Advice for schools - supporting children and young people following the EU referendum

We are writing to you because we want to raise with you the effects of the current situation on the children and young people in our schools.

Change is a stressful time and can affect the well-being of our children. At a time of uncertainty we want all children to feel part of a strong community and have a sense of belonging, to develop into secure and resilient young people and adults.

Diane Leedham writes in 'schoolsweek': There is a vital role for leaders and governors to demonstrate in practical ways, such as assemblies, displays and imaginative activities, that all of our pupils are welcome and everyone belongs to the school and local community. You can ensure your school makes visible the global contribution to our shared history and includes global languages and literature, community narratives/history and multilingual creativity.'.

There are 11.3% EAL learners in Norfolk, not all of them come from the European Union, but many of them could be affected by what happened in the EU referendum. We are aware that some children from EU backgrounds are feeling sad, worried, confused and anxious about their future. A few have been exposed to negative experiences from other pupils, and we would like to remind schools to report all such incidents (My School - Prejudice related incident reporting form).

We are writing to you today because we do not just want you to address any incidents, we want you to be pro-active in building a school environment where all children are welcome, where children from different backgrounds develop a sense of belonging and security, helping them to maintain their identity while bridging British and pupils' home culture. As adults, we have a responsibility to create a climate of respect, where children are able to talk about their views and their worries, and are safe from harm.

Agnieszka Ciepiela (Minority Attainment and Achievement Service)
Bianca Finger-Berry (Educational Psychology and Specialist Support)