What the resource is.
This ITE session is part of a series of six ITE sessions that can be delivered to increase students' knowledge about key issues and effective practice for teaching refugee and asylum seeker children and young people in primary and secondary schools. This session develops student teachers' understanding of ways to promote the well-being of refugee children and young people.
With a focus on early intervention and prevention, the session looks at how refugee children and young people can be supported to achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes. With reference to a range of theoretical perspectives, students are asked to consider approaches that consider the impact of personal and environmental factors on the development and well-being of refugee children. Factors that protect refugee children are explored, together with those that put them at risk, with activities to help students plan positive interventions for promoting well-being. Holistic, multifaceted approaches and activities are proposed together with a practice framework.
The session consists of overall notes for the tutor; a powerpoint presentation and notes to support it; a sheet of activities; and a list of further reading. These are all attached below.
The aims of the resource:
- To increase understanding of the emotional and social needs of refugee children and young people and how to respond to those needs
- To consider how schools can fulfil their duty to promote well-being
Key focus:
- Promoting the well-being duty
- Theoretical perspectives
- Risk and protective factors
- Positive interventions and activities that promote resilience
- The role of the school
The quality, authority and credibility of the resource:
A detailed PowerPoint presentation, presentation notes, tutors' notes, useful resource links and range of activities make this resource accessible to students and straightforward for tutors to navigate and deliver.
This resource draws from contemporary research and provides case studies and suggestions for activities that connect the topic to student teachers' experiences in the classroom.
If you have any feedback on using this session, we welcome it. Contact details can be found at www.refugeeeducation.co.uk
The implications for ITE tutors:
The resource is relevant to ITE or CPD courses in the secondary sector. It raises awareness and understanding about equalities issues and the needs of vulnerable pupils, providing clear advice on ways to promote their well-being. . It may best be introduced into a course when students have had some exposure to their practice schools, but still have opportunities ahead to put new knowledge into practice.
The relevance to ITE students:
All student teachers will be teaching pupils from diverse cultural backgrounds. Increasingly, many are also likely to teach in schools with significant numbers of pupils from a refugee background. This session increases student teachers' understanding of the emotional needs of children who have endured persecution, political violence and exile. It supports more informed assessments of a child's situation and practical suggestions for positive interventions that teachers can make.
The relevance to early career teachers and senior staff:
Much of what is relevant to ITE students is equally relevant to early career teachers, many of whom may have had limited experience of working with refugees or, even if they do, are keen to develop their professional competency further. The detailed information offered and recommended approaches will be particularly useful for consideration by senior staff to ensure schools are effective in their promotion of the well-being duty. The materials can also be used as a resource for CPD or Masters' level courses for practising teachers and senior staff.
Tim Spafford, 2010
