Topic outline

  • Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support

    • Announcements Forum
      This area of our Moodle comprises a collection of links and resources that staff working with children and families who have come as asylum seekers or refugees might find useful, either to use in school or to signpost to parents/carers.
    • Language support for home-school communication Forum
      EMTAS run phone lines in different languages each week during term time.  These cover various languages. Details are on the EMTAS website https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/emtas/supportinglanguages/emtas-phone-lines
      Schools should note the following:
      - Urdu and Pashto speakers should try the Nepali phone line
      - People from Ukraine may speak other languages eg Polish or Russian; we have phone lines covering both those languages. Note that our Russian Bilingual Assistant runs the Russian phone line; she is very happy to support families from Russia and Ukraine.
      If you need a language and it's not currently covered on our phone lines, let EMTAS know and we will do our best to help.
    • Dari, Farsi and Persian languages Forum
      Schools should note that these three languages are mutually intelligible so a book written in Farsi will be accessible to someone who speaks Dari or Persian.  Further, there is a GCSE in Persian which students who are Farsi or Dari speakers may also be able to access.  From summer 2023, EMTAS is hoping to offer support with Persian GCSE.

  • Generic Guidance

  • Resources for parents and children - some available in other languages

  • How schools can support the language learning needs of refugee children from Afghanistan

  • Guidance for schools with Muslim pupils on roll

  • Resources for use with children in schools and at home

  • Family Profiling

  • Resources specifically about Ukrainian Refugees

    • Secretary of State for Education - letter to schools URL

      Letter to schools from Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP Secretary of State for Education dated 4th May 2022. Includes links to resources in Ukrainian that families might like. Mentions also that whilst these may complement provision in schools, they should not be used as a substitute for the mainstream curriculum.

    • Working with Ukrainian children URL

      From the International Rescue Committee, useful information about schools in Ukraine.  The section on children's responses to trauma is useful, as are the following sections on ways of building trust with families and healing classrooms. 

    • Background information: Ukrainian culture URL

      From the International Rescue Committee, an overview of aspects of Ukrainian culture.

  • Resources on the situation in Ukraine

  • War and international violence: resources for schools and families

    • The Independent, February 2022 URL

      How and when to talk to children about war, according to a parenting expert.  Register for free to read the full article.

    • ABC News, Australia URL

      How to cope with traumatic news - an illustrated guide aimed at families

    • Family Education, US URL

      Talking with Children About War and Violence in the World: Educators for Social Responsibility has prepared this guide for adults who are concerned about how to communicate with young people about difficult issues in the world.

    • The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, US URL

      Tips for parents and caregivers on media coverage of traumatic events.

    • Resources on bereavement URL

      From Winston's Wish, information about childhood bereavement in several different languages including Arabic and Polish

    • Barnardo's Ukrainian Support Phone Line URL

      Free helpline: 0800 148 8586  

      During this very distressing and uncertain time, children and adults will need continued support.

      In response to this, following discussion with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Barnardo's have set up the Ukrainian Support Helpline to provide a holistic support service. The Helpline is available to anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.  

      Get in touch if you need support with:

      • Therapy with a qualified psychotherapist – delivered via the phone or online, with access to interpreters 

      • Advice on a range of issues e.g., housing, accessing key health services, education, employment and more via our trained helpline support workers 

      • Practical support - access to digital devices to ensure families stay connected to loved ones during this worrying time, as well as stimulating toys for children, vital baby items and more (subject to demand)

      All services include access to interpreters in Ukrainian and Russian.  


  • Training opportunities

    • How to Talk with Children and Young People About War URL

      Free webinar presented by Dr Tina Rae. She highlights specific strategies to use to support refugee children as they transition, to ensure that they feel safe and welcomed. Includes a number of evidence-based strategies that can easily be adopted and shared. Dr Rae identifies ways in which we can prepare the children who are in our school communities to welcome their refugee friends and identifies the best and safest ways to discuss the war with our children and young people.

      Tina discusses the following:

      • How to talk to children and young people about war
      • How we recognise trauma -related behaviours make use of ‘watchful waiting’ to identify vulnerability factors.
      • The need to recognise that all refugee children are different, many will be resilient and not require a bespoke therapeutic intervention – (this may be needed later).
      • The importance of treating every child individually and listening to their voice – as one refugee child said ‘I wish they’d asked me about the football team I supported rather than my journey to this country. It just re-traumatised me.’
      • How we build and reinforce resilience factors recognise the strengths of individual children and young people.
      • Using writing, physical, and calming approaches.
      • How we create safe spaces and make use of anxiety reducing easy wins.
      • How we ensure schools as sanctuaries in which we build connection, safety, and opportunities for regulation.