teaching resources

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