FOI Request - Ukrainian Children
Request 101003130237
I am requesting the following information under freedom of information legislation:
Q1. What support are local schools providing to Ukrainian refugee children who wish to continue learning under the Ukrainian curriculum?
Q2. What support are local schools providing to Ukrainian refugee children to adjust to the Scottish schooling system? For example, what work has been done to help Ukrainian refugee children overcome the language barrier?
Q3. What support are Ukrainian refugee children receiving to continue with education after school? For example, have they been provided with laptops or tablets? Do they have access to stable WIFI outside of school, in their accommodation?
Q4. What support has been given to Ukrainian refugee children to help them to access extra-curricular activities/clubs?
Q5. What support has been given to Ukrainian refugee children to help them integrate within these extra-curricular activities/clubs? For example, overcoming the language barrier?
Q6. What support has been given to Ukrainian refugee children to deal with mental wellbeing and or trauma? For example, do Ukrainian refugee children have access to counsellors?
Response 12-09-2022
1. The Scottish government provides an iPad and internet devices to support on line learning in school and at home. The EAL service supports local schools by highlighting the importance of continuing the Ukrainian curriculum for Ukrainian children while in schools in Scotland. School timetables are adjusted flexibly to accommodate time to do so.
2. Support is provided after individual assessment of needs and can include support from the English as an additional language (EAL) service as well as other targeted supports as required. These targeted supports are identified by the school after initial assessment and can include use of the Child's Planning process whereby a team of people around the child (including parents) identify what needs to be in place for the young person. The team around the child works with a range of partners including health colleagues and specialist counselling services to provide personalised support.
Local schools invite Ukrainian interpreters to facilitate the initial enrolment. The EAL service carries out an initial language assessment of Ukrainian learners and supports the family to understand the new education system.
Local schools use the EAL service to train school staff on the best strategies including using first language, translated material and translating tools to support Ukrainian pupils to access the curriculum.
EAL staff work closely with teachers , children and families to ensure that the wellbeing needs of Ukrainian children are met as well as their educational needs.
The Scottish government funds the employment of a bilingual translator to support learners to access curriculum in class.
Class/ Subject teachers along with EAL teachers set a profile for each learner to monitor the English language acquisition and to provide targeted support.
iPads are used in schools to provide translations
3. Under Connect Scotland, we are able to get laptops and iPads which we prioritise to school- aged children. These come with a mini WiFi router and SIM card. This will allow them access to the Internet when at home if they do not have home based internet for whatever reason.
4. Schools will have their own individual extra-curricular activities/clubs which Ukrainian refugee children and young people will be able to access. In the event of support being required to allow the young person to access these services, an individual assessment of need will be carried out by the school in consultation with families and partners as appropriate. Depending on the school context, a range of supports may be offered, such as a Home School Link Worker who will help families engage with schools. Similarly, the extracurricular activities and options available will be dependent on the school context and can include things like breakfast club with individual school arrangements being made to ensure equity of access.
The EAL service provides an enrolment pack which includes information about local organisations and activity clubs that are available in their local area.
5. Support will be provided by the EAL service and by school staff who will provide a programme which meets both language and other needs. Should other supports be required, for example peer buddying, this would be identified on an individual basis to respond to each unique circumstance.
The EAL service provides parents with information in their first language about local English language classes.
6. Ukrainian refugee children and young people who require specialist support will have a team around the child through the child's planning process assess and request supports which include specialist counsellors.
Everyone that arrives completes a Health and Wellbeing question session with an NHS rep, this determines any medical or trauma needs. We follow guidelines laid down for how we deal with children who suffer from trauma, once it has been identified and NHS team will follow up along with their GP, further specialist support is available in the form of counsellors.
The EAL service provides school staff with an initial training about trauma and how to support children who may have experienced trauma. EAL staff work closely with teachers, children and families to ensure that the wellbeing needs of Ukrainian children are met by creating a buddy system for children in schools. EAL staff also do home visits and wellbeing walks with parents and children .