Management Information Sheet

Norfolk has a strong and nationally acknowledged reputation for our support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, and a growing number of 'Schools of Sanctuary'. We have also developed expertise over time through our work with Syrian refugee families.

We are welcoming families from Afghanistan in Norfolk with the support of all the district councils.

This is through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), for people and their families who supported the military, and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, for other people who are being evacuated from the country. The government is providing grant aid to help fund this.

These families will be given housing, support and assistance to help them establish their new lives in the UK. This support includes school places for children, physical and mental health support, help to learn English, help registering with local services and help to find jobs.

As part of the support to schools and settings and for children and young people our Learning and Inclusion offer will include the following:

For children, young people and their family:

• A laptop available for the family with Rosetta Stone/Flash Academy licence if required
• Lisa Reynolds, Adviser - English as an Additional Language, commits part of her working week to supporting the People From Abroad team (PFAT). This includes supporting admissions to school and settings and ensuring that children and young People and their families have all they need in terms of practical and broader support

Norfolk schools and education settings:

• Resources which you may want to use in assemblies or as part of lessons or discussions. Links can be found at the bottom of this page
• The Equality website is currently being refreshed to include additional resources and information
• Language Line continues to be offered at no cost to schools Please contact lisa.reynolds@norfolk.gov.uk for further information
• For unaccompanied children and young people, please contact: laura.abbroa@norfolk.gov.uk

Schools and settings who have welcomed children and young people on roll as part of the above programmes:

• Offer of a consultation with the EAL/Curriculum team to support individual needs and circumstances at no cost to school or setting
• Invitation to a bespoke workshop to further explore approaches/resources facilitated by colleagues in the Inclusion and Send team (Inclusion and Opportunity)

Additional Resources:

• Schools of Sanctuary - Save the Date!

  A Special Thematic Network Meeting to discuss the unfolding Afghan Crisis . The session will look at emerging challenges for LAs and discuss approaches being taken to coordinate support, source housing, and work with the 3rd sector The planned date is the 19th October at 12pm Details and registration link to follow

• Website - English as an additional language (EAL) - Schools (norfolk.gov.uk)

• The Young Interpreter Scheme

  The EAL Team is working in collaboration with Hampshire EMTAS Team to offer Norfolk schools the opportunity to take part in the Young Interpreters Scheme. This initiative is aimed at Primary and Secondary EAL bi-lingual and mono-lingual pupils, who have an empathetic outlook and want to offer support to EAL new arrivals when they start school. Schools can join the scheme and be given access to the training Moodle at a cost of £70. For further details contact tanya.ingram@norfolk.gov.uk

• EAL virtual training

  Training for teachers, EAL Co-ordinators, Inclusion leads and EAL HLTAs in best practice in EAL provision.

  • Excellence in English as an Additional Language (EAL) Provision| Norfolk Services for Schools
  • English as an Additional Language (EAL) Primary Health Check
  • Early Years training - Early years training (See Inclusion/SEND Training Brochure Autumn 2021
  • In-school EAL training / consultancy / assessment
  • Whole school or group staff training
  • EAL bespoke consultancy session
  • English language/ first language and SEN/EAL assessments for EAL pupils - with a follow-up report containing advice and strategies.
  • For details contact: tanya.ingram@norfolk.gov.uk

• EAL networks

  Termly EAL network meetings for EAL updates, resources and shared ideas

  • EAL Secondary Network
  • EAL Primary Network
  • EAL Early Years Network

• EAL Google Group

  To receive updates on EAL policy, resources and initiatives and be part of a forum where schools can make EAL enquiries to other schools and experts, join the EAL Google Group. Contact - tanya.ingram@norfolk.gov.uk

• CoS-Mental-Health-Resource-Pack-digital.pdf (cityofsanctuary.org) This is a useful document about mental health and asylum seekers

• Becoming an Antiracist School (padlet.com)

• Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary (norfolksos.co.uk) The Norfolk School of Sanctuary website. with information on how to become a School of Sanctuary and resources for creating a welcoming environment for new arrivals in school.

• NALDIC | Refugee and asylum seeker children | Welcome, admission, induction and peer support The National Subject Association for EAL - Guidance for schools on welcoming and supporting refugee children

• Wellbeing in education - Schools (norfolk.gov.uk)

• For translated documents in Dari and English which help Afghan parents support their child in education at a UK school, please contact lisa.reynolds@norfolk.gov.uk