Help! My pupil's an asylum seeker and I don't know how to support them
News article from November 10, 2016
Catherine Whitaker, School-Home Support (SHS) Practitioner, supports multiple pupils and families who are seeking asylum in the UK. She recommends:
Be a kind ear. Children and families often need to talk about what they’ve been through.
Find out about their housing situation. Temporary housing is often unsuitable for children and your support may be required.
Help them with budgeting or find someone who can. If they get an allowance, it’s likely to be very low.
Buddy the family up with another family who speak the same language.
Emphasise school attendance, punctuality and routine. Children find comfort in consistency.
Watch this video to find out more about Catherine’s work with refugee families.