Improving outcomes for refugee children, young people and their families

Published 23/04/2024.  Last updated 08/08/2024
sourcePractice exemplars categoryScottish Attainment Challenge

Background

The Education Refugee Team was set up in 2017. The team use an innovative service delivery model to improve wellbeing and learning support.

Over the past eight years the council has welcomed over 200 refugees. This includes over 100 children. Potential vulnerabilities include communication barriers, social isolation and experience of trauma and loss. Many of the children have found it challenging to adapt to their new surroundings and educational settings.

Attainment Scotland Funding

The ‘Stay Connected’ well-being group has recently secured £8230 from the Clackmannanshire family wellbeing partnership ‘intrapreneurship’ programme. Costs are for the ‘Stay Connected’ wellbeing groups only.

What Clackmannanshire Council did

The Education Refugee Team is a multidisciplinary team. It includes practitioners from education, Community Learning and Development and psychological services. The team also works with a range of partners. These include housing, social services, health, police, local employers and the local college.

The Education Refugee Team offers a variety of support such as:

  • English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), provision for adult learners
  • targeted English as an additional language (EAL), support for school aged children
  • wellbeing support for school pupils
  • family wellbeing groups
  • educational psychological intensive therapeutic service for trauma and loss
  • community integration events
  • employability support
  • holiday programmes
  • enhanced P7 transition
  • staff training in supporting refugee children

Needs-led and participatory approaches to developing support have been important to success of the team. Children, young people and their families shape the content of support activities. This ensures they receive support which is relevant and makes a meaningful difference to their lives. Regular information sessions provide translators. They have helped families to learn about the educational support available. They have also helped with employability.

The ‘Stay Connected’ wellbeing group provides opportunities for families to connect. They offer a range of events and outings. ESOL provision is tailored to individual needs. They offer classes, practical activities, one-to-one support and online sessions.

A variety of activities ensures positive education outcomes for children and young people. All families are supported through a smooth enrolment process. This involves home visits, completion of documentation, liaising with schools and providing transport.

Regular contact with families is maintained over the first few months. For example, specific ESOL sessions focus on school communication. This helps families to prepare for parents’ evenings. Sessions are also provided to help parents support with homework.

Impact

Almost all refugee children have enrolled in school. The small number not enrolled are being home-schooled. Current attendance of refugee pupils is 93.88% for primary and 92.39% for secondary.

Of the refugee school leavers in 2023, 50% progressed to university after passing the Ukrainian School Leavers Exam. The education refugee team facilitated this. Qualitative feedback from families suggests this support has been invaluable. It has helped families to integrate into Scottish society:

“The Refugee Team helped my integration into Scottish society, stopped us feeling lonely, sad and depressed”.

“Once again, I wanted to thank you and your team for your support during this difficult year in our lives. I remembered how I told you almost ten months ago that my dream was that my boys were safe and receiving a quality education. Now that dream has happened”.

“We have good news. My son has entered university. I am so happy and so is he! Thank you for your support and help. We couldn’t have done it without your team. They have always supported us”.

“I honestly can’t imagine the life of any refugee without such a strong team to help because their contribution and support can never be overestimated. They taught us to dream, to value ourselves, follow our heart and to be brave enough to take this challenge of life and go on”.

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Improving outcomes for refugee children, young people and their families

Published 23/04/2024.  Last updated 08/08/2024
sourcePractice exemplars categoryScottish Attainment Challenge

Background

The Education Refugee Team was set up in 2017. The team use an innovative service delivery model to improve wellbeing and learning support.

Over the past eight years the council has welcomed over 200 refugees. This includes over 100 children. Potential vulnerabilities include communication barriers, social isolation and experience of trauma and loss. Many of the children have found it challenging to adapt to their new surroundings and educational settings.

Attainment Scotland Funding

The ‘Stay Connected’ well-being group has recently secured £8230 from the Clackmannanshire family wellbeing partnership ‘intrapreneurship’ programme. Costs are for the ‘Stay Connected’ wellbeing groups only.

What Clackmannanshire Council did

The Education Refugee Team is a multidisciplinary team. It includes practitioners from education, Community Learning and Development and psychological services. The team also works with a range of partners. These include housing, social services, health, police, local employers and the local college.

The Education Refugee Team offers a variety of support such as:

  • English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), provision for adult learners
  • targeted English as an additional language (EAL), support for school aged children
  • wellbeing support for school pupils
  • family wellbeing groups
  • educational psychological intensive therapeutic service for trauma and loss
  • community integration events
  • employability support
  • holiday programmes
  • enhanced P7 transition
  • staff training in supporting refugee children

Needs-led and participatory approaches to developing support have been important to success of the team. Children, young people and their families shape the content of support activities. This ensures they receive support which is relevant and makes a meaningful difference to their lives. Regular information sessions provide translators. They have helped families to learn about the educational support available. They have also helped with employability.

The ‘Stay Connected’ wellbeing group provides opportunities for families to connect. They offer a range of events and outings. ESOL provision is tailored to individual needs. They offer classes, practical activities, one-to-one support and online sessions.

A variety of activities ensures positive education outcomes for children and young people. All families are supported through a smooth enrolment process. This involves home visits, completion of documentation, liaising with schools and providing transport.

Regular contact with families is maintained over the first few months. For example, specific ESOL sessions focus on school communication. This helps families to prepare for parents’ evenings. Sessions are also provided to help parents support with homework.

Impact

Almost all refugee children have enrolled in school. The small number not enrolled are being home-schooled. Current attendance of refugee pupils is 93.88% for primary and 92.39% for secondary.

Of the refugee school leavers in 2023, 50% progressed to university after passing the Ukrainian School Leavers Exam. The education refugee team facilitated this. Qualitative feedback from families suggests this support has been invaluable. It has helped families to integrate into Scottish society:

“The Refugee Team helped my integration into Scottish society, stopped us feeling lonely, sad and depressed”.

“Once again, I wanted to thank you and your team for your support during this difficult year in our lives. I remembered how I told you almost ten months ago that my dream was that my boys were safe and receiving a quality education. Now that dream has happened”.

“We have good news. My son has entered university. I am so happy and so is he! Thank you for your support and help. We couldn’t have done it without your team. They have always supported us”.

“I honestly can’t imagine the life of any refugee without such a strong team to help because their contribution and support can never be overestimated. They taught us to dream, to value ourselves, follow our heart and to be brave enough to take this challenge of life and go on”.

^ Back to top