• It is helpful to start with the admissions process: make sure you start by inviting the families into school with the students so that they can begin to be familiar with the school and meet key staff before the first day. It is very helpful if one member of staff in particular is identified and introduced as the key point of contact for the family. In an individual admissions meeting with a professional interpreter with the family make sure to do a full assessment of the child’s abilities, needs and interests – don’t presume they are new to English, check for other languages spoken and make sure to link them with extracurriculars that interest them. Check if the students also have any special educational needs. Explain things like the school day/ uniform requirements/ school rules/ where toilets are/ where to go if they don’t know what to do.
• In terms of an initial induction period, it would be helpful to have a well-planned time-limited induction period to help students become familiar with the new school system/ rules/ behaviours and build solidarity amongst them. Some children (but perhaps not all) might also benefit from some additional English classes to start off within this period – focus on key words and chunks of language that will help them in their first weeks at school rather than grammar/spelling. This induction shouldn’t be all day (at other times they will be supported by their buddy – see below) and shouldn’t go on beyond a couple of weeks.
• Make sure each child is matched with a peer who will be in their classes. It might be helpful to have some informal training for these buddies – make sure they understand that their role is to support and include the new students, who they can go to if their buddy is having problems, etc. Introduce the new student to their buddy on the first day.
• Make sure to give each student a Ukrainian/English dictionary on the first day and include a session on using them in the induction class. Look at buying dual-language books.
• We have heard wonderful stories of students arriving on their first days to see Ukrainian flags hanging in school with words of welcome in Ukrainian – there doesn’t need to be an overt welcome assembly but instead visible symbols of welcome around the school site.

• School of Sanctuary resource pack
• The Bell Foundation – Key resources for developing EAL provision and practice.
• Welcoming Refugee and Asylum Seeking Learners – The Bell Foundation
• Developing Induction Programmes – The Bell Foundation and NALDIC
• Parental Involvement – The Bell Foundation (bell-foundation.org.uk) (Including guidance on school systems/ helping children to learn at home for parents in Ukrainian)
• Welcoming New Ukrainian Arrivals Webinar – The Bell Foundation
• Refugee Education UK is developing Welcome Packs in Ukrainian: sign up to our newsletter and mailing list to be told when ready.
• Classroom Language Mat (Ukrainian and Russian) – Languages Connect
• How to Support Refugee & Asylum Seeking Students Affected by Trauma – UK Trauma Council
• Exam Suitable Bilingual Dictionaries
• A Summary of the Ukrainian Education System

Other Information

The Department for Education will allocate funding to local authorities on a per pupil basis at the following annual rates:

• Early years (ages 2 to 4) – £3,000
• Primary (ages 5 -11) – £6,580
• Secondary (ages 11-18) – £8,755

These tariffs include support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

It will be up to local authorities to decide how this funding is used or dispersed to schools and may be used to cover the costs of interpreters, educational support within the local authority, cover uniform costs, etc.