Young Interpreter Scheme®
Overall winner of The Guardian Public Services Awards 2013
Winner of Chartered Institute of Linguists' Threlford Cup 2018
The Young Interpreter Scheme® is an excellent example of practice that supports and develops children and young people’s confidence and leadership skills within schools. Ofsted (2014), Hampshire County Council Children's services inspection.
Like so many of the best ideas, the Young Interpreter Scheme® is so stunningly simple that you wonder why it has not been done before. David Brindle, The Guardian
We have been impressed with the quality and depth of the resources on the Moodle. We are convinced that the scheme is a great addition to Rochdale schools. Erica Field, Rochdale Borough Council
Originating in Hampshire and now running across the UK and internationally, the
Young Interpreter Scheme® offers training for learners aged 5-16 to develop the skills needed to help new arrivals with English as an Additional Language.
Trained Young Interpreters help newly-arrived pupils feel welcome and settled in their new school environment. The scheme also develops the confidence, communication and leadership skills of the Young Interpreters. For schools it’s a way of valuing multilingualism whilst acknowledging and celebrating the skills of their learners.
Young Interpreters can be speakers of English only or speakers of other languages. Together they use a range of inventive ideas modelled during their training to communicate with their new classmates.
What guidance and support is offered?
- Primary and Secondary online registration to Young Interpreter Scheme® Moodle provides access to guidance and materials to train pupils
- Cross-phase bonus materials offer trained Young Interpreters a range of exciting activities aimed to develop their skills
- Free regular webinars for schools who are new to the Young Interpreter Scheme. See Network Meetings tab on Hampshire EMTAS website
- A range of branded badges, stickers and other items are available to purchase for a small additional cost. See order form
- Young Interpreter Champions near you
What does it cost?
£70 per school registration including unlimited access to either Primary or Secondary Moodle and cross-phase bonus materials.
Contact:
- For general information about the scheme, visit our website, watch our walkthrough, read our blogs and check our Frequently Asked questions.
- For questions relating to content and good YI practice, contact Astrid Dinneen, YI Lead: astrid.dinneen@hants.gov.uk
- For questions relating to resources, orders, access to Moodle or for questions relating to your username and password, contact EMTAS@hants.gov.uk
- Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest Young Interpreter news and events
- In this video, Astrid Dinneen explores how child interpreters and buddies can be trained, guided and supported as part of the YI scheme. Viewers will learn how to set up the scheme successfully, discover material and consider good YI practice and safeguarding. The video is crossphase and showcases content at infant, junior and secondary level.
This page offers trained Young Interpreters exciting activities aimed to develop their skills and to keep them motivated in their role. This content was created in response to research which suggested that guiding pupils into their role after their training was crucial to the successful implementation of the scheme.
YI Champions are EAL consultants outside Hampshire who are accredited by Hampshire EMTAS to support schools in their area in running the Young Interpreter Scheme according to its intended ethos.
This report shares findings from a research project led by Dr Debra Page who evaluated the Young Interpreter Scheme as part of her PhD.